Key Text: Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11).
The first major concern of the Apostle Paul has to deal with the divisive spirit of the church he founded in Corinth. He approaches the problem by first denouncing their factional spirit, then by demonstrating the quality of divine wisdom as contrasted with human wisdom. In this passage, Paul deals with “worldly influence” as the cause of problems in the church, an internal carnality. That is, the pressures of the world were combined with the weakness of the flesh. Paul used imagery from agriculture to construction in order to lay foundations by preaching Christ v 11, especially since his own integrity has been called into question. Again, quarrels had split the congregation into factions and Paul’s appeal was to unify “one another in mind and …judgment” v 10. There appear to have been four rival parties: Those who professed to follow Paul, those who professed to follow Apollas, those who professed to follow Peter (also known as Cephas who was with Christ in His earthly ministry), and those who renounced all the others and claimed only Christ.
Paul urged the Corinthians to examine how they build, not what they build, since the nature of the foundation is Jesus Christ, and since there will be a time of reckoning. Both the materials employed in the building and the manifestation of every man’s work should be on the minds of all believers who are called to build the church. It should be done through faithful ministry, with gold, silver, precious stones, (dedicate and spiritual service). On the other hand, wood, hay, and straw implies inferior materials (shallow activity with no eternal value). These will not withstand the trial by fire, the absolute righteous judgment of God. If a man’s work does not endure, and is consumed in the fire, then he shall suffer loss of reward; “But he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” v 15. That is, such a man does not suffer the loss of his salvation, but the loss of reward. Paul stresses that the building being erected is a residence of Almighty God where “The Spirit of God dwelleth in you” v16. Finally, Paul has said, “you are a shrine of God and the shrine of God is holy”, then the conclusion is, “you are holy.” The greatest incentive for unity in the church is knowing that believers belong to Christ and to one another. AMEN!
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