1 Corinthians 3:12-15
Jesus Christ and His finished work at Calvary are the foundation upon which all of the New Covenant is built. A wise master builder would never dare build a house without a firm foundation, and Paul considered himself such a wise man, “according to the grace of God” (1 Corinthians 3:10). Thus, Paul built his doctrine of the New Covenant on Jesus Christ (3:11).
You and I are building upon the Apostle Paul’s original work in our own lives. Some build using gold, silver and precious stones, while others build using wood, hay and stubble (3:12). Obviously, to build using gold, silver and precious stones, one must take special care and invest heavily in the outcome, while constructing with wood, hay and stubble takes far less attention and investment.
The metaphor of the houses being built does not insinuate that some are more saved than others or that some are building houses in Christianity and are not saved at all. In the New Testament, salvation is always characterized as a free gift, thus there is no way to earn what Jesus paid for. However, the redeemed receive rewards for their labor in the Lord. The reward is not greater righteousness or more justification, for these are complete and cannot be added to. Instead, the rewards are yet to come, and are waiting for us in eternity (Matthew 16:7; 2 Timothy 4:8)
What we do with Jesus and His finished work while here on this earth help determine what kind of house that we are building. Put more plainly, some Christians do next to nothing with the righteousness that they have, hardly even functioning in God’s grace as a victor or a conqueror. They are saved, for their foundation is Jesus Christ, but their spiritual house is weak and shapeless. Other believers have invested in the kingdom of God in many different ways and they are a shining example of faith and victory. These bring great glory to the Father, not because they are better people, or “more saved”, but because they make the temple of God appear beautiful before the world.
Paul says that all of our works will be tested and burned. If they are of the first variety, they will last, for they are built with Christ’s glory. If they be of wood, hay and stubble, they “shall be burned” (I Corinthians 3:15), but the individual themselves will not be. There is no hell to fear for the saint for “he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (verse 15).
What kind of house are you building for the kingdom of God? Only you know for sure, and only you can change it. If you are bringing honor and glory to the Lord Jesus through your life then there is gold shining in your temple. If you are causing people to see you and not Jesus, or are obscuring His perfection in some way, then you are still saved, just living in a temple of stubble. Shine today as a reflection of His glory, for He is your foundation.
Jesus Christ and His finished work at Calvary are the foundation upon which all of the New Covenant is built. A wise master builder would never dare build a house without a firm foundation, and Paul considered himself such a wise man, “according to the grace of God” (1 Corinthians 3:10). Thus, Paul built his doctrine of the New Covenant on Jesus Christ (3:11).
You and I are building upon the Apostle Paul’s original work in our own lives. Some build using gold, silver and precious stones, while others build using wood, hay and stubble (3:12). Obviously, to build using gold, silver and precious stones, one must take special care and invest heavily in the outcome, while constructing with wood, hay and stubble takes far less attention and investment.
The metaphor of the houses being built does not insinuate that some are more saved than others or that some are building houses in Christianity and are not saved at all. In the New Testament, salvation is always characterized as a free gift, thus there is no way to earn what Jesus paid for. However, the redeemed receive rewards for their labor in the Lord. The reward is not greater righteousness or more justification, for these are complete and cannot be added to. Instead, the rewards are yet to come, and are waiting for us in eternity (Matthew 16:7; 2 Timothy 4:8)
What we do with Jesus and His finished work while here on this earth help determine what kind of house that we are building. Put more plainly, some Christians do next to nothing with the righteousness that they have, hardly even functioning in God’s grace as a victor or a conqueror. They are saved, for their foundation is Jesus Christ, but their spiritual house is weak and shapeless. Other believers have invested in the kingdom of God in many different ways and they are a shining example of faith and victory. These bring great glory to the Father, not because they are better people, or “more saved”, but because they make the temple of God appear beautiful before the world.
Paul says that all of our works will be tested and burned. If they are of the first variety, they will last, for they are built with Christ’s glory. If they be of wood, hay and stubble, they “shall be burned” (I Corinthians 3:15), but the individual themselves will not be. There is no hell to fear for the saint for “he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (verse 15).
What kind of house are you building for the kingdom of God? Only you know for sure, and only you can change it. If you are bringing honor and glory to the Lord Jesus through your life then there is gold shining in your temple. If you are causing people to see you and not Jesus, or are obscuring His perfection in some way, then you are still saved, just living in a temple of stubble. Shine today as a reflection of His glory, for He is your foundation.
No comments:
Post a Comment