God's Temple
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Introduction
I’d like you to turn with me to this morning. Last week, we looked at verses 5-9, as Paul used the imagery of a field, with hired workers in the field, to further teach the Corinthians the foolishness of dividing over ministry personalities.
There, we saw the Corinthian church portrayed as a field, which was owned by God. God hired Paul and Apollos to work in the field, at different times, and with different tasks. Even with them doing their jobs properly, it was God alone provided the spiritual growth of the Corinthian believers.
Paul drew that imagery to a conclusion in verse 9, and then introduces another metaphor for us, a metaphor of a building....a building which he later reveals is God’s Temple.
Let’s read our text this morning
10 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.
11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—
13 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.
14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
In , we have the scene near the death of King David. David was God’s chosen servant to be king of Israel. It took some time to see him enthroned, but once he was, he had an relatively successful reign, greatly blessed by God, reigning in the fear of the Lord.
In line with this, not long after his enthronement, he made his desires known to build a permanent structure to house the Ark of the Covenant, the place where God had chosen to manifest Himself…the place where, in a special way, God chose to dwell.
Most of you will remember that God did not permit David to build the Temple, but He did allow his son Solomon to build it. And in , we have David giving the instructions for the Temple, to Solomon.
We read things like:
11 Then David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule of the temple, and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat;
12 and the plan of all that he had in mind for the courts of the house of the Lord, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for dedicated gifts;
19 “All this he made clear to me in writing from the hand of the Lord, all the work to be done according to the plan.”
Human workers....but God’s divine plan.
During the construction of the Temple, careful planning and intentionality went in to ensuring every detail was followed.
God revealed He was pleased with the final product, by manifesting His presence and coming to, in a special way, dwell within the Temple.
1 As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
2 And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house.
3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
Progressively, throughout the pages of Scripture, God reveals to us that He will dwell with His people. What we lost in the Garden, He progressively regains for us. And one day, we will dwell with Him with no hindrances at all. In the place where night will be no more. There will be no more death, sorrow, or pain.
But until then, one thing our text teaches us this morning, is the gathered people of God are that dwelling place. The gathered people of God are the Temple of God.
Paul is writing to the CHURCH in Corinth. And one thing the church here has wrong, is their division over ministry personalities. Paul reminds them today, THEY are God’s building.
Of course, the church universal, is the large scale temple of God, where God dwells. But here, we are dealing with a particular local church, and that particular local church is GOD’S BUILDING.
And they, especially the ministry leaders in Corinth, but all are included, have been given the responsibility to build this building properly.
CPT: The Corinthians are to give great care as to how they build God’s church, because judgement is coming and the church is His holy temple where His Spirit dwells.
The same is true for you and I in Covenant Community Church as well.
Big Idea: WE MUST PAY ATTENTION, TO HOW WE BUILD GOD’S CHURCH.
Let’s look at this text under 3 headings as we seek God’s guidance in building His building.
The first thing we are to do is....
1. Build Carefully
1. Build Carefully
10 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.
God’s grace had been given to Paul....this was the grace given to him to fulfill his calling. Fulfill his apostleship.
He went to them like a “skilled master builder.” The word for skilled is translated in the Greek version of the Old Testament, in those places describing individuals who were blessed with great “wisdom” to work in particular crafts. Those who had wisdom or skill to work with particular materials in the Temple construction for example.
Paul said, when he came, his job was to lay the foundation. We know after he left, Apollos spent some time, “building on the foundation.” Now… “someone else is building upon it.”
So, Paul tells that someone....or those someones who are the ministry leaders in Corinth.....as well as all the Corinthian Christians… “let each one take care (watch out for; think about) how he builds upon it.”
Paul then tells them what foundation he laid...
11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
This teaches us one, that Jesus is the foundation of the church…and two, no one HAS THE ABILITY to lay another foundation.
That’s important, because he doesn’t say, “no one SHOULD.”
The church in Corinth is to know, to understand, that there is no possibility for a person to come in and lay another foundation for the church, outside of Jesus Christ. Jesus....IS…the foundation of the church universal…and the church local.
“The Church’s one foundation, is Jesus Christ her Lord.....” as we just sang a few moments ago.
There is only one foundation…Jesus Christ!
