Do You Know?
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1 Corinthians 3
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.
This morning we considered a few analogies and illustrations Paul used to describe and exhort the local church. He reminded the Corinthians that as those who have been born again.
They are God’s family - brothers in Christ.
They are God’s farmers - and at the same time God’s field.
They are God’s framers - co-builders of His temple.
But most importantly, they are being built on God’s one sure and steady Foundation, Jesus Christ!
Tonight we are are going to consider verses 16-23 where Paul turns the analogy of God’s temple and really makes it personal. The local church is a body, but is made up of individual parts. The local church is analogous to a temple but is made up of individual people. In these closing verses of Chapter 3 Paul wants these individual members of the local church at Corinth, at Jefferson St., and at Pray’s Mill to know some things....
Notice how he beings verse 18, Do you not know? Paul poses a question to the church at Corinth and as a matter of fact for us as well. He wants all those who are a part of the body of Christ to understand what it means to be God’s temple built on the foundation of our Lord Jesus Christ! My goal tonight is for all of us to leave here tonight knowing some things. Knowing more about God, His will, His wisdom, His church, and His Son!
So tonight I want us to see three important truths that every member of God’s church needs to know if we are going to be a vital, healthy, growing member of the Body of Christ and Temple of God.
The first truth is you need is to....
I. Know that You are God’s Temple. (16-17)
I. Know that You are God’s Temple. (16-17)
I Corinthians
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.
Paul wants to make sure the Corinthians understand what it means to be God’s temple. He wants to make sure they Know which means....
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 28.1 γινώσκω; οἶδα; γνωρίζω; γνῶσις, εως
to possess information about—‘to know, to know about, to have knowledge of, to be acquainted with, acquaintance.’
Paul knew if the Corinthians truly understood what it meant to be God’s temple then these problems of jealousy, strife, sexual immorality, and so on would be repented of and resolved. Here is the deal, if we as the church today, know what it means to be the temple of God many of our problems would pass away through repentance, faith, and a pursuit of holiness! So what does Paul want us to know about being God’s temple?
First,
A. God’s Spirit dwells in you.
A. God’s Spirit dwells in you.
Paul wants the body at Corinth to know that as God’s temple, God’s Spirit dwells in them.
Paul also reminds the Romans in chapter 8,
English Standard Version Chapter 8
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.
In the second letter to the Corinthians Paul writes,
What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Do see how Paul merges the two truths together, you are God’s temple, he will dwell within you. Do you hear the Old Testament language. What was the temple on the OT? The dwelling place of God where the ark was kept. Where the presence of God resided. Where is people in a special way met with Him.
How then do you know if the Holy Spirit dwells within you.
You have professed Christ as Lord.
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
You experience conviction over your sin. You are dead to sin.
You desire the pure spiritual milk of the Word.
You understand spiritual things given by God
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
1 Corinthians
You pursue holiness if the the Holy Spirit dwells in you.
Here is another fact to know if you are God’s temple.
B. God Protects His temple.
B. God Protects His temple.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
2 Corinthians
How about that, wherever God will destroy those who seek to destroy His dwelling place. This again speaks to the Holiness of God. God has give us rules regarding his dwelling places throughout the Scriptures.
Not just anyone was to lay their hands on the ark. Do you remember what happened when Uzzah reached out to steady the ark of God when the oxen stumbled? God’s anger was kindled against him and God struck him down because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God. Uzzah wasn’t even trying to destroy the ark of God’s presence, but he did not follow the rules to protect God’s holiness.
Paul is warning the church at Corinth, as God’s temple as those in whom the Holy Spirit dwells if you do anything to destroy, denigrate, divide or defame His temple he will destroy you! Do you seen who serious God is about protecting His temple, His people, His church?
You may be thinking why is God so harsh? It is because He is Holy! He is set apart, He is transcendent, He is majestic, morally pure and perfect. Therefore, those in whom he dwells, his temple He will protect, and He will destroy those who seek to divide His body.
CHS
Spurgeon wrote “it is an ill bird that fouls his own nest.” He was specifically addressing those in the church who slander one another. Why in the world would we slander, tear down, or divide our own community of faith, in essence tearing apart Christ’s church? It is because we are sick with sin, not living in the Spirit who dwells within us.
Paul has written to the church. God Spirit dwells in you, God protects his temple. The last truth I want us to see regarding God temple is,
C. God’s temple is holy.
C. God’s temple is holy.
For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
We just discussed God’s apartness, his otherness, perfection, and righteousness. His transcendent majesty; Paul closes verse 17 saying for this is who God is, this is His nature and by extension, by theological union His temple is Holy and you are his temple.
Now understand what I am not saying.
You and I are not transcendent or majestic as God is.
You and I are not morally perfect.
What I am saying is.
All those who the Spirit of God dwells in are pursuing holiness, we are set apart, we are consecrated to God for His service. We are repenting of sin and striving to grow in holiness.
