Servants Together
Study Scripture: 
Lesson 3

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Key Verse

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

1 Corinth ian s 3:9

 

INTRODUCTION

Our study of Paul’s first recorded letter to Corinth ian Church continues and in today’s lesson, Paul saw that something tragic was occurring in the Corinth ian congregation. God had intended the church to represent his gracious nature and glory; to beautiful and attractive to the pagans.

In Corinth however the situation was neither glorious nor beautiful. The Corinth ian brethren did not completely understand who they really were in Christ and instead were embracing all the things that were contrary to the desired walk of faith.

This church was located in a particularly awful situation and it's environment was nothing like what we would normally find in any so-called Christ ian country at the present time.

The extremely immoral and God rejecting world of Corinth had come into the church.  The church was operating like a religious country club, with little regard to reaching the degraded, defeated and immoral world that surrounded it.

In this lesson we will see Paul over and over again using the phrase “in the flesh” or “of the flesh”.

Clearly, those in the church did not understand the nature of the gospel, what it meant to focus on Christ alone and what it meant to have the mind of Christ.

As a result of their overvaluing of human wisdom, abilities, resources, and leadership, there were factions, cliques, misplaced loyalties and hence quarrelling, divisions, and strife in the church.

There seem to be little understanding that human wisdom and the wisdom of God are contradictory.  Human wisdom is uncertain and subjective and does not properly understand reality. Unfortunately the people in the church did not properly understand this and were operating, thinking and acting on human wisdom and worldly philosophy.

They should instead have submitted themselves to the revelation of God in the Scriptures and followed apostolic teaching without deviation.  The Holy Spirit was available to them to make them think like spiritual men, understanding life and death issues and the nature of God and the church.  Blessed with gifts of the Spirit in abundance, they came to a distorted view of self and handled themselves as if they were still in the ‘flesh’.

Paul was obviously grieved at the situation which had developed into such a great tragedy.  To bring them to their senses, he identified the cause of the crisis in the church.

He analyzed them, showed them the reason for their failures and then used three metaphors, a child, a garden, and a building to teach them that God expected that over time they grow in beauty and significance.

The people were behaving as if they were still in the ‘flesh’, dominated by the natural man, the confused, limited, unrealistic, ungodly and destructive thinking of the world.

In one word, they were still-born, a horrible picture.

THE TEXT

Verse 1.   Though there were many problems associated with these external, worldly influences; the cause of the problems that Paul now addressed was internal.   Believers were yielding to the weakness of the ‘flesh’ – though they were no longer considered natural, having been ‘born again’, neither could they be considered ‘spiritual’ in the fullest sense of the term. 

To be spiritual means to be fully controlled by the Spirit, as in fact every believer should be.  There are no excuses for not being fully controlled by the Spirit.

Since the Corinth ian church was comprised of believers and they had the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:9), and exercised and moved in all the gifts of the Spirit, they ought to have yielded to the Spirit.  Instead they were ‘babes in Christ’, which yielded to the flesh, which then gave way to carnal behavior. 

It is easy for those who have not lived in such an environment to condemn these people; but we must remember that we all continue to fight the effects of the fall and our flesh.  This is the insidious nature of sin, while we are often quick to judge those who do not know Christ or those who commit certain sins like adultery, fornication, murder etc. yet within the church the destructive activity of sin often goes unchecked.

First, note that Paul addressed them as brethren.

This indicates that Paul considered them to be in Christ, part of the family of God, having a common identity with him. Their status was that of true Christ ian s, but there was something seriously wrong.  He knew they were not unregenerate, for he had brought them to Christ.

The problem seems to be that when they came to Christ after his teaching, there was not the expected growth, just like a human body grows, starting at the baby stage and then maturing over time.

