1 Corinthians 3:10-12 Bible Teaching

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1st Corinthians 3.10-12
January 21st 2018
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All right we left off last week talking about the contents of verses 8 and 9 of chapter 3 of 1st Corinthians which say:

8 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.

This launched us into a discussion on the fact that all people are saved by grace through faith but that as Paul makes clear, each and every person will receive of his own reward according to his or her own labor.

And then we talked about how we are all laborers with God in His Kingdom – which is a fascinating concept to consider.

At this point Paul launches into some passages that speak to our labors, our building in the faith, and the end results of all we do in the body, saying (beginning at verse 10)

10 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.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 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.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Okay, back to verse 10 where Paul, who has begun to speak of Christian labor says, speaking of himself:

10 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.

This passage, the way it reads in the King James, is a bit difficult – so let’s consult some other versions including the Greek.

Young’s Literal is interesting because it omits, for reasons I cannot discover, the last line of the passage all together!

It says:

1Co 3:10 (YLT) According to the grace of God that was given to me, as a wise master-builder, a foundation I have laid, and another doth build on [it],

All other translations that I consulted includes the last like, “But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” So that is a mystery (at this point).

The passage seems to be saying that Paul was saying that:

“By the grace of God that was given to him as a wise master-builder he, as the preaching the Gospel apostle laid the foundation (in places like Corinth and then others (like perhaps Apollos, as a teacher) came along and built upon what Paul laid. And then Paul adds in all the translations but the YLT:

But let every man take head how he builds upon this foundation that was laid.

Let’s get to a proper reading of this passage so there is no mistaking Paul and his intent.

For starters, the King James translates the Greek to say Paul is calling himself a, “wise Master builder.”

This attitude automatically seems contrary to the humility Paul has exhibited in the verses prior. This is the result of the King James word choice.

In reality the Greek word translated “Wise Master-Builder” is ARK EE TECK TONE, where we get the word, Architect.

Keep that word in mind.

So he admits that by God’s grace (in presumably calling him to reach the Gentiles in places like Corinth) he laid the foundation (in places like Corinth).

Before we get off track we will soon read that the foundation Paul laid was ONLY Christ Jesus – nothing more.

That is what the foundation is of the faith and Paul went around laying it for the Gentiles in and around Judea and Asia minor.

So when Paul says he was the master builder what he really said was that he was the architect who stepped into places like Corinth, looked at the lay of the land, struck “this” from the plans, leveled “that” area and then oversaw the pouring of the foundation which is Christ. And he did it all by the grace of God.

Got that?

Then he says:

“and another doth build on it” and adds, “But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”

We recall that Paul was writing to them because someone has stepped in and began building upon the foundation of Christ that Paul laid that was not congruent with the foundation.

So when Paul says, “another does build on it,” he seems to be admitting that this is normal – a foundation is there SO AS to be built upon!

But he adds, “but every man who chooses to build take heed – be careful – what he builds.” Probably because of the fact that someone (or someone’s) had come along and through the wisdom of the world added a room to the building that didn’t belong – and needed to be deconstructed by his apostolic hands.

So Paul’s advice is, “Listen, as an apostle, I laid the foundation called Christ and others have, will and are expected to build upon it (especially teachers of the Word, which is what Apollos was) but he then admonishes the reader:

“But make sure those who do take heed what he or she builds.”

In the next verse we are told why as Paul adds:

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

The implication, to me at least, is Jesus Christ is the foundation upon which all things must stand upon – if it cannot stand true, strong, perfect on Him and what He said and did, it cannot be part of the structure.

This is SUCH an important passage as its ramifications are far, far reaching.

Paul started this epistle off talking about how the people of Corinth had been mislead, adopting perhaps the wisdom of the world verse the wisdom of God.

The idea seems to be that someone came along and with all sorts of worldly building plans and materials bolding started building upon the foundation Paul laid (in Jesus name and purpose) and that this building was straw-like rather than being made of Gold or silver.

And it ought to be our guide as believers – that the foundation is Christ and whatever is built upon that foundation must be in harmony with Christ Jesus and His finished work among men.

All around us we have living examples of the foundation being Christ but the edifice, spring-boarding off Jesus, becoming something all together different so that by the time we get to the top floor the foundation is totally obscured by the ideas and demands of Man.

Our Catholic friends certainly claim to be built on Christ – what what exactly is in the structure that they have built upon him historically?

And what has gone on in THAT structure?

Jean Calvin certainly claims Christ as his foundation but are the fruits of Reformed theology congruent with the ways and teachings of the foundation?

Mormonism claims to be founded on Jesus and the restoration of His church but does the building called Mormon reflect the foundation called Christ in word, doctrine, attitude, and practice?

And so with each and every one of us as individuals who claim Christ as our personal rock upon which we stand.

