As we continue our journey through this letter, and the truths which the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write, we come to a portion where Paul gives his credentials as an apostle and what his function in the body of Christ is.

Earlier he stated that he had planted the gospel of Jesus Christ there in Corinth as he gave them the word of God, which included all of the Old Testament. In fact, the O.T. is where Paul would usually start since it was the place which spoke of the coming Messiah.

Being on the other side of the cross of Christ he would confirm that the Messiah foretold in the O.T. was in fact Jesus of Nazareth risen from the dead, whom he saw on the road to Damascus. This was his message. This was the starting point for the building Christ was erecting.

But Paul didn’t take for granted his participation in this building, this spiritual house. He knew that he was being used by God to lay a foundation. This is what we saw last week.

1CO 3:9 "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."

He knew the Lord was using him to further the kingdom of God, especially among the Gentiles since he was the apostle to the Gentile world. In that sense he was a fellow worker of the Lord’s. But he also realized that the work he was doing was to establish and build up the very people for whom Christ died.

And this is why he uses the imagery of a field or a building for these Christians in Corinth. But the thing which didn’t escape Paul, nor should it escape us, is that it is God’s field, God’s building. This is what our Lord Jesus told Peter.

MAT 16:18 "..... I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it."

It is Jesus Christ who builds as only He can, and it is Jesus Christ who sustains His building so that it may rise to a Holy Temple to bring honor and glory to His name.

HEB 3:3 "Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.
4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything."

Notice too, here in Hebrews, that Jesus is designated the builder of the house, and yet the writer of Hebrews makes it clear that God is the builder of everything. Jesus is God and only He can build the house of which Paul speaks back in our text.

But, to be entrusted with so great a privilege and responsibility from God, in participating in our Lord’s building project, is something which motivated Paul in everything he did for the Lord.

He doesn’t take credit for this, he simply acknowledges that it was God who called him and it was God who strengthened him for the work, because it is God who is building His church. Paul just happens to be an architect in this building project.

1CO 3:10 "By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds."

Notice here that Paul is not afraid to establish his participation in the work God is doing as our Lord uses him. But that’s different from taking credit for the work or boasting in the outcome of the work.

He begins by saying, "by the grace God has given me,..." Paul realizes that God graced him for this work. In other words, Paul wasn’t looking to be a servant of God in any capacity other than the one he was already involved in prior to his conversion, which was persecuting the church.

He’s saying that God came along and opened his eyes to the truth. He then commissioned Paul to a work which only God can give. To put it another way, out of the clear blue sky God gave Paul a gift he wasn’t looking for, nor which he deserved.

The word grace in the Greek is charis and it implies a favor given which is undeserved. The fact of the matter is that none of us deserve or earn God’s favor which is why it’s called grace.

But notice what this grace from God is intended to do in the life of Paul. Grace is never given simply to sit on. Grace from God is never given to be idle in that grace. "..... By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder,..."

Paul acknowledges that the only reason he is able to serve God in this capacity is because of the gift of eternal life which includes the gifts of the Holy Spirit to further the kingdom of God. But it’s all of grace.

But in saying this Paul also acknowledges that precisely because of this gift, this grace, Paul is obliged to love and serve God in the capacity to which God has called him. Remember, once we’ve been purchased we belong to the one who purchases us. We no longer belong to ourselves. In fact, Paul makes this very point in this very letter.

1CO 6:19 "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

Often times we think of honoring God with our bodies by either taking care of our bodies or by living holy lives that demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. And this is certainly part of what that means.

But, in the context of this letter we must include the idea that we honor God with our bodies by serving Him in the grace He has given. Simply looking good physically or looking good spiritually is not what is intended.

EPH 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

The good works would be those works which God desires of every single one of us in the form of works which are associated to the advancement of His kingdom through the gospel of Jesus Christ. That wouldn’t exclude holiness, but holiness is being set apart for God to do His will.

The way in which Paul was honoring God with his body was to give himself entirely to God in service to our Lord as an apostle. This too was a fruit of the Spirit as he persevered in the work God gave him.

And what is the specific work Paul speaks of in our text? "I laid a foundation as an expert builder,..."

The foundation he’s speaking of here is the foundation of the gospel in Corinth. In other words, Paul assumes the responsibility of laying this foundation and identifies himself as the first to lay this foundation in Corinth. But, only as the grace of God allows him to accomplish this task. He doesn’t take credit for the actual foundation, only that he was given the building materials to set it in place.

It wasn’t Paul’s foundation, but Christ’s. Paul is just faithfully laying it out as each of us are called to faithfully accomplish those tasks given to us by God. And when we’re faithfully doing that then we must turn back to God and give Him the glory since He provided the means to accomplish His will in the power of His Spirit.

