God’s Job Site: the Church
Saints Sinners Soldiers
February 17, 2019
Rev. Gabe Sylvia
Paul tells the Corinthian church — and us — that Christ is the only foundation and we must build God's church with godly wisdom because our work will be tested by fire, determining heavenly rewards (though not salvation), and that as God's temple we face judgment if we destroy it.
Summary
In the midst of Corinth's confusion and allegiance to worldly wisdom, Paul insists that Christ crucified must replace every other way of thinking and become the foundation for everything the church builds. How believers build matters: there are legitimate (gold, silver, precious stones) and illegitimate (wood, hay, straw) materials — metaphors for godly versus worldly methods — and the quality of each person's work will be tested by fire, which reveals its worth. This testing affects heavenly rewards but not the believer's salvation, which is by grace through faith; nevertheless, because the church is God's temple, there is a solemn warning about judgment for those who would destroy it. The passage calls for personal responsibility, faithful service, and devotion to building Christ's house with God's wisdom for his glory.
Key Points
- Context: Corinth was divided and influenced by worldly wisdom; Paul addresses their deeper problems.
- Priority: Christ crucified must replace other ways of thinking and be the foundation of the church.
- Foundation: The only proper foundation for God's building is Jesus Christ.
- Means: Builders must use godly wisdom and legitimate methods; some work is like gold/silver/precious stones, some like wood/hay/straw.
- Testing: The fires of judgment will test each person's work and reveal its true quality.
- Rewards vs Salvation: The test determines heavenly rewards (which can be lost) but not salvation, which comes by grace through faith.
- Temple Warning: The church and believers are the temple of God; destroying God's temple brings God's judgment.
- Application: Individuals are responsible to build Christ's house faithfully, motivated by heavenly reward and God’s glory (practical commitment includes time, service, resources).
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