So then, that tells us....that any attempt for a person to come in here and preach a message that doesn’t have Christ as the center, is an attempt to build something other than the church. It is to lay the foundation for a new building.
Paul doesn’t tell the Corinthian believers, “Be careful, as you build your new church now that I’m gone.”
Instead, “Be careful HOW you build UPON the foundation I laid, because there’s no other foundation that CAN be laid.”
Gospel
If there happens to be any non-Christians hearing me, then know this. Jesus Christ is your only hope.
Jesus is the foundation of the church, because Jesus is the only means of salvation. The church is made up of people who have been saved from God’s wrath. We are all sinners…worthy of God’s judgement....but God in His mercy sent Jesus to die for those who will turn from their sins and trust in Him.
NOW is the time for you to do so, if you don’t know Him....TRUST HIM…trust your life to Him, believing that He died to suffer your penalty for the sins you’ve committed....and that He rose again from the dead. GOD WILL SAVE YOU!
You will then join, in being built up…and join in the building up…of God’s church.
Seeing the foundation…they were to build upon it
The Corinthians, were to see the foundation…and the Corinthians were to build. But not in a haphazard, carefree manner. They were to build carefully.
They were to build with great care, great intentionality, great concern being given.
In other words, Paul is describing the mentality of the builders. He is describing the attitude of the builders.
It wasn’t to be approached like Joe on Bob’s work crew…showing up late....not caring about the project at all. No, great care and concern is placed into building God’s church.
This is God’s building. This is God’s church. The foundation has already been laid....so take care how you build on it. You aren’t building a lean-to on the side of a shed…you are building God’s church.
Apply
Sadly, we prove often in the church today, by our flippant attitude when it comes to “how to do church,” that we don’t care deeply about how to build God’s church.
“Let each take care how they build upon it....” But if we’re honest, it’s often true of us, that we don’t think deeply about building the church, until about halfway through the second song on the Lord’s Day.
We don’t ponder deeply about how to best use our giftedness, in order to wisely build the church.
Honestly, we don’t do much pondering at all. So many of us just go with the flow.
Maybe those families in bygone eras of church history were on to something, when Lord’s Day worship wasn’t something they planned for on Sunday morning only…but they were preparing for it at least the night before.
Maybe intentionally planning our weeks with time set aside for personal devotions, Bible reading, and even disciple making planning (going out to lunch with coworkers) is a way in which we can be intentional about building God’s church.
The point is…instead of just “shooting from the hip,” or just, “going with the flow,” it would help if we “Take care…HOW we build upon the foundation.”
If would be helpful, if we are gravely concerned…if we have a sober attitude about it…if we realize that this building we are constructing is worked out by the thoughts, words, and deeds of men....but all of those are by the grace of God....and it is designed and planned by God.
It’s not our building....it’s not our Temple…it’s not our church.
So we must approach the building up of it, with great caution and care.
Secondly....
2. Build With Proper Materials
2. Build With Proper Materials
Paul reveals, that the care they are to give, is directed towards what materials they are using in the building.
For there is a guarantee of a coming fire upon the whole building
The fire is coming to test their work, and their work will need to endure through the fire. So they will need to use the materials that will endure that fire.
1 Corinthians 3:12
12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—
These are the materials mentioned. Paul does not tell the Corinthians, the gold stands for this thing, the silver for this doctrine, etc.
But he is conveying a general principe for them....
That which you use to build up God’s church, does matter
He is telling them, you have options in your attempt to build God’s church....so choose the materials (preach the doctrines; use the methods; etc) that will endure through it all
Particularly, choose those things that will endure the fire of God’s judgement on the last day
13 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.
Paul says, “the Day” will disclose it....referring to the coming Day of the Lord.
The Day of Christ’s return....not to secretly snatch away His church....but to openly return with angels, with the blast of a trumpet.
The Day, when the conquering King comes to conquer. And He consumes His enemies with a fiery vengeance.
Paul says that Day, “will be revealed by fire.”
The Day of the Lord will be revealed, by His fiery judgement.
But the grammar of the verse here would seem to be pointing to “the Day” being revealed by fire. The Day of the Lord will be revealed, by His fiery judgement.
7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
All those who don’t know the Lord on that day, will be consumed by His fiery judgement.
