Return to Studies in Corinthians
Presented, January 18, 2009 pm
Upon What are We Building?
1 Cor. 3:9-17
a.
We
are fellow workers – a
point continually stressed thus far in this study. The work that Paul,
Apollos & others did – was cooperation with each other (concurrently).
We need to work together to get
the work of God accomplished.
The brethren at Corinth had a problem with this.
b.
You
are God’s field – a
reminder that the fellow workers together produced the crop that was
that church (3:5-8).
c.
You
are God’s building – Paul
now transitions the analogy from a field to a building.
When you think of a building, you think of a structure that has been
built in which something will be housed.
But from the text we find that this is not any building – it is a
temple. In fact, it is the
temple of God (16). As a
temple this is a house of worship and where God dwells.
This building also has reference
to the church.
1 Peter 2:5, 1 Timothy 3:15 – the house of God which is the church of
the living God
a.
He
was a WISE master builder.
What made him wise?
He appealed to the wisdom of God instead of man.
b.
He
laid the foundation. Paul
had been instrumental in the establishment of that church (Acts 18 –
where he stayed 18 mo., met Aquila and Priscilla, converted Crispus,
ruler of the Synagogue, etc.).
That foundation was Christ (as we see in this text).
c.
Others built upon his foundation.
It is important to note that to properly build a building, those who
come along after the foundation is laid must still follow the pattern
(blueprint) if the house is to be properly built. Paul was not alone in
building this church – Apollos, Peter (possibly through his letters), &
others reaffirmed what Paul taught.
d.
“Take heed how he builds on it.”
In Corinth, realize that Paul had concerns about the direction this
church was headed. In
addition to those who were building properly upon the foundation, there
were others who were throwing in their own ideas, building with the
wisdom of man and thus compromising the integrity of the “building”.
It is like an approved blueprint for a house that has been
followed, but the interior designer comes in and decides to take his
personal preferences in place of portions of the pattern.
When you get done, you DON’T have the proper house!
If someone comes along with different plans you are going to have
problems. That was Paul’s
concern. 1 Peter 4:11, “If anyone
speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God…”
e.
But
they needed a blueprint
(11) – Christ. Christ MUST
be at the foundation of all we do.
Remember, it is HIS church.
Eph. 2:20-22. And
don’t forget Matthew 16:18, Act 4:12
a.
Paul mentions different types of material
–
Gold, silver, gems - Some valuable and durable (fireproof) – the gospel
is valuable and durable.
Wood, hay, straw - Others of very little value and vulnerable
(flammable) – the foundations of men.
Later in this text we shall see that this building is the temple of God,
i.e. the church.
Because of that, the “materials” used to build would necessarily be
people – those who comprised the church in Corinth.
The “quality” of the brethren would be descriptive of their
strength as Christians – some are solid and will withstand fire while
others are weak and will be easily damaged (cf. the parable of the Sower
– describes 3 different types of hearts that receive the word.
Two of them were inadequate – Matt. 13:18-23).
If this is the church, how can it have
flawed or weak persons within
it? The answer is that
we strive to teach all, but
not all will remain faithful.
NOTE how in our text it says, “If
anyone builds on this
foundation…” IT is not just about the leaders, but all striving to
bring in the lost. We know
for a fact, that not all who are won to Christ remain faithful.
In fact, it seems that most return to the world.
Consider also the parable of the Wheat & Tares (Matt. 13:24-30, 37-43
where in the end the angels sort out the good from the bad) AND the
parable of the Dragnet (Matt. 13:47-50 – a dragnet that drew up all
different types of fish, both good and bad, but in the end they are
separated.
b.
The
materials used will be tested.
Vs. 13 reveals that all things “will be revealed by fire and the fire
will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.”
This is an obvious reference to the refiner’s fire which was used
to burn out impurities in metals.
Often in scripture it has reference to a purification process –
here also.
Paul mentions, “the Day will declare it.”
There are two possibilities for this Day:
The day of judgment when all stand before Him – 2 Cor. 5:10
OR it could refer to a day of trouble and testing, such as by
persecutions. It is
often the difficult times that one faces that determines what they are
really made of. See 1 Peter
1:6-9, Jas. 1:2-4.
While most see this as the Day of Judgment, both possibilities could
apply AND they are both true.
To me, the last part of vs. 13 seems to fit more logically in
this being their being tested with persecutions, “and
the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.” (3:13)
c.
The
results of the test will show what it was made of.
There are two results that will occur from being tested with this fire:
Some’s works will endure, and be rewarded.
This is those made of valuable medals.
The reward would be further fruit (those you teach, teach others
and develop into godly souls) and ultimately salvation both for yourself
AND them. I think of 1
Thess. 2:19 which says, “For what
is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?
Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at
His coming? For you are our
glory and joy.”
Others works when tested will be burned (destroyed or damaged).
In these, the builder suffers loss, but not his own soul.
Those made of stubble fall away.
In the end they will be eternally condemned (cf. 2 Peter 2:20-22)
and you will suffer loss (heartache, disappointment, etc.) but not
eternally – because you have done what was your duty to do.
a.
The
church is the temple of God.
Based upon the context, this is a reference to the church at
Corinth. Later in this
letter, the temple of the Holy Spirit will refer to individual
Christians (6:19-20), but here it is the church.
Note Ephesians 2:19-22 where Paul describes the church there as
citizens, a household, a building, and a holy temple.
In 2 Corinthians 6:16-17 he will warn them, “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?
For you are the temple of
the living God. As God
has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them.
I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’
Therefore, ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the
Lord…”
Paul is reminding these brethren what they are.
This is not some earthly club or social gathering.
This is THE CHURCH!
They are the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23).
So why are they acting the way
they are? It is the
Lord’s body they were damaging by their carnal behavior!
That is something for US to think about!
The church belongs to Christ and as such we better respect it!
How we respect it depends on what we build it with (the proper
foundation) and how we behave toward one another! (cf. John 13:35, “By
this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one
another.”
b.
Whoever destroys this temple will answer to God.
This further emphasizes the seriousness of this point!
Paul is specifically warning these brethren about heeding the
wisdom of men and biting and devouring one another (as we have seen in
previous lessons).
If they persisted in defiling His temple, God would destroy them.
c.
The
nature of this temple: As
we have already seen -
It is the temple of God – no of men.
It is holy (sanctified) – don’t treat it as a common thing to be
tinkered with, like human organizations and clubs and such.
We are that temple – i.e. the church.
Again, do we treat her with such
reverence? That is really
something to think about!
In this text, Paul’s
point to these brethren is that if they do NOT build their church upon
Christ, it is going to be destroyed and THEY would be held accountable
to God Himself. Remember
what these brethren had been doing (heeding the wisdom of men).
I am convinced it is statements like this that also angered some
of those worldly builders who were destroying that church.
But Paul had to “shore up” the place and he did.
What about us?
Let us weigh these thing as we think of the Lord’s church here.
Keep her pure and keep yourselves pure.