These people never advanced beyond the baby stage, a necessary stage, where they were fed the kind of nutrients that babies need.  But people who stay babies forever, burping, messing up themselves, not controlling their waste, constantly like babies demanding attention, grabbing at toys uncontrollably, are a sad spectacle.  Paul regarded the Corinth ian s as babies, persons still controlled by the thinking of the ‘flesh’. 

Definitions are very important here.  Paul uses two different Greek words that are both  translated ‘carnal’. The first, can be precisely translated as “fleshy” (sarkinos), for they were ‘fleshy’ people, of the flesh nature.

The second word comes from the same root word, but is slightly different and means “dominated by the flesh”. (This word is not “sarkinos” but sarkikos”). Paul found the brethren to be still like fleshy people, dominated by the flesh.  So, we can say that Paul is telling them ‘You are carnal (born of the flesh), and you are dominated by the flesh.  Your thinking is fleshly’ and that is not how your thinking should be, since you have been changed’.

You are babies, dominated by the flesh and so I still have to speak to you in a way that I should not have to, says Paul.  You are in spiritual babyhood, he tells the Corinth ian s.

Now remember that everybody starts as babies, and babies are quite nice to a point.  But they demand a lot of care and are always, maybe often is more accurate, messy and troublesome. They take in food at one end all right, but show no responsibility at the other end.  So Paul this quite disgusted at their situation, for he now has to change diapers.

We should not laugh at this very serious situation, for we are often in exactly the same position.  We see professing believers all around us that are constantly being swayed with every wind of doctrine, constantly chasing after every new toy, switching from one thing to another, having roughly the same attitude, style, philosophy, and practices as the rest of the world.  This is spiritual babyhood and it is always messy, divisive and frankly, a case of arrested development.

Verse 2.   The Corinth ian s were without excuse, for they had a solid foundation of good doctrine. “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” (Act 20:27, 2 Cor 4:2) 

“I have fed you with milk…”  Paul had taken the time to nourish the brethren with all the foundational truths of the gospel and fully expected that they would graduate to the deeper things of scripture.  However upon assessing the current situation Paul sew that they are not yet ready for the deeper truths.

Let us note that all the doctrines of scripture are essential – though certain themes or parts of a doctrine are easier to digest than others.  But there is a difference between milk and meat for Christ ian s.

Actually, Hebrews 6 tells us what the ‘milk’ is. There were some believers who needed milk and whose misbehaviors had caused some to lose out on some very important knowledge.

Hebrews tell us that when a person is brought to Christ, they are given the elementary truths of salvation.  These are the beginning truths, the foundation, and they are perfect for babies.

But Hebrews tells us that teachings about things like baptism, ‘laying on of hands’ presumably with an emphasis on physical healing, several rituals and ceremonies are milk.  Also included as milk, are foundation truths about the resurrection and the last judgment, prophecy and eschatology. 

When we tell people that Christ died for our sins, that is milk.  Telling them that all believers have spiritual gifts, that is milk.  Milk also includes teaching people to rejoice that they are sharing in the glory of God now, and that at the end of life we begin live totally in that glory.

Clearly it is wrong to keep on ‘preaching the gospel truths’ over and over again to Christ ian s, going over the same ground, for then the people will never get out of spiritual babyhood.

Meat is the kind of teaching that make people grow up and stop being children as Ephes ian s 4:14 looks forward to.  There is according to

1 Corinth ian s 12 a more excellent way, namely, love.

When believers are taught so that they develop and mature, understanding that God is always changing them and taking them toward his precise target, and so we can rejoice even when suffering, we have been taking in meat.

The doctrines that make us grow up into a spiritual adult, developing the mind of Christ, so that we can behave as he behaved, with all the humility, meekness, and rejecting automatically the attitudes and philosophy of the world, then we are into meat doctrines. 

Meat makes us discern between good and evil, removes confusion, makes one understand moral absolutes, know what is right and wrong, true and false, good and healthy as opposed to what is destructive.  It makes us understand what God wants us to be, and what God is doing to us to make us what he wants you to be.