But, neither Paul or us, should lay any foundation other than the one we’ve been called to lay. After all, there is really only one.

1CO 3:11 "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."

But before we touch on this verse I want us to look back at verse 10 for a moment, because Paul calls himself an expert builder. What does he mean by this? Well, the word builder is the Greek word architekton and it means a master builder, an architect, the superintendent in the erection of buildings.

This is where we get our English word architect. But unlike the term, as it’s used today, where the architect spends his time just designing and inspecting, the term we have in our text implies not only designing and inspecting, but doing the actual building as well.

Paul was a hands on architect. But as an architect he knew all of the intricacies of how the building was to be put together. Where do you think he learned this? Did Paul go to a spiritual architectural school? Did he spend hours in class studying architectural theory as it applied to this spiritual house God is building?

No. Not in the formal sense. Rather, what we find is that Paul knows the mind and will of God because God Himself taught Paul what he needed to know concerning this spiritual house.

1CO 2:11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

The reason Paul could consider himself a wise master builder is because he submitted to the One who revealed these things to him. And evidently he was a pretty good student because he took these truths and gave them to the church all over the world. This was part of the building process.

His wisdom didn’t come from men. His gifts didn’t come from men. His strength and abilities didn’t come from men. Paul knows where all of this came from and he is just utilizing what God gave him and then turning around and giving God the glory.

But Paul is not the only one building on the foundation of Christ. Remember, he hasn’t been in Corinth for a number of years. Someone else has been continuing this building project of equipping the saints. Apollos was one who was in Corinth for a time. Those who followed Apollos were also responsible to build on Christ.

These would have been the elders and the pastor who are called by God to build on this foundation. In fact, this is the very exhortation Paul gave to the leaders in Ephesus.

ACT 20:28 "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood."

The implication here is that for a leader to lead and for a leader to shepherd he must consider his own walk to be able to effectively shepherd the church of God which Christ purchased with His own blood.

Even here, Paul is making it clear that the church doesn’t belong to him or anyone else. He is serving his Master who purchased the church which included Paul himself. But because we have been called by Christ and are made part of His church, we all have a responsibility to build on this foundation. But each one should be careful how he builds.

This is what Paul says at the end of verse 10. Now obviously, God has given gifts to certain people in the church who are more responsible to build on this foundation. Pastors, elders, teachers are all given to the church by Christ to instruct, build up and edify the body of Christ.

But every believer is responsible before Christ for the gifts He’s given to each one of us. Not to use those gifts is to bury them in the ground. Not to use those gifts, with the understanding that God is wanting to use us to build on this foundation, is to take these gifts for granted, and quite possibly not to bring Him glory with these gifts.

1PE 4:11 "If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."

As we get further in this letter we’re going to see that these Corinthian believers had a problem with the way in which they were using their gifts, and in many cases misusing their gifts.

Paul understood his gifts and the proper way in which they were to be used to the glory of God. And when we properly use our gifts in the body of Christ we, in essence, are building on the foundation which is Christ Himself and the Lord’s work goes forth.

In that sense we are being careful how we build on this foundation. Being careful here in our text in the Greek implies to see or discern with physical eyes. The idea being that we look closely and scrutinize with the truth of God’s word how we build.

And so, like an architect, we have a blueprint to follow. If we follow it then the building rises and God’s spiritual house grows in His image. If we decide to bring in our own plans the building looks more like something man would build and God’s house begins to look only like the brick and mortar we see on the corner which houses the true spiritual house inside; that is God’s people.

Man can build his crystal cathedrals, but they are no substitute for the foundation which is Christ. When Christ is taken out of the picture or is placed on the back burner in favor of man’s plans for God then the church becomes an empty shell despite its worldly accomplishments.

But place Christ at the forefront as we build upon Him, then no matter what shape the physical building or its size, or even the size of the congregation, God’s will is being done on earth as it is in heaven as His true spiritual house is growing and becoming strong.

Remember, ".... no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."

There is only one foundation. There is only one Savior, one mediator between God and men. There is only one God who has given us His only begotten Son for the redemption of our sins. And this has always been God’s plan.

ISA 28:16 "So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed."

This is the gospel in the Old Testament. And this is what our Lord Jesus told the Jews of His day.

MAT 21:42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone the builders rejected has become cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes' (Psalm 118:22,23)?

Peter also quotes this particular passage as he shares with the Jews who this Jesus is.

ACT 4:11 "He is "'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

If we are going to build then we must build on Christ. But if we’re going to have a blueprint for how this building is erected we must turn to the Scriptures which show us how we must build on Christ.