BUT when His fire comes to His church, to His building.... and engulfs the entire church in His fire, it seems it is not to be for punishment or purification.....but in order to uncover, in order to disclose, the quality of the work of Christians.
He is testing the work of His people.
So we have a mixed metaphor. The church is the building....but here, the building is being tested by fire, and it’s not the people, but their work.
When the Day is revealed by fire, our work will be tested and disclosed for what it truly is.
And the result, will determine our rewards.
14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
If you have been used by God to build up His church, and you used proper materials…proper sound doctrine, sound theology, biblical preaching....you will receive a reward.
If you did not use proper materials, and your work is consumed in the fire....you will suffer a loss in your reward. You will be saved, but the imagery is of a person being rescued from a burning building. You get out, by the skin of your teeth.
Apply
Now it must be said, that the primary application is directed towards church leaders, as this would have been referencing those who are now in Paul’s previous position of leadership in Corinth. They are picking up the construction of the church, where Paul left off.
But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t apply to all of us.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Paul will go on to describe that common good, especially in chapter 14, as that which “builds up” the church.
We have all been gifted by God, in order to build up the church. And so we must be careful to do so in a way, and only in the way, that God alone prescribes.
Do the work of the Lord, by the means that will last forever…not those things that will only be important in the here and now.
That means for each of us as individuals....and for us as a congregation, we need to recognize we are God’s building where God dwells....but we are also gifted by God to be the workers on the Temple as well.
WE MUST TAKE CARE WHAT WE USE TO BUILD....
And by God’s grace, we
And if you are a child, this is not something from which you are exempt. You are called now to make disciples, to be used by God in key ways.
We so often build self-proclaimed churches, that are shallow on doctrine and deep on entertainment. Or churches that minimize doctrine as of little importance, and prioritize community…not genuine community, but that which is often no more than attending a small group.
Shame on us for not trusting God…for believing that the God who wisely designed the church needs our help to improve it.
May we instead trust that God knows what He’s doing, and build the church not off of the wisdom of the world, but based upon the wisdom of God. The wisdom that the world deems foolish....the power of God the world deems weak.
They may laugh and scoff when we’re building on the rock instead of the sand. It will take longer. It will take harder work. It means more preparation and more intentionality. But it will be worth it, when it endures, that great storm brought by our Lord.
Build carefully....build with proper materials....
3. Build…Don’t Destroy
3. Build…Don’t Destroy
Paul reveals to the Corinthians a point I have referenced several times already, mainly because we already knew it was coming in the text.....that this building, is God’s Temple.
16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
He teaches his point by way of asking a question, “Do you not know?”
This is of course a rhetorical question. And when asked in this manner, he seems to convey an accusatory tone.
“Don’t you realize who you are?! You are God’s temple!!!”
It is also noteworthy, that the “you” is plural. Paul is not addressing them as individuals saying, “each of you, are little temples of God.” That is a point he makes in another passage, when dealing with the Christian’s body. But here, that’s not his point at all.
The gathered people of God....the assembled people of God....the church OF GOD in Corinth, is the Temple of God.
This of course teaches us so much:
That the local church, is the visible representation, of the invisible dwelling place of God
Obviously, the Holy Spirit dwells in the church global…or the church universal....that which we call the invisible church.
We are connected by the Spirit with believers around the world, and in other congregations in our area of the world.
The true church, crosses denominational and geographical and ethnic lines. And in us as a whole, the Holy Spirit dwells.
But a visible representation of that is seen, in the local church. So then, Paul was able to say, “Church of God in Corinth…YOU ALL ARE the Temple of God where the Spirit dwells.” But it was also true, “Church of God in Samaria, Ephesus, etc. YOU ARE the Temple of God, where the Spirit dwells.”
And of course, we too can truly say, “Covenant Community Church is the Temple of God in whom the Holy Spirit dwells.”
THE FACT THAT THE CHURCH OF GOD IN CORINTH, IS THE TEMPLE OF GOD…ALSO TEACHES US....that which God deems magnificent is magnificent, even if the world doesn’t agree.
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: 1 Corinthians Exposition and Exegesis
It is a startling declaration to identify the community in Corinth gathered in their cramped, diminutive house churches as the temple of God. Compared to the grand temples in Corinth and the magnificent temple in Jerusalem, they appear rather ramshackle.
