August 3rd, 2025: Christians and God's Temple | 1 Corinthians 3:10-23

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22).

In the first century, the town of Corinth was well known for its strategic military location, as well as its commercial value as a center of trade. It was originally the capital city of a Roman province known as Achaia and was a very active and prosperous place. However, Corinth was also known to have a tawdry reputation as a place of immorality. Acts chapter 18 tells of Paul’s visit to Corinth on his second missionary trip and introduces us to the Corinthian people and culture. The main focus of the lesson today is that every true Bible believing church (then and now) is under the leadership of Christ and must be built on the rock-solid foundation of Jesus. The church of Christ is not a brick and stone building (as the Jewish Temple was before being destroyed in 70 AD). Now, each born-again believer is the temple where the Holy Spirit of God dwells.  We are all part of one church, the one bride of Christ. 

The same jealousies and pettiness that crept into the first-century churches also affect us today.  As we study our lesson, think of your individual responsibility as well as the calling of the church as a whole to align ourselves with God’s values and purpose.   

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.

 What was Paul building?  He was a contractor of the church of the living God, just like every believer, and had a role to play in the spreading of the Gospel to all the world. The architect is Christ. Paul was a wise builder in that he stuck to the plan and built by the book. He had spent a year and a half in Corinth setting this church in order. Paul was concerned with letters he had received since he’d departed about division among the brethren. What kind of division, you may ask?  

Some believers in the Corinthian church had learned of Christ from Paul, some from Peter, and some from another minister by the name of Apollos. Paul was a scholar and former member of the Sanhedrin. Peter was a fisherman who had walked daily with Christ. Apollos was a Greek convert trained by Aquilla and Priscilla. They had different backgrounds, different levels of education, and no doubt, very different personalities. The believers in Corinth, not realizing that salvation doesn’t come through any man but only through the blood of Christ, stirred up controversy about who was the most “right.” They made much of the differences between the men.  The church began to split over issues of loyalty and authority.  

Proverbs 16:16-19

16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Sounds a little like the divisions that happen in our church today! We can lose sight of the unity we have as the body of Christ, and draw lines of separation as if we are trying to win a popularity contest! Paul reminded the Corinthians that it was unimportant who baptized them, and it didn’t matter who had the biggest following. They were one body, with one head, and the focus was always to be on what Jesus did.  

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 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.

If you want the credit, then you have to also take the responsibility. The authority over the church belongs to Christ alone. We don’t have the ability to save ourselves, let alone others.  We don’t have the tools to repair the breach between sinful man and the perfection of heaven.  The blueprints of the plan of salvation were drawn before the foundations of the universe were spoken into existence. God is gracious in that He allows us to be a part of what He is doing.  Born-again believers, filled with the Holy Spirit, have work to do that God has given them the power, the tools, and the ability to finish.  What a thrill! If we work, we work with and for Him.  If we try to create our own project, with our own rules, and our own preferences, on the foundation of our own opinions, it is all wasted and worthless. Only what we do for His glory has any value, here or in eternity to come.

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.

“Our God is a consuming fire,” the Old Testament says. Fire burns away everything temporary and corruptible.  It makes things clean; it strips down the unnecessary and unhelpful parts. In Heaven, there's only truth, raw honesty, about what we have done with the opportunities that God has given us here. I imagine we’ll all be shocked to see how small our contributions are compared to the incomparable glory of the finished work of Jesus.  If we listen to Him, if we pattern our actions after His, if we don’t chase after the things He hates, but instead work steadily to serve the people He loves, there will be a great reward in His presence.  There are gems of gold, silver and precious stones for the things we did that brought glory and attention to  Jesus. The good news is, if in our ignorance or arrogance we have built with the wrong materials, the efforts will be burnt, but the soul will be saved.  

 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.

The Old Testament tells us of a physical temple.  It was a meeting place where God instructed His people and received offerings for sin.  It represented Christ in every way, who is the mediator between God and man.  The New Testament tells us of a spiritual temple. The church of God is a living temple.  Christ lives in each believer. Likewise, He has authority over the life of the believer.  The temple Solomon built was nothing at all, until the glory of God entered it. A person can not do the work of God unless the presence of God takes up residence within them. It is not possible to go to Heaven without a life surrendered to Christ.  

When the Corinthian church insisted on operating in contradiction to the truth of God, they corrupted and defiled their temple, their witness.  Gossip, division, and pride were standing in opposition to the authority of Christ.  

 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. (Joel 2:27-29) 

We have a responsibility to maintain the temple by recognizing that we belong to 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. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

Our faith and trust can never be in mankind. The wisdom of the world is foolishness with God.  How great are God’s thoughts! How high they are above our own. We should not be looking for acceptance, prestige, honor, or recognition from other human beings. Jesus certainly didn’t… in fact, it said that He knew what was in their hearts. Instead, build on the foundation of Christ. Let us trust God’s word in every matter. If we start with the same foundation and follow the same instruction manual (Bible), it won’t matter who does which part or who is more important.  Regardless of denomination, language, or background, live in the fruit of the Spirit.  Prefer your brother ahead of yourself. And know that our motivations matter to God far more than our successes. The Lord knows our thoughts. Will some of our work be burnt up - sadly, more than we realize. May God open our eyes to see the wasted things we do and help us to be obedient to the Gospel.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:10-17).

Thank you for studying with us! God bless!