"Building the Body"

1 Corinthians 3:1–23 ESV

But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Sin STUNTS Spiritual Growth.

Back in 2014, in San Antonio, Texas, work began on a MUCH needed underpass on one of San Antonio’s busiest highways. However, just a few weeks into the project, work came to a screeching halt. Why? Because as construction crews began excavating the ground, they began disrupting underground caves and discovered an endangered EYELESS spider. Yep. A spider stopped the work. So, what did they do? The government gave permission to the city to change from an underpass to an overpass. Not too big of a deal, right? Well, the underpass was only going to cost about $14-15 million. The overpass, however, wound up costing over $44 million. Why? Again…a spider. Something as small as a spider stopped the progress of work.

What sin was “stunting” their growth? What was halting the progress?

Here, as we begin in chapter 3 of 1 Corinthians, Paul is continuing to address the schism, the problems in the church and he makes - what would have to be - a most shocking and insulting statement. Here’s the truth:

Sin STUNTS spiritual growth.

Worldliness & sins of the flesh. They idolized human wisdom and touted it in pride & superiority.

Can you imagine how insulted, hurt, offended, these Corinthians must have felt when they read this? “You’re not ready for solid food...” “You’re infants...” WHAT?!?!

Remember - these are people who put A LOT of (unhealthy) focus, attention and worth on the “wisdom” of their teachers, on eloquence of speech, on rhetorical skills. They lifted men/teachers to a really unhealthy pedestal.

They’ve got a lot of pride issues and here’s Paul telling them they’re not as wise or mature as they think they are! Paul tells them the problem is they’re “still of the flesh.”

YOU CANNOT LIVE IN THE FLESH AND GROW IN THE SPIRIT! You can’t do it! Why SIN stifles the work of the HS! What was their sin? How were they “still of the flesh”? JEALOUSY & STRIFE (SUPERIORITY)

Galatians 5:19–21 ESV

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Unconfessed, unrepented of sin - every single time!

PERSONAL - seasons in my life…check myself.

<TRANSITION>

Our Chief Architect is God.

(vs. 5-9)

Corinthians - “I am of Paul, Apollos, etc.” Paul is shooting down any idea that he is responsible for building the church! It’s not that he’s being demeaning to he and Apollos, but what he’s saying is, “Look, I’m not the one who ultimately builds the church…you don’t belong to me!”

God is BOSS, OWNER, and GROWER!

I, personally, cannot grow TRBC! This is not my church…or your church. This is God’s church! It was here before me and it will, Lord willing, be here long after me! I, as the pastor, don’t “grow” the church.

Jesus - “I will build MY church.”

Look, God has tremendously blessed us at TRBC. But, listen, he would have/could have used someone else! I can’t take any credit…you can’t take any credit.

Celebrity pastors - Perry Noble…Here’s a question for you, personally…are you too dependent…your growth too dependent on a pastor…a teacher…a certain “bible study” or author…are you dependent on someone or something else for your spiritual growth?

Vs. 18-23 - the SAME SPIRIT...

Corinthian problem - wrong “builder”

Our foundation is Jesus.

(vs. 10-17)

In ANY building/structure, what’s most important? The foundation! If it’s off, everything else is off!

GOOD ILLUSTRATION:

The Corinthians had mistaken their foundation. Paul says, “I laid the foundation of the gospel.” But, what did THEY think was of utmost importance?

Churches today - may appear to be Jesus but their building their church/their lives on the foundation of:

TRADITION

MORALISM

EMOTIONALISM

EXPERIENCE

Let me be clear…as long as I am the pastor here at TR, we will continue to build on the foundation of the GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST! The Word of God. When I came to TR, I made a very clear purpose - my ministry and our church would be built on the foundation of the faithful preaching of the Word of God…unapologetically and uncompromisingly.

Now, that’s not to say that other things aren’t important. Is worship/music important? It sure is, but guess what…music changes. We’ll continue to glorify God through music and be relevant but music and style change. Kid’s ministry/youth ministry…EVEN OUTREACH/DISCIPLESHIP…these things change but the WORD OF GOD NEVER CHANGES.

The Church’s one foundation Is Jesus Christ her Lord, She is His new creation By water and the Word. From Heav’n He came and sought her To be His holy bride; With His own blood He bought her And for her life He died.

What about you, personally? You might be fine and well with building your life on “spirituality” or “moralism” or even experience…You might be fine and well with a “southern Jesus” who doesn’t demand too much of you…NOT ONE WHO IS LORD & KING.

{maybe some other foundation}

Our building materials will be tested.

Everyone has a role to play in the building up of the body. You do! We talked about this a few weeks ago during our time of Sunday School. The foundation is Jesus, but we are workers in building the body!

Ephesians 4:11–13 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:

Ephesians 4:14–16 ESV

so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

John MacArthur…3 ways we build:

1. Our Motives

“Look at me...” GUILT…DUTY…OR joy, gladness of heart, humility...

1 Corinthians 4:5 ESV

Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

2. Our Conduct

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

“Bad” - worthless/produces no gain…our conduct can be good, evil, or useless....are you divisive or a unifier? Remember the passage in ? “Unity of the faith.”

The “little” things - integrity…witness…our life is to be lived in accordance to the purity of the gospel and Scripture!

3. Our Service

“The way we use the spiritual gifts God has given us, the way we minister in His name, is of supreme importance in our building for Him.” Are you using your spiritual gift? Are you using it appropriately? Are you laying dormant? It will be judged by fire when you stand before the throne of God one day.

Guess what…and this is serious stuff…your building materials…how you help in building the body will be judged one day. Paul says “by fire.”

Revelation 19:

Revelation 19:12 ESV

His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.

Revelation 1:14 ESV

The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,

Our works will pass before and be tested by the EYES OF JESUS, HIMSELF…think about that. Our motives, our conduct, our service. We will answer to him.

Paul has pretty stern warnings for those that don’t take it seriously - vs. 16 & 17.

CLOSER:

GOSPEL - WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING YOUR LIFE ON/WITH?

BELIEVERS...