Only as we see from God’s perspective, and have His attitude as to how we must build on this foundation, will we truly see His blessings. There are lots of people in the church who are busy for the Lord and yet that doesn’t mean they are actually doing His work; work that will have eternal benefits.

1CO 3:12 "If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,
13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work."

Paul now moves from the foundation itself, who is Christ, and moves to our participation in advancing this building.

In verse 12 Paul uses a metaphor describing the quality of each man’s work using terms like gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw. And what he is doing is showing a contrast between those things considered desirable and those things which were common.

But notice that Paul equates each of these items with the works of individual Christians. Paul says that if any man builds on this foundation, which implies that all people in Christ are to be in the process of building on the foundation of Christ through the works He has for us.

No one is exempt. No Christian can say, I don’t have gifts to be used for my Lord in the body of Christ.

1CO 12:4 "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."

Our Lord Jesus wants to use each one of us in this church for the common good of each other. He wants us to use the gifts He’s given so that each of us may be built up in our faith and in the process build His spiritual house which includes all of us as we advance Christ, the foundation, through the gospel.

Our good works in Christ do make a difference. In fact, they make an eternal difference.

1CO 3:13 "...his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work."

His work will be shown for what it is. Whose work? Your work and my work for the Lord. It is going to be scrutinized by the Creator of this universe. And, as Paul suggests, it will be shown for what it is.

Now, will it be a work which was truly motivated in serving the Lord? Will it be a work which was selfless and sacrificial, or was it work we did only because people were watching? Will the work be done with the idea of helping others grow in their faith or will it be done to bring attention to ourselves?

These are questions we may not even be able to answer fully for ourselves. Our own deceitful hearts at times think we’re doing something for the Lord when in fact we may have done it for other reasons.

What Paul is trying to do here is to heighten the awareness of how God views our works for Him. In other, words we don’t serve God in a vacuum. He is fully aware of everything we do for Him, and of those things we say we do for Him which we really don’t.

But it also shows us that God is omniscient, all knowing. He knows our very hearts and we will not be able to stand before God with any self-righteous act and call it something which is in the category of gold, silver or costly stones.

And yet, on the same note, we can stand before God with those acts and works which were truly done for Him, most of which will probably never be seen by anyone but God, and He will recognize those works as being gold, silver, or costly stones.

He is a just God and He judges righteously. His very holiness is seen as a consuming fire where no sin can dwell. And in this sense Paul uses the image of fire to test the work of each believer in this context. No angel will test, no other person will test, only God who is able to test the quality of each man’s work will suffice.

Consider the works you’ve done for the Lord this past week. Are they the kind of works which can be considered as building on the foundation? Are they the kind of works which help others grow in Christ? Or is it too hard to even think of any work you’ve done this week for the Lord?

Whatever work we do for Christ, our Lord will know if it’s something which will receive an eternal reward or if it will be burned as it turned out to be useless. But before we get the idea that only a prescribed work like sharing the gospel, or teaching a bible study, or feeding the homeless is considered a good work, we ought to consider how God views what a good work may be. Peter alludes to this in his first letter.

1PE 1:3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade -kept in heaven for you,
5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
7 These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

There is a sense in which being faithful to follow Christ, even in the midst of trials, is a good work which brings glory and honor and praise to Jesus. This is what any of our works should be doing for the Lord.

But, this should not excuse us from doing those kinds of works which consider others and building on the foundation of Christ our Rock.

1CO 3:14 "If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."

This is an amazing statement. Whether it’s a Pastor teaching the whole counsel of God’s word, so that the body of Christ may grow in their faith, or a wife and mother using the gifts of mercy or hospitality, or a teenager using his gift of encouragement, all of these works will be rewarded by God.

But what happens when a Christian has works which do not stand the test? Can he lose his salvation? "If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." (1CO 3:15)

All of us will have works which will be burned up. None of us have done every work as unto the Lord all of the time. Those works will not survive and we will suffer loss in that sense, but even if we were to lose those works one thing remains. We will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

In other words, though our works did not survive the perfect holiness of God, our justification certainly did. Why? Because the one thing which is tested by God and has been found perfect and holy is none other than the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ Himself put to our account as we believed on Him. He alone has escaped through the flames of God’s perfect holiness, having no sin.

And because of that we escape through Him; praise God! Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. He will never leave us or forsake us. And of all that the Father has given to His Son Jesus none will be lost.

JOH 6:39 "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

If we belong to Him though through faith in Christ may we never be content to lose any rewards and to just be saved through the fire, but may we be motivated in our salvation with love and thankfulness to Christ to serve Him everyday of our lives until we see Him face to face.

2JO 1:8 "Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully."

Our reward is in Christ. Let your works be of the gold, silver and costly stones type to His honor and His glory.

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