The behavior of the Corinth ian s, (and unfortunately our behavior), demonstrated that they were not ready for the deep things, their spiritual growth was stunted.  This was not for a lack of knowledge, but misunderstanding the teachings of the apostles and Apollos, as well as not applying the knowledge that they had.  Paul was clearly upset at their lack of progress, especially considering that they did operate in all the gifts of the Spirit.

Verse 3.   Paul says that the proof that they were carnal, was in the envy, strife and divisions among them.  Though they were undoubtedly children of God as evidenced by the operation of the Spirit; yet they remained to some extent, some more than others, under the influence of the principles that govern the people of the world.

Carnality in a believer produces envy that subsequently leads to strife and then divisions.  Envy is actually a severe form of selfishness.

We often use the terms natural and carnal man interchangeably; there is a difference however.  The natural man as used by Paul really denotes the unregenerate man who remains under the curse of sin and has not been born-again; his state also encompasses all that a carnal man would be. 

The believer, since he is made of flesh, can without excuse for it, retain elements of fleshly behavior. He can grieve the Spirit or the will of God, having yielded to the flesh – those passions and desires that generally characterized the natural man.  Unfortunately, believers can behave fleshly, dominated by the flesh.  We see that all the time. 

Believers can be proud, partial in their behavior, discriminate among the brethren, treating some better than others, lording it over each other, abusing them, teaching them to break the Commandments, encouraging are winking at fornication and adultery, in other words, following the flesh.  These attitudes are to be condemned without any question.

“…are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”  

The word walk is often used in Scripture to denote ones conduct and act.  And ‘men’ refers to those yet unregenerate people. 

A carnal Christ ian or a believer dominated by the flesh, is not a contradiction of terms; but one who has lapsed into the control of the flesh. rather than being under the control of the Spirit.  When we turn from the Spirit or fail to have the mind of Christ, when we fail to follow his instruction and seek his will, we invariably embrace our carnal side. 

Just remember that God will not allow this foolishness to last too long.  He will as Hebrews 12 warns discipline us severely, or might even get us begin to “sleep” before the time.

When Peter spoke outside the will of God, Jesus rebuked him for being carnal, though he was most certainly a believer.

 “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”  Matt 16:23         

“…the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Rom 8:1-14       

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” Gal 5:25-26

Verse 4.  In chapter 1 Paul discussed the folly of divisions and factions in the church and here again we see it, as there were those who gravitated to Paul while others proclaimed themselves followers of Apollos. 

Paul and Apollos were men of God and certainly possessed faith and spiritual gifts that claimed the admiration of men.  But it is a mind that is in a carnal state that transfers the admiration due to Christ, to that of his followers.

Let us not forget that fleshly, immature people in the church are very naïve.  Like children they like flattery, people that will play to their senses and desires, and kiss them. They like promises that will never be fulfilled, just like Absalom, David’s treacherous son did to lead the people of Israel away from their true king.

Factions develop because of jealousy and strife, and believers should avoid this sure sign of spiritual immaturity for it always leads to trouble. 

Rivalry is not to be permitted in the church.  Believers must know what their gifts are, and never seek to be doing things that they cannot do.  Every part of the body has its function.  You might not be called to be a leader and if you have no such ability, do not seek it.  You might not be called to be a music ian , and if you have no such ability, do not seek that job.  God determines what he wants you to do, and if you look at yourself, and your experiences, your failures and your successes, you will know what you can and cannot do.

This fan club business is quite infantile. It belongs to the baby stage.  So Paul called the people practicing this “babes in Christ”.

Verse 5.   Note now that Paul begins to move into the area where he is teaching solid food. 

Understanding these doctrines requires an adult level of understanding.  It takes grown-ups to understand the equality of all Christ ian s as well as the equality of all Christ ian s including Christ ian leaders.  Leaders are not in any special category.  In fact they are servants to the people. 