Let me leave you with a verse of Scripture to illustrate this.
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
You see what is going on if the Holy Spirit dwells within us. There is a washing of regeneration that takes place and then a continuous renewal of the Holy Spirit!
Matthew Henry writes,
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume 1 Corinthians 3:16–17
It may be understood of the church of Corinth collectively, or of every single believer among them; Christian churches are temples of God. He dwells among them by his Holy Spirit. They are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit,
In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
If you know that you are God’s temple,
Know that the Holy Spirit dwells in you.
Know that God will protect His Holy habitation, His Church and His child.
Know that God’s temple is Holy, set apart, and consecrated for His service. Knowing these things we should seek to pursue holiness, unity among the body, and we must protect the purity and peace of God’s temple!
Because of the Holiness of God and His Spirit we ought to cry out the Lord as Robert Murray M’Cheyne,
“O Lord, make me as holy as possible for a saved sinner to be!”
Do you now know that you are God’s temple? Here is the second truth Paul want you to,
II. Know that You Must Become a Fool
II. Know that You Must Become a Fool
I Corinthians 3:18-
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.”
Do you see it in verse 18, Let no one deceive himself....let him become a fool. In order to become wise we must become fools. That doesn’t even sound right, how does that work? Why is Paul exhorting us to become fools? What I want us to see is that Paul is not condoning ignorance but condemning worldly wisdom! Notice how Paul begins,
Paul first exhorts the church,
A. Don’t be deceived. (18a)
A. Don’t be deceived. (18a)
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.
Do you see it, we can deceive ourselves by thinking we are wise.
We can think we are really wise when in reality we are worldly.
We can think we have all understanding, but be uninformed in spiritual things.
We can think we are know all we need, and be lacking in the knowledge of God.
Paul combats this worldly wisdom by warning believers to avoid self-deception. Although we may think we are wise in this age we must become fools. In other words we must be willing to admit this wisdom we have from the world is foolishness and folly. As we recognize the foolishness of this world we must seek the wisdom of God.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
How were the Corinthians displaying the foolishness of their worldly wisdom? They were displaying jealousy and strife, lining up with men instead of all standing firm on the foundation of Jesus Christ. When it is Jesus Christ whom they need to follow, and God who would give them the growth in wisdom and knowledge they needed.
Paul was not saying forget everything you have ever learned in the world, that would be foolish! Some of the things we have learned are practical wisdom we need to survive.
What he is saying, is that all worldly wisdom must be submissive to and subject to the wisdom of God. All wisdom we receive in this world must be consider through the lens of Scripture and the Christian worldview.
The word for fool used here is,
moros - meaning foolish, stupid…It is the word from which we get moron. It is used in the sense of devoid of good sense or sound judgment.
Illustration - MR reengineered the way we enter decay pockets…He thought he was wise and kept trying to convince us his way was right, we had to say stop, listen, look at the manual, and submit to what is written!
Therefore Paul goes on to exhort them to,
B. Become a fool for God. (18b - 19a)
B. Become a fool for God. (18b - 19a)
Let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God.
Consider King Solomon for a moment, we read in -9
English Standard Version Chapter 3
5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7 And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
Paul goes on to say here a man who thinks he is wise must become a fool that he may become wise. Because the wisdom he thinks he has is folly of foolishness with God.
Let me give you some examples.
The world says, the earth was created by a big bang, God’s Word says, In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
The world says, all people are basically good, God’s Word says none are righteous, no not one.
The world says religion is foolish, God’s Word says, the fool says in their heart there is no God.
The world says there are many ways to heaven, God’s Son said, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father except by me.
The world says live for yourself eat, drink, and be merry, God’s Word says do all things for the glory of God!
Do you get the point? We have all at one time or another believed the foolishness of the world, but praise God at some point he has revealed to us the folly of this wisdom and caused us to submit to godly wisdom, we received through the illumination of His Holy Spirit of His inspired, inerrant, infallible word!
For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”
C. Be informed (19b-20)
C. Be informed (19b-20)
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.”
How are we to be informed, read what is written! Meditate on what is written! Seek wisdom from what is written!
Paul here quotes , his point is to say those who think they are wise and their wisdom will get the caught. Their craftiness will cause them to be convicted. God knows even the minds of these who think themselves to be wise and he knows that they are foolish.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
We must understand the wisdom of the world is worthless within the house of God. We can try and come up with all kinds of creative ways to “do church” to “build God’s temple” or to “grow God’s kingdom.” But here is what Paul says,
It is folly with God.
God catches the crafty.
It is futile to forsake what is written for the wisdom of the world!
We can take all of the self help, seeker sensitive, church growth, books that are not truly based on the Word of God and throw them in the fire, because they are foolish, futile, and full of folly when subjected to the Wisdom and Word of God.
