BUILDING ON THE FOUNDATION - A Bible Study

1 Corinthians Chapter 3

 OVERVIEW

The author of the letter to the Corinthians is the Apostle Paul.  Paul visited Corinth during his 2^nd missionary trip and planted a Christian church there around 52 A.D.  In Paul’s day Corinth was the capitol of the Roman province of Achaia.  The Apostle remained with the newly formed church for nearly two years teaching and ministering to their spiritual needs in order to provide them with a firm foundation upon which they could build. 

 

Corinth was a city of about 500,000 people and was situated on the narrow Isthmus of Corinth in what is today modern Greece.  It was situated on major land and sea travel routes and commanded two harbors, one leading to Asia and the other to Italy.  With its extended trade, it was a very prosperous city and was known both for its luxury and its immorality.  To be called a Corinthian woman at the time was synonymous with being called a whore or a strumpet.  The city had at least 26 sacred places, including a temple dedicated to Aphrodite that had 1,000 temple priestesses, or prostitutes.  His first letter to this church was written from Ephesus around 56-57 A.D.  This letter by the Apostle is full of practical advice on a host of common, everyday issues of which the early believers would certainly have had questions about. 

 

In chapter 3 of his first letter to the Corinthian Church, Paul begins by writing, “And I, brethren.”  The Apostle is obviously referring back to something that he was discussing in the previous chapter, and so, in order to fully understand his line of reasoning, we must review a bit of what Paul said in chapter 2.

 

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:12-14).  Paul’s declaration in chapter 2 is that God has veiled His eternal purpose in mystery to those who are not regenerated, or born again.  There is a “hidden wisdom” that transcends the wisdom of this world and is only understood by those who are being perfected in Christ.  “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:7).  As Christians, we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit so that we can understand everything that God has freely given us in Christ.  In teaching us God’s ways, the Spirit compares spiritual things with spiritual, not using the wisdom of this world or natural, carnal arguments.  Natural eyes and natural ears are not suited to understanding the mysteries of God, but through His Spirit, God reveals them to His children.  This is a gift of God, and is very precious indeed!  

 

With these truths in mind, we can now proceed to chapter 3:

 

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” (verses 1 and 2). 

 

Paul begins this chapter by reprimanding the Corinthians for being carnal-minded.  In light of what he said in chapter 2, Paul felt that they should be further along in their walk, and in a position to receive spiritual truth.  Unfortunately, they had not matured much past the baby stage as Christians and had to be fed with milk because they could not handle spiritual meat.  What was the cause of this stunted growth?  He tells us in the next two verses.

 

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” (verses 3 and 4). 

 

The carnal state of the Corinthian Church was caused by envy, strife, and divisions among the members.  Some were siding with Paul over some issues, and some were siding with Cephas, while others were siding with Apollos (See 1 Corinthians 1:11-17).  There were factions forming, and a “them vs. us” mindset was beginning to manifest itself.  Paul was very concerned about what he saw happening within this New Testament church that he had labored long in the Lord to establish in the truth.  He knew the potential damage that such thinking could have on this local Church and how it could fracture and divide Christ’s Body in Corinth.  What would the unbelievers in that city think when they saw that Christians could not agree and get along?  We, too, should be concerned when we see such things happening in the Church today.  We can be very sure that whenever these things exist within a local assembly, the result will be a carnal-minded congregation that is hampered in their spiritual growth.  Consider this: in the first century there was only one church in every city.  Each church was made up of every believer in that community.  When these churches split apart to form other factions though, it was due (according to Paul) to the carnality of man’s thinking.  Today, we have scores of different churches in every city, all teaching slightly different doctrines and beliefs, and many are unwilling to look past their denominational titles and dogmas in order to promote a unity of the Spirit.  Can we assume by this that the majority of assemblies in any given locale are carnal-minded and unable to grow past the milk of the Word?

 

“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” (verses 5 - 7).    

 

I like to plant a vegetable garden each year.  When the plants mature, and I am bringing baskets of fresh, ripe produce into the house, my wife will often say, “You grow a good garden, Mr. Dodds!”  I always tell her that all I did was plant it, water it, and weed it – it was God Who grew it!  No matter how well we plant, water, or weed our garden, it is God Who gives the increase.  While all those things may be helpful, it is only God Who can give life and produce fruit.  Our task is simply to provide a rich nursery where God’s plants can prosper and grow.  To exalt the planter, or to glorify him who waters, is to redirect the focus from God to man.  We are just ministers, we are fellow laborers; and God has given every believer the ability to help in the garden in some way.  Man likes to have the pre-eminence, however, when he should just do his job, get out of the way, and then let God do His!

 

“Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” (verses 8, 9).

 

All who labor in God’s garden are one.  Though our tasks may be different, they are all necessary.  I may like the ministry of the one picking tomatoes better than the one pulling weeds, but they are both doing the work that God gave them to do and are, therefore, benefiting the entire garden.  We should neither be jealous of another’s ministry, nor vaunt ourselves or our ministry over any other.  It is often the small things that God uses that have the most impact.  It is often the least comely member of His Body upon which He chooses to bestow the most honor. 