So we teach the priesthood of all believers and we insist that people pay special attention to that doctrine and its implications. 

Paul discusses this truth at great length in this chapter. It takes great humility for those greatly used by God to declare themselves nothing and Christ everything; the carnal mind does not operate this way.

Note also that this ‘meat’ causes us to turn away from looking at ourselves and our needs and to focus on the Lord.  When we do that we will not fight among ourselves.

Paul was showing the correct assessment that any minister of the gospel and by extension all believers should have of themselves.  For it is Christ that work in us to will and to do his good pleasure.  Note that the word for servant used is that of a menial servant, just like a dish washer.

In essence Paul says, who am I or who is Apollos, that we should  have any follow after our name, we are merely instruments, servants of the Most High God by which you received the word.  This is great insight about Christ ian leaders.  But don't also that the servants complement each other.  The playing field is level.  All God's servants are equal.  Their work fits together neatly.

Note that he gives this insight to correct immature thinking.  Let it not be found among us. 

“Even as the Lord gave to every man - God is the original source of faith; and it is by his influence that anyone is brought to believe. There were diversities of gifts among the Corinth ian Christ ian s, as there are in all Christ ian s. And it is here implied:

(1)        That all that anyone had was to be traced to God as its author;

(2)        That he is a sovereign, and dispenses his favors to all as he pleases;

(3)        That since God had conferred those favors, it was improper for the Corinth ian s to divide themselves into sects and call themselves by the name of their teachers, for all that they had was to be traced to God alone.”

It can be considered that the idea that sees leaders as different people, with a special pipeline to God, as really one of the doctrines of demons.  It is never found in Scripture.

Every believer has a function appointed by God.  It can be for service in the church, or it can be for service in the world.

Note that Paul insists that everybody without exception is a servant, and Christ is the master.  Jesus himself said he came to minister, not to be ministered to. (Mark 10:45, Matthew 20:28). 

Anyone who does not serve, but instead wants to be served, wants to lord it over their brethren, is not a man or woman of God.  The best one might say about them, is that they are spiritually babies, following the flesh.  But remember they might very well be unregenerate, simply trying to deceive by a facade of piety or holiness.

Verse 6.   Paul now moves away from the child image metaphor and uses familiar agricultural terms to drive his point home. 

“I planted…”  that is, Paul was first to preach in Corinth , it was he that laboured to establish a church there. 

One writer said:

 “…if any distinction was due to anyone, it was rather to him than to the teachers who had labored there subsequently; but he regarded himself as worthy of no such honor as to be the head of a party, for it was not himself, but God who had given the increase.”

“…Apollos watered.”

There is great significance in the imagery used – the eastern countries often endured long dry spells when the land would become parched.  Subsequently there was a great need to pay particular attention to watering the land by means of artificial irrigation.

Paul worked hard to establish the church here and Apollos laboured intensely to increase, sustain and build up the church, both the planting and the watering are immensely important.

“…God gave the increase…”

Paul here acknowledges the fact that despite all our human efforts,  without God there would be no harvest; there is no inherent power in the seed alone or in placing it in the ground and pouring water on it.  It is God alone that gives life to the seed.  In fact, it is God who made the seed, and made the water, and gave the persons planting and watering the strength to do their task.

Note also, before you feel proud of yourself for even planting or watering, that in the wilderness God often makes many beautiful plants and flowers grow.  The mountains are lush and beautiful even without human hands.  Even deserts are magnificent in their own beauty.  So men are not as important as they think.  Leaders are not as important as they think.  All should really thank God that he has bothered to give us some tasks to do. 

Yet a beautiful truth emerges – God partners with us, in the sense that He decrees and affords us the profound privilege of being a part of the process – for the seed must first be sown and then it must be continually watered, yet God alone receives the glory for the fruit it bares.

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” Rom 10:14 

“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain.” Ps 127:1

Verse 7.   “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth;” 

This statement is to be understood comparatively.  That is, compared to God, the work of those that plant and those that water, are nothing.