Consider all of the issues going on in Corinth again.
Division, it is caused because men or women will not submit to the Word and are stuck on their own “wisdom.”
Jealousy, it is caused because we fail to recognize our blessing in Christ from the Word so we want what someone else has.
Sexual immorality, we refuse to obey God’s Word and would rather come up with our own wisdom and reasoning for fulfilling the desires of the flesh.
Abuse of Spiritual gifts, we fail to obey the exhortations of Scripture and desire to satisfy our own emotions through worldly wisdom.
I ask you now, Do you know that you are God’s temple,
Indwelt by the Holy Spirit
Protected by God
Pursuing holiness
Do you know you must become a fool for God?
Not being deceived by worldly wisdom
But becoming a fool for God.
Informed by the Word of God!
This brings us to our final and what I would consider the most precious truth we will learn today! As a member of God’s family, as a farmer in God’s field, and as a framer in God’s temple,
III. Know that You Belong to Christ.
III. Know that You Belong to Christ.
I Corinthians 3:21-
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.
Knowing that you belong to Christ, we should always,
A. Boast in Christ.
A. Boast in Christ.
Notice Paul’s command in verse 21,
So, let no one boast in men. Paul’s says here
Don’t run around bragging about who you follow.
Don’t go around glorying in men of God.
Don’t
Don’t pride yourself in the man who brought you to Christ or even the one who serves you in Christ.
Remember what Paul wrote back in verse 5-8 these men are:
Servants of Christ through whom you believed.
Sharecroppers for Christ, they are just planting, ploughing, and watering.
Zeroes or nothing when compared to Christ. Therefore boast and glory in Christ, not his servants. Christ is the one who:
Created the world and everything in it.
Came to to this earth in the flesh in the incarnation.
Lived a life free from sin so that He might be the perfect sacrifice for our sin.
Crucified for our sake, as our substitute.
Came forth out of the grave...
Ascended into heaven
Currently ruling and reigning at the right hand of the Father!
Coming again to gather His church, to bring home his bride, and judge the sins of the world.
BOAST IN HIM!
Notice though that we are not only to boast in Christ, but we are also....
B. Blessed in Christ.
B. Blessed in Christ.
Look again with me at verse 21, So let no one boast in men. For (because) all things are yours,
Verse 22,
whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, all these men you are jealous over, all these men you are dividing over, all these men you are causing strife over. They are gifts of God to the Church! Every one of these men belong to you. You have access to each and every one of them. You are blessed by being able to hear them teach, recieved their counsel, and have them feed, guide, and protect you. If you are in Christ these men are yours.
Paul doesn’t stop here, he goes on, it is not just these men of God who belong to you, the world or life or death, or the present or the future—all are yours. Remember,
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
There is nothing in this world, in this life, in the next life that Christ does not own. Listen to
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Romans
Jesus illustrates this for us in the parable of the prodigal son. After the wayward son had left to chase after loose living and returned home in humility the father runs to meet him, hugs his neck, puts a robe on him, puts a ring on his finger, and kills the fatted calf to feast with and for him. Do you remember what happened next? The older brother, pouted! His little brother had been found and he was jealous, his prideful covetous heart was revealed.
Listen to the end of the parable,
But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”
Luke 15:
Do you and I recognize all of the blessings we have in Christ? Do you and I realize that all that Christ has is ours, from his people, to his possessions, to His power over sin and death!
Boast in Him, because we are Blessed in Him! Finally tonight I want us to see that we who have been born again,
C. Belong to Christ.
C. Belong to Christ.
and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
1 Corinthians
Since all of God’s creation belongs to Christ, this means that you and I, if we are adopted children of God, belong to Christ. We are His sons and daughters. We are his servants and slaves. We are his workers, we are his field, we are his temple, and we are His possession!
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
1 Corinthians 6
Here is a question how do we know if we belong to Christ?
Paul tells the Romans in 8:9-11
English Standard Version Chapter 8
Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Think back to the beginning of Chapter 3 of 1 Corinthians? Are you spiritual or carnal? Are you a person of the Spirit or a person of the flesh? Are you controlled by the Spirit or by the power of the flesh. Are you fighting the flesh through repentance and faith or do you long to feed the desires of the flesh?
Consider the way Jesus prayed for those who belong to Him in,
I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
John 17:9
Back to the original issue of the entire text, division among the body of Christ. How can we be divided if we are His? How can we be divided if He is ours and we are built on the foundation of His life, death, and resurrection!
Maybe tonight God by His Spirit has revealed to you some things you did not know.
Do you know for sure you are God’s temple and that His Spirit dwells in you?
Do you know for sure that you have become a fool for God, repenting of your own worldly wisdom?
Do you know for sure that you belong to Christ?
If you do rejoice in that, praise God for that, and give him all of the praise and honor, and glory that you belong to Him.
If you are not sure of these things call out to Him,
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”