 

Everyone who works in the garden will be rewarded according to their own labor.  Those who sit week after week enjoying the fruit of other’s labors but do not share in those labors are losing out on great rewards in heaven.  By witnessing to others, supporting the weak and infirm, checking on their brothers and sisters, praying for one another, and helping the poor, they lay up treasures in heaven for themselves.  Certainly it is enough to know that our names are written in heaven and that we have been promised eternal life, but the fact remains that we are going to be judged by the things that we have done while in these bodies.  Jesus emphasized this point with His Parable of the Talents.  He made it clear that it was important that we be faithful with the resources that the Lord has given us in this life because, when He returns, there will be an accounting (See Matthew 25:14-30).  

 

We, the people of God, are His Church, and the Church is God’s husbandry (garden).  We need to take heed how we operate in God’s garden.  When our children were young, we would have them help tend our vegetable garden.  Their least favorite job, of course, was weeding.  We had to watch them very closely when they did this task because, in their zeal to get it over with, they would often pull up the good plants along with the bad.  We all need to learn how to delicately handle God’s precious plants so that we don’t harm them in some way.  Paul told Timothy, “... the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves…” (2 Timothy 2:24, 25).

 

Paul also introduces a new concept in verse 9.  Not only are God’s people His husbandry or garden, but they are also God’s Building, His House, and His Temple. 

 

“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.  But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” (verses 10).

 

Paul acknowledges that it is the gift of God’s grace that has equipped him to be a wise master builder, and not his own worldly wisdom or abilities.  Accordingly, Paul was able to lay a foundation of truth for the Church of Corinth upon which others could build.  He issues a warning, however, and tells them to take heed what and how they build on that foundation.  This is the House of God we are building!  Why would anyone want to use shoddy or sub-standard materials on it?  God deserves our very best!  In this case, our very best is the thing that He Himself has gifted us to do, and not our own carnal reasoning, wisdom, or inventiveness.  We must learn to let the Spirit lead us and anoint us.   

 

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (verses 11).

 

Every building must be built upon a firm foundation.  Without it, the building will shift and sink, and will not be able to stand against the elements or against the test of time.  The House of God, His Church and Temple, is built upon the sure foundation of Jesus Christ.  His Words and His example form the solid base upon which everything else can be securely built, and that foundation is built on the solid rock of truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God!  There are many other foundations that men have tried to build, but they are all doomed to fail because they have been built on shifting sand.  Jesus is the only Rock that we can confidently build on, and He is the only Foundation upon which we can forever rely.  We hear a lot of things today (both outside and inside of churches) that try to pass themselves off as truth, but if they do not match up with the eternal Word of God, they are lies, and their adherents are ultimately doomed to fail.

 

“Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” (verses 12, 13).

 

These verses always remind me of the story of the three little pigs that we all learned as children.  The first two piggies built with inferior materials which were weak and provided little or no real shelter from the threat that was out there.  They were easily and cheaply obtained, however, and took a minimum of effort to erect.  The third piggy, on the other hand, chose to build with brick.  This would have cost him considerably more than the other two were willing to spend, and the labor to build a house of brick was much more intensive.  In the end, though, his labor and choices stood firmly against everything that the big, bad wolf could muster.

 

There is coming a day of trouble that will test every man’s work.  The fires of tribulation will try what we have built to see if it will stand or fall.  It is important that we make the right investments in time and materials to ensure that what we do today endures. 

 

“If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (verses 14, 15).

 

Laying up treasures in heaven is what we should all be about.  Jesus said, Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21).  Paul understood this, and must have had it in mind when he wrote, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14).

 

If our works here on earth are not of lasting quality, and are burned up when they are tested, we will suffer some loss.  It will be as though our house burned down, and we barely escaped with our lives.  We ourselves will be saved, but oh, the loss of many precious rewards that could have been ours had we only been more conscientious about the call that God has given each of us. 

 

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” (verses 16, 17).

 

This is a much more solemn warning from the Apostle.  First, he establishes again the fact that God’s people are the Temple of God, and they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God.  If a man’s work is not just inferior, but actually defiles or destroys God’s Temple (the Body of Christ), then God will bring judgment upon that man “for the Temple of God is holy.”  We must be very careful when we allow envy, strife, and division into our assemblies.  It is these things that have defiled and separated the people of God and allowed the enemy to sow much confusion among believers in Christ.

 

“Let no man deceive himself.  If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.  For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” (verses 18, 19).

 

We must never allow ourselves to become overinflated with a sense of our own importance.  When we do, we are only deceiving ourselves.  The wisdom of this world is not compatible with the life that is ours in Christ.  Our thoughts and ways, outside the leading of the Spirit, are not God’s thoughts and ways.  His ways are higher than our ways, even like the heavens are higher than the earth.  “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:6-8).   Jesus said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31, 32).  We must be a people who are solidly grounded and anchored in the Word of God.  There may be times that what we see of “religion” does not match what we see in God’s Word.  It is then that we must stand on what God has said, and not what man says.  The truth will always make us free!