Last week we talked about being who we are in the body as lead by the Spirit. But here Paul is taking us to a new level. He is advising all who build upon that foundation called Christ to build according to the foundation and of no other thing.

More literally, what Paul actually says in verse 11 is that there is no other foundation that can be laid other than the foundation which is Christ.

I take this to mean that there is no other “true” foundation – with true meaning eternal, eternally stable, unmovable, indestructible, perfect, and the foundation upon which all can stand and build without fear as He is the Rock.

Again the idea seems to be that all other foundations that others try and lay are faulty, therefore not true, therefore not eternal – so in the ultimate sense of the Word the ONLY foundation any person can lay is Jesus Christ.

There are a number of places Old and New Testament where Christ likened to a foundation; a stone; the corner stone on which the church is reared.

All the way back in Isaiah 28:16 we read the prophetic words saying

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.”

Jesus said to the Pharisees, citing Psalms and applying it to himself,

Matthew 21:42 “Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?”

Peter said in Acts:

Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Speaking of the Spiritual temple God makes of believers, Paul says in Ephesians 2:20-22

Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Then Peter again wrote in his epistle of Jesus being the stone and all who believe on Him not being confounded.

The reality of this is, the brass tacks, is NO THING ought to be added to or placed atop the foundation that is NOT AS TRUE as Christ Jesus Himself.

If whatever it is adds, takes, alters or morphs Him and His unadulterated truth keep it off, refuse those materials, and allow only the best materials and plans to be implemented on your personal foundation.

In my estimation, while the foundation is certainly laid for all the body, I suggest that we are all our own architects who are personally responsible for what we allow to be built on the foundation of our faith in the Lord. We are overseers of the foundations Christ has set before us individually.

And in this sense we are all responsible for what we allow to be built upon its surface.

Paul will “commence” to talking about these materials in a minute but I want to point something out here that is obvious but sometimes ignored:

The fact that Christ is the foundation, is called the foundation here by Paul automatically implies the expectation for a building or edifice to be built – by both the Body and each individual.

In the context of these passages and of the rest of the New Testament, the foundation of Christ laid before each of us has been provided for each of us to build (as led by God).

This principle goes back to last weeks discussion on becoming a fourth dimension Christian and reminds us of the reality of verse 8 (of chapter 3) where Paul plainly says

“Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.”

So while Jesus life and blood forms the mortar of the foundation upon which we stand it has been given to us to be used, to be built upon.
We might see our personal foundation like we would see the talents or money Jesus describes in his parable in Matthew 25 where He says (beginning at verse 14)

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Remember now, what the Bible is speaking about is love when it comes to our building and increasing and adding.

So in effect, the person who receives Christ as a foundation or a talent of money from God and does not build upon it or increase its value is someone who does not love anymore as a result of receiving Christ then if they had not received Him at all.

He goes on and says at verse 12:

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Because the foundation is Christ, which in this case has been laid by Paul for the Corinthians, it seems that the “those who come along and build upon this foundation” is in reference to teachers and perhaps other laborers in the faith who serve the foundation which is Christ born, crucified, resurrected and ascended.

Now if any man, if any teacher in the doctrines which he shares, or any private Christian in doing what they are called to do, “BUILDS UPON THIS FOUNDATION” and then Paul lists a bunch of different materials which a person might build upon the foundation which is Christ, labeling them:

Gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and stubble.

It’s an interesting list, isn’t it, that he appeals to.

I am fairly convinced due to context that Paul is primarily speaking of teachers here which he carries forward with respect to building upon that which Paul admits to have laid or planted earlier.

In other words, he is the one who introduced Christ the foundation to the Corinthians, and in his metaphor of planting which we covered last week, the next person to come along is the waterer (or Apollos or other teachers true and false) and so it seems this is the main focus of his comments.

So again, once the true foundation is laid, anyone who comes along and teaches upon that foundation best be careful for the teaching must be in harmony with the foundation or the materials used will not last or have value – and hence the different types of materials to represent different types of teachings.

I take this so seriously that I personally refuse to allow for anything to pass through my lips regarding the foundation EVEN if it has a historical tradition of being accepted.

In other words, I’m with everyone who stands on the foundation called Christ. But when people say, “no in order to really be sure that foundation is solid you have to add a framework that includes:

This tradition of man or that tradition of the church, or this practice or that,” I say, “now wait a minute. Stack all that stuff over at the side of the foundation and let’s take some time before we include it into what is obviously biblical and obviously in harmony with who Christ was and is by the Spirit.”

That is EXPECTED of teachers, from what Paul seems to indicate here, and I want the least amount of wood hay and stubble in the building materials that should be gold, silver and precious gems.

No matter who says otherwise.

Of course the materials Paul uses to represent Christian doctrines or practices are of two types:

GOLD SILVER, PRECIOUS STONES

WOOD HAY AND STUBBLE.

Now, there are a number of interpretations about what all of these materials represent.

