3:1 - 3:23 god, not man, is the cause of growth
3:1 - 3:11 i planted, apollos watered, but god was causing the growth
3:12 - 3:15 build with care, for the result will be tested
3:16 - 3:17 foreshadowing...you are a temple
3:18 - 3:23 do not boast in men
I - build with care as each man's work will become evident
1Cr 3:12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious
stones, wood, hay, straw,
1Cr 3:13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because
it is {to be} revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.
1Cr 3:14 If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
1Cr 3:15 If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will
be saved, yet so as through fire.
A. the quality of your work will be revealed
1Cr 3:13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because
it is {to be} revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of
each man's work.
B. your bonus is tied to your work
1Cr 3:14 If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
1Cr 3:15 If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will
be saved, yet so as through fire.
illustration : stalin's hotel architects
moscow hotel; both halves initialed; too afraid to ask...
they were very conscious that their fate was tied to their work.
NOTE : pay close attention...this is within the context of christianity
1. good work earns a reward, bad work earns a loss
2. salvation is not at stake for the christian who does bad work
a. 'he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire'
we are not discussing whether or not one is a christian;
we are discussing whether or not one is an effective christian.
all of these things work, none will (in my opinion) last
church global : doctrine changes (pelagius)
can you force people into salvation (jesuit method)?
church local : put a bad teacher into a position
can you have a (fun, relevant, etc) church that doesn't produce mature christians?
(nonsense preaching)
can you drive a church through mass emotianal experience?
church personal : unbiblical advice
can you take the easy way out in relationships (that's just the way he/she is...)
illustration : eli
1 sam 2:22-25
C. the revelation of the quality is spoken of in the future tense...
1Cr 3:12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious
stones, wood, hay, straw,
1Cr 3:13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because
this isn't discussed in an immediate sense...
we must judge our work/effect carefully
II - you are a temple of god
1Cr 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and {that} the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1Cr 3:17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of
God is holy, and that is what you are.
A. you are a temple
1. temple = house of god
you are a temple of god and...the spirit of god dwells in you
this establishes the severity of the topic
:::::::: god is holy :::::::::
exodus 9:19
2. god will protect his temple
1Cr 3:17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him
3. you are holy
III - avoid worldly wisdom (wisdom)
1Cr 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this
age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.
1Cr 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written,
"{He is} THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS";
1Cr 3:20 and again, "THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS."
this should be pretty well understood by now...it's been a major theme of the first 3 chapters.
IV - you belong to christ (status)
1Cr 3:21 So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you,
1Cr 3:22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things
present or things to come; all things belong to you,
1Cr 3:23 and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.
A. we are prepared for the task
our ability to correctly build upon the foundation...
we are christ's; we have his wisdom.
B. do not boast in men
again - you'd better have this by now.
C. you have all things through christ (a true self-esteem)
1. all things belong to you
2. you belong to christ
this is not a statement on our right to 'claim' physical health,
wealth, etc...
marco's story about "you reap what you sow...
you sow colones, you reap colones.
you sow dollars, you reap dollars."
this is a statement about true worth annd value
in contrast with the esteem of men that paul has rejected...
here paul talks about what value we do have - we are owned by
god, the only one who actually determines value in the universe.
value is only determined by god there is no other possible source
1Cr 6:20 For you have been bought with a price:
1Cr 7:23 You were bought with a price;