This does not mean that those who plant and water are considered insignificant, for in their place they are indispensable, being chosen by God.  It is the appointment that makes them of worth.  Therefore the honour and glory belongs to God.

“The agency of the farmer is indispensable in the ordinary operations of His providence. If he does not plant, God will not make the grain or the tree grow. God blesses his labors; he does not work a miracle. God attends effort with success; God does not interfere in a miraculous manner to accommodate the indolence of people. So in the matter of salvation. The efforts of ministers would be of no avail without God. They could do nothing in the salvation of the soul unless God would give the increase. But their labors are as indispensable and as necessary, as are those of the farmer in the production of a harvest. And as every farmer could say, “my labors are nothing without God, who alone can give the increase,” so it is with every minister of the gospel.”

Verse 8.   When it comes to the winning of souls we are instruments of God, God is not our instrument.  We must act as one or else God would be fighting against himself or we are actively fighting against God; the latter is always the case and it leaves one in a position judgment.  We will reap what we sow.  This is why the favoritism of people in vs. 4 and 1:12 is condemned.

They are one in respect to the work that they are engaged in, that they aim for the same goal.  They are also one in the sense that neither is of any use without the other – If one does not plant there is no need to water and if there be no water it would be a waste of seed to plant.

Though they labour together they will be rewarded separately according to their willingness, effort and devotion.  In the Day of Judgment our works will be tried to see if they are of any eternal value.

Those who attempt to work the work of God in the power of the flesh, are actually working against God, without repentance they will find themselves cast out.

Verse 9.   “For we are labourers together with God…”

When we look at our relationship to God, we realize that we make no independent contribution, but that God has condescended a love and chosen us to be his fellow workers.  No arrogance or independence can therefore exist when ministering in the work of God, but simply a total and continuing leaning on God.

The Greek is literally, not we are his co-partners, but we are his fellow-laborers, that is, fellow-laborers in his employ, under his direction.  So then Paul and Apollos are coworkers employed by God.

This is a high privilege.  Understanding this removes all possibility of rivalry, competition, and infantile factionalism.  It is a great and high privilege to work for God, the landlord, the owner of all, the Creator.

God purposes to bring others to himself through those he has saved and made ministers of reconciliation.  It is a great blessing for us to be able to bring the word of life to those who are still dead in their trespasses and sin, as we once were.

2Co 6:1  We then, [as] workers together [with him], beseech [you] also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

In a broad sense this applies to all believers, but certainly and more specifically in this context refers to the apostles and those engaged in the ministry of spreading the gospel.  Thus Paul and Apollos are pictured as coworkers and the people are viewed as God’s sown field.   You belong to Him and He cultivates it cares for it “God’s husbandry” ; and it is God that causes the sown field to bring forth fruit.

Paul now changes the metaphor from agriculture to construction; the people are not only considered a field cultivated by God, but also a house built by Him for his dwelling.

Let us now look at the church as a great building.  Jesus is the foundation.

“As no man in viewing a fine building extols the quarryman that dug up the stones, the hewer that cut and squared them, the mason that placed them in the wall, the woodman that hewed down the timber, the carpenter that squared and jointed it, etc., but the architect who planned it, and under whose direction the whole work was accomplished; so no man should consider Paul, or Apollos, or Kephas, any thing, but as persons employed by the great Architect to form a building which is to become a habitation of himself through the Spirit, and the design of which is entirely his own.”

Verse 10.   Paul acknowledges that it is only by the grace which God has given him, that he could be used in this manner.  Probably referring to his apostolic call and ministry to the Gentiles, the wisdom or skill with which he help establish and grow the church, is an undeserved blessing from God.