Yet, the Temple of God they were. This was their identity. This is who God made them to be. This is not simply who they were aspiring to become....this is WHO THEY WERE. AND....this is the BUILDING they were working upon.
Which then tells us another truth in light of this reality....
3. It is dangerous to do anything destructive against this Temple
This is not ours....it belongs to God
And we must be careful to BUILD upon the foundation of Christ Jesus laid down by the apostles in whatever local church we find ourselves, and not do anything to destroy the local church…or we will be destroyed by God instead
17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
The reason for the warning is given in the second half of the verse. God’s temple, is holy. And that’s what you are.
The second “temple,” doesn’t seem to be in the original....so the “you are that,” could be in reference to the word holy. “God’s temple is holy....and you are holy.”
But even with the word “temple,” the point remains the same.
God’s temple is holy. Consecrated to God. Separated from the world. It is pure.
You are God’s temple.
Therefore, you are consecrated to God. Separated from the world. Pure.
So just as nothing in the Old Testament could profane or defile the Temple…the same principle applies here.
We cannot profane, or defile, the dwelling place of God.
His gathered people, who have covenanted together in membership with one another, is His dwelling place…and we ought to be careful, we don’t profane it in any way.
It seems Paul has shifted from using wrong materials that will cause a loss of reward, to acting in a destructive manner that will cause our own destruction.
What does it mean to defile it? Or what kind of destruction is Paul referring?
It’s hard to say precisely. But it would almost certainly, because of our context, have to do with the factionalism he has been dealing with. All the competitiveness and partisanship and factionalizing that divides Christ’s church, is destructive to the church, God’s temple.
Be careful…heed this warning....God will destroy all who work destruction in His Church.
It may be helpful at this point to be reminded of some Old Testament passages dealing with the Temple, and Temple worship, and God’s holiness.
I remind you of the passage we read earlier. At the conclusion of the Temple construction, God’s presence filled the sanctuary to such a degree, that no one could enter…and everyone bowed in reverence.
They were careful how they approached Him
And they were right to be careful....
Think about Nadab and Abihu
1 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them.
2 And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.
3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’ ” And Aaron held his peace.
This of course is not Old Testament only
We know the story of , with Ananias and Sapphira lying to the Holy Spirit and God striking them dead.
I’m not building a case that every sin will cause God to kill you if you belong to a church…obviously that’s not the case (Paul rebuking Peter).
But what I am saying, is that this is GOD’S TEMPLE....and we must approach carefully, soberly, cautiously....understanding we are not the owners.
And the One who is the Owner....the Bible has this to say of Him
Hebrews 12:31
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
So…pay close attention....
Destruction from within
For you see brothers and sisters, Paul doesn’t seem to be concerned with destruction coming to the Temple of God in Corinth from without....
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
But where destruction typically comes, is from within.
3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
It comes from within by those who are not TRULY a part of the church, but that sneak into the church....and once in, they work their destruction
4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.
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Apply
So, this is my prayer for us as a congregation this morning. That our Lord would reveal by His Word, those areas in our lives, where we are subtly, perhaps even unknowingly, being used to chip away at our unity…and being used to attack the construction efforts of the church.
That He would offer any chastisement necessary.
And that you and I would recognize the magnitude of the task before us;
That recognizing it would cause us to see our lack of ability to do it
That seeing our lack of ability, would cause us to depend upon the One…the only One…able to provide grace
The same One who provided grace, to a man named Saul, from the city of Tarsus, to be transformed from the person hating Christ and His church, seeking to stomp them out in every city, by death if necessary....to one of the key figures in the 1st century used to build His church.
The one sent as a Master Builder to the city of Corinth, to lay the foundation for the building of the church....which is Jesus the Christ
Our Lord is faithful to provide, if we but trust Him.
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.
’Mid toil and tribulation,
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace for evermore;
Till, with the vision glorious,
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.
Conclusion
We don’t own the church…this is God’s Holy Temple
BIG IDEA: WE MUST PAY ATTENTION TO HOW WE BUILD GOD’S CHURCH
So may we by God’s grace: build carefully, with the materials of gospel work He provides, understanding judgement is coming, and understanding the dangers of doing anything destructive to God’s temple.
Let’s pray.