Some commentators suggest that all of them are acceptable materials depending on use.

For example, who would make framing beams out of silver or gold? None. But wood would be used. Just as hay would be used for a roof and the precious items would be used for décor.

I don’t find this interpretation in harmony with what Paul will say about how these labors will be tested or tried in the presence of God so I reject this view.

Additionally, we aren’t totally sure if Paul is speaking only of teachings or the type of structure people will erect for God because we are dealing in some ways with a mixed metaphor.

So to be safe we are going to just look at the materials contributed instead of what their intended use would be as many commentators get hung up on intended use.

Let’s go to the board and sort of layout the unique features of this list.

GOLD SILVER PRECIOUS STONES
Application
WOOD HAY STUBBLE
Gold silver and costly stones
Eternal or temporal
Timber, dried grass and stems
Inanimate do not grow – given by God and that is it. Limited. Objective.

Grow and reproduce themselves.
Durable (in the presence of God)
Lasting or not
Perishable (in the presence of God)
Rare

Common
Difficult to find

Abundant
Valuable costly (even in that day)
Of more worth
Less expensive
Kingly

Beggarly
Must be mined

Are grown or harvested
Must be purified

Are naturally ready to use
Shine

Dull
Reflective to a great extent

Reflect nothing
Transparent in many cases

Opaque
Often ornamental

Often ubiquitous and industrial
Do not grow

A
Take time for God to produce through pressure etc

Rapidly reproduced openly and in the air

So remember, the illustration is whoever choses to building an edifice to God upon the foundation of His Son take great care as to what you choose to add thereupon.

And again, I would say that when the materials of our Christian lives are agape love – whether felt or not – those all fall under the category of gold, silver and precious stones.

Anything less, that we introduce to the foundation laid is less than the Christ who laid it, and in my opinion represent the wood, the cut grass and the stalks or stems.

I want to pause for a minute since we are talking about our labors and the materials we choose to add to the foundation called Christ being love.

I run into a concern from people – typically from women – that fears the “love” they share will be discovered faulty in the eyes of God because, they say, they don’t necessarily feel it in the heart – they only do it, but the heart is not always there.

Because of this a number of women I know are worried that the materials they are adding to the foundation will be discovered in their end as being wood and hay and not precious gold or silver.

I’m inclined to speak to this ailment because I think it is misunderstood.

Certainly, in a perfect world, perfect people would perfectly love from the heart without exception and in spite of any and all circumstances.

But our lot as fallen humans comes part and parcel with wicked hearts – hearts that are pretty much incapable of perfect love – that God He loved us so much He gave us His only Son who could love like that, right?

And when that Son walked the earth, while he commanded all of us to love, he showed and taught us what that love looked like in our lives.

In one parable, He said:

Matthew 21:28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, “Son, go work to day in my vineyard.”
29 And the son answered and said, “I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.”
30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, “I go, sir: and went not.”
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first.

Why do I mention this? The first son, in his heart, did not want to go into the vineyard but changed his mind after rejecting his fathers invitation and went.

The second son said the right words to his father but never followed up and the first son is seen as justified, right?

Now, what was in the heart of the first son? It wasn’t automatic please my father love was it? In fact it resisted doing what His father asked at first.

BUT . . . that Son changed his mind – for whatever reason, we are not told – and then went and did what was asked of him.

Maybe that Son wanted to use the horse and cart that night? Or maybe he feared what his father would think of him or of punishment, or perhaps he loved his father and regretted rejecting him. Maybe it was guilt.

But here is the key – whatever the motivation the first son went and did what his father asked.

That is the key – irrespective of the motivation.

You see, the heart may want what God wants or the heart may not want what God wants, but the Christian will love because that is what they are commanded to do – whether they feel like it or not.

Even Jesus asked His father if He had to go through His passion – as if to say, “I would prefer to not really do this, BUT,” He added, “not my will but thine be done.”

Real love – the gold and silver and precious stone kind of love – is a verb. It acts in the things that God commands WHETHER OR NOT IT FEELS LIKE ACTING THIS WAY OR NOT.

That is the sacrificial kind of love God is looking for and when we really think about it, what is more God honoring?

When someone acts in love because that is just the way they are or when someone who is not naturally loving toward others chooses to act in love because that is what God commands?

So stop feeling guilty for choosing to act in love when you don’t feel like it – your self sacrifice is greatest and that is the heart God sees.

Get it?

I mean, what an offering of gold and silver when someone has to choose to die to their natural inclinations toward others but out of love, respect, or even fear or guilt does what God wants them to do.

So Paul has said that “If any man build, I say, upon this foundation, let him look to the materials and the nature of his work”

And then at verse 13-15 he tells us why

13 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.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Look out folks, we are talking about some really loaded passages here that must be taken contextually and because of that we are going to leave them off . . . till next week.

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