As a wise master-builder - Greek “Architect.” The word does not imply that Paul had any pre-eminence over his brethren, but that he had proceeded in his work as a skilful architect, who secures first a firm foundation. Every builder begins with the foundation; and Paul had proceeded in this manner in laying first a firm foundation on which the church could be reared. The word “wise” here means “skilful” or “judicious”; compare Mat_7:24.

“I have laid the foundation…” 

The meaning of this statement is that he, Paul planted or established the church at Corinth .  Paul had explained in 1Co 3:11 that Christ is the ultimate foundation for the church.  “For any other foundation can no one lay than the one being laid, who is Jesus Christ.”

“…and another builds on it.”  Having established the church and secured them in sound doctrine, it would be the work of others to build-up and strengthen the brethren and eventually expound the deeper elements of the doctrine that Paul had taught them.

Paul having left Corinth , Apollos would play the next major role in building the church and bringing the brethren to maturity.

“But let every man be careful how he builds on it.” 

To every teacher of the word comes a warning – be careful  how you instruct the people in the word of truth.  This is intended to protect against false teaching and murky doctrine that clouds the minds of believers.

We must remember always that we are dealing with the people of God, the apple of his eye.  Caution must be exercised, for if we do not feed his people, clothe them, protect them, visit them in prison, we are doing immeasurable offence to God.

Even though the foundation is strong, what is built on it matters, error can not bring sanctification.  Each teacher must also remember that they will personally give an account for the nature of their instruction to God’s people.  Thus they should take heed to themselves.

“Hold on to yourself and to the doctrine; continue in them, for doing this you shall both save yourself and those who hear you.” 1Ti 4:16. 

Verse 11.   Paul confirms that the foundation of the church are those essential doctrines which he laid down by the preaching of the gospel (1 Peter 2:6-8); and it is the truth of these doctrines that give the brethren eternal hope.

God designed the foundation, Paul merely laid it down.  Jesus Christ is ultimately the true foundation. (Isa_28:16; Mat_16:18; Act_4:11, Act_4:12; 2Co_11:2-4; Gal_1:7-9; Eph_2:20; 2Ti_2:19; 1Pe_2:6-8)

“and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,” Eph 2:20 

Which is Jesus Christ - Christ is often called the foundation; the stone; the cornerstone upon which the church is reared; (Isa_28:16; Mat_21:42; Act_4:11; Eph_2:20; 2Ti_2:19; 1Pe_2:6). The meaning is, that no true church can be reared which does not embrace and hold the true doctrines respecting Jesus. Those that pertain to his incarnation, his divine nature, his instructions, his example, his atonement, his resurrection and ascension. The reason why no true church can be established without embracing the truth as it is in Christ is, that it is by him only that people can be saved; and where this doctrine is missing, all is missing that enters into the essential idea of a church. The fundamental doctrines of the Christ ian religion must be embraced, or a church cannot exist and where those doctrines are denied, no association of people can be recognized as a church of God .

Let us never forget that everything in Scripture is about Jesus.  He is the focus.  The prophets and the Apostles always focused on him, always talked about him.

Given the fact that we are talking about God himself, nothing can be changed.  Everything has been revealed about him.

Nor can the foundation be modified or shaped so as to suit the wishes of people. It must be laid as it is in the Scriptures; and the superstructure must be raised upon that alone.

The doctrines which the prophets and apostles taught are the basis on which the church rests. That is, the doctrines of divine revelation, whether communicated by prophets or apostles, were laid at the foundation of the Christ ian church. It was not rounded on philosophy, or tradition, or on human laws, or on a venerable antiquity, but on the great truths which God had revealed.

Paul does not say that it was founded on “Peter,” as the papists do, but on the prophets and apostles in general.

(1) That no rel ian ce is to be placed on philosophy as a basis of religious doctrine.

(2) that the traditions of people have no authority in the church, and constitute no part of the foundation.

(3) that nothing is to be regarded as a fundamental part of the Christ ian system, or as binding on the conscience, which cannot be found in the “prophets and apostles;” the Holy Scriptures. No decrees of councils; no ordinances of synods; no “standard” of doctrines; no creed or confession, is to be urged as authority in forming the opinions of people. They may be valuable for some purposes, but not for this; they may be referred to as interesting parts of history, but not to form the faith of Christ ian s; they may be used in the church to express its belief, but not to form it. What is based on the authority of apostles and prophets is true, and always true, and only true; what may be found elsewhere, may be valuable and true, or not, but, at any rate, is not to be used to control the faith of people.

Verse 12.   In reference first to teachers, pastors and evangelist and secondly to all believers, Paul warns us to be careful how one builds on this precious foundation.

Though the foundation is solid, it is foolish to erect a house of false doctrine and error on it. 

Some commentators believe that the gold, silver, and precious stones represent good doctrine while the wood, hay and stubble represent evil or bad doctrine.

“the true foundation is laid; but on that it is improper to place vile and worthless materials. It would be absurd to work them in with those which are valuable; it would be absurd to work in, in rearing a building, wood, and hay, and stubble, with gold, and silver, and precious stones; there would be a lack of concinnity and beauty in this. So in the spiritual temple. There is an impropriety, an unfitness, in rearing the spiritual temple, to interweave truth with error; sound doctrine with false.”

Others believe it more plausible that the value of these materials is not derived from the beauty of the object one may construct with them, but rather the nature of the material’s longevity. 

Will those teaching and beliefs that we hold last?  Will they stand the test of time, having value to usher a soul into eternity?

Or are they merely passing spiritual fads that temporally lift our spirit or subtle distortions of the truth that entice the flesh while masquerading something spiritual.

Every Christ ian is a builder.  Every believer puts something into the body of Christ, and has influenced someone for good or for ill, building them up or damaging them, building spiritual permanence or spiritual instability, encouraging them to follow the Spirit or encouraging them or leading them to follow the things of the flesh.

As a person grows and matures they should disciple others, enable them to develop so that mercy, truth, love and grace flows out of their life.  We must create such an impact on others, working hard to produce the things that will never fail no matter how tested.  We should not aim to produce impermanent or unstable characteristics in others.  We should ensure that they move away from the wisdom of the world, the philosophies that lead to destruction.

We should all ask ourselves whether we are capable of doing this, teaching the wisdom of God, the deep things of God, the meat of the word as well as the milk.

If we cannot we must prepare ourselves.  That is what God wants.

Verse 13.   There will be a day of judgment for the believer.  The judgment seat of Christ will be the venue where every believer will have to give an account.  This judgment is not to determine if one is saved or lost (1 Cor 3:15), rather it is to determine ones rewards based on the value of the spiritual work rendered during this life.

This is not a doctrine of works for salvation, but the scriptural teaching that we are saved onto good works. Eph 2:10.  This is our spiritual responsibility ordained by God.

Our spiritual work is represented by the material with which we chose to build.  The spiritual pursuits that are worthwhile are represented by the gold, silver and precious jewels; they will endure the scrutinizing fire of the judgment.

The kinds of spiritual work that will not survive the fire of judgment are represented by the wood, hay and stubble, which of course when tested with fire will consume.

There is no doubt that all of us have some works that are superficial, shallow and only  meet a limited short term desire – they have no lasting impact on our life or the lives of others.  Those teachings, doctrine and wrong ideas with respects to the scripture, that we hold dear as gospel truth, will perish in the fire.  Those poor examples that we have set by our living, the half hearted commitment to the things of God, and all those things that we’re tried so hard to accomplish for God in the flesh, will be burned up. 

This is a personal, all revealing examination of what we have done; will we bury our gifts and talents or use them for the glory of God.

The flaming, searching eyes of God, the kind of eyes pictured in Revelation 1:4, will examine all of our lives, and our works with be tested.

Verse 14.   If ones spiritual work or deeds pass the test of fire they shall be rewarded.  It is evident that the type or quality of work represented by the gold, silver and precious jewels are firstly the labour of the apostles and the prophets to establish the church. That work is clearly gold, and precious jewels.

Secondly, pastors, teachers evangelist and all brethren involved in the continual work of strengthening and nurturing the people of God, patterning their work after that of the prophets and apostles, we have their work counted as valuable and most precious.

It is not only the apostles, pastors or teachers however that do work worthy of reward; those who stand firm on the word of God, who share the gospel and demonstrate their faith in a positive and impacting way, who rightly divide the word of truth and teach their children the things of God. 

Fathers who exercise godly discipline and godly women who adorn themselves with good works will be rewarded. (1 Tim 2:9-10).  So also will any spiritual activity directed by God and willingly and sincerely accepted.

Each believer according to their contribution to the planting or watering of souls will be rewarded.

Verse 15.   If ones work is burned it will be because it had no enduring value.  If one entertained dubious doctrines or mistaken views of holiness or if one had feelings or thoughts of religion, no matter how well intentioned, if they are not the produce of the gospel they shall be burned.  This is ones loss.  It effects throughout eternity can not be measured – one will not lose their happiness or eternal bliss, the consciousness that you had great opportunity to please your master, but did not, will remain.

Yet the grace and faithfulness of God will save those he has chosen.  “As by fire…” That is, as fire would consume the wood, hay, and stubble, so on the great Day everything that is erroneous and imperfect in a Christ ian shall be removed, and that which is true and genuine shall be preserved as if it had passed through fire.  Their whole character and opinions shall be investigated; and that which is good shall be approved; and that which is false and erroneous be removed.

The simple idea, therefore, is, that that which is genuine and valuable in his doctrines and works, shall be rewarded, and the man shall be saved; that which is not sound nor genuine, shall be removed, and he shall suffer loss.

CONCLUSION         

Every believer should examine themselves and their life to see whether they are following the worldly definition of success or whether they are making an eternal investment in others, contracting to the building up of the body of Christ

Ask yourself,  What is my life going to count for?

What is in my life really?  Does it have things there that are permanent?

Will what I do abide?

Will it stand the test?

Am I going to be ashamed when I face the Lord?

There is no need for fear or embarrassment if we do what is right.

Every believer is a servant of the Lord, therefore as we serve together we must do so in unity.  There is no room for partisan Christ ian ity – you are either for God or working against God.  Of course those who work against God will be lost.

As we work together we must view ourselves as did Paul, acknowledging that ultimately it is Christ working in us and therefore He alone deserves the glory.  Humility is at the crux of the Christ ian service.

As we work together build on another’s effort we must do so with diligence, for each of us will have to give an account and each us for the work we accomplish, will receive his own reward.

Let us not waste the grace that God has given us to serve him.  Let us serve together.

There is unfortunately the matter of embarrassment and loss.  It will produce no joy to know that we have worked in the church doing things that have served no eternal purpose. 

Let us commit ourselves not to be embarrassed.

There is also the matter of the danger of damaging the temple of God , the body of Christ.  This is discussed in verses 16-17. 

Even though this is not strictly a part of our text, we should know that God is very protective toward his church.  There is an immense danger involved when damaging the body of Christ.

The temple of God is sacred, holy, separated from everything else.  Those undermining the spiritual nature of the church will be dealt with severely.

Anyone corrupting the church, dividing it, defiling it, turning it toward the faith and philosophy of the world, twisting the worship life so that it is out of control, bringing in self-indulgence as the rule, leading others away from obeying the Commandments of God, him shall God destroy.

So brethren, capture the vision that God has for his people.

Invest in building materials that will stand the test.

Avoid destructive attitudes and behaviors.

Let us take seriously our identity as saints and priests of God.

Let us  not deceive ourselves, we cannot avoid the flaming searching eyes of Jesus.

Always remember we are the 

Temple
 of 
God

.