THE REMUNERATION FOR THE WORK INVESTED IN THE STRUCTURE
"If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Cor. 3:14-17
For Proven Worthfulness, there is Positive Reward. Vs. 14
"If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward."
"If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward."
Rewards are earned by works (Mat 10:42; Luke 19:17; 1 Cor 9:24 - 25; 2 Tim 4:7 - 8; Rev 2:10; 22:12).
The severity of the test only proves that the work has genuine worth, for it survives the test.
For Proven Worthlessness, there is Withheld Reward. Vs. 15
"If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
These words describe a possible condition of a saint of God in the Day of final testing. The subject is one of service. That of life is not in view except as in some senses that is always involved in service. As we have seen, the saint of God is in fellowship with the Lord in responsibility. That means work; and Paul here deals with it under the figure of building upon the foundation. All such building is to be tested by fire. That which is true and precious will be made more beautiful by the fire. That which is false and unworthy will be destroyed by the fire. When that is so, the man himself will be "saved, get so as through fire." His ultimate salvation will be secured by the destruction of his work. Can anything be more calculated to give us cause in our work? What are we building? That is, what sort of material are we laying upon the foundation? The things of gold, silver, costly stones, are the things of eternity. Those of wood hay, stubble, are those which are only of time. When the saints of God are tempted to forget the spiritual and eternal implication and application of all they do, they are in danger of doing work which must be destroyed in order that they may be saved. We are humbled by the grace which will destroy our unworthy works to save us are constrained thereby to take how we build.
The severity of the test only proves that the work was intrinsically worthless, for it did not survive the test. Therefore there could be no reward.
The Principle of Worth Centers in Genuinely Saved People. Vss. 15b-17
"...but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."
The Salvation of Self is Absolutely by Grace. Vs. 15b
".....but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
The Structure Being Built is the Temple of God. Vs. 16-17, cf. vs. 9
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."
The severity of the test only proves that the work has genuine worth, for it survives the test.
For Proven Worthlessness, there is Withheld Reward. Vs. 15
"If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
These words describe a possible condition of a saint of God in the Day of final testing. The subject is one of service. That of life is not in view except as in some senses that is always involved in service. As we have seen, the saint of God is in fellowship with the Lord in responsibility. That means work; and Paul here deals with it under the figure of building upon the foundation. All such building is to be tested by fire. That which is true and precious will be made more beautiful by the fire. That which is false and unworthy will be destroyed by the fire. When that is so, the man himself will be "saved, get so as through fire." His ultimate salvation will be secured by the destruction of his work. Can anything be more calculated to give us cause in our work? What are we building? That is, what sort of material are we laying upon the foundation? The things of gold, silver, costly stones, are the things of eternity. Those of wood hay, stubble, are those which are only of time. When the saints of God are tempted to forget the spiritual and eternal implication and application of all they do, they are in danger of doing work which must be destroyed in order that they may be saved. We are humbled by the grace which will destroy our unworthy works to save us are constrained thereby to take how we build.
The severity of the test only proves that the work was intrinsically worthless, for it did not survive the test. Therefore there could be no reward.
The Principle of Worth Centers in Genuinely Saved People. Vss. 15b-17
"...but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."
The Salvation of Self is Absolutely by Grace. Vs. 15b
".....but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
The Structure Being Built is the Temple of God. Vs. 16-17, cf. vs. 9
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."
"For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building."
The Saints have a Part in Building this Temple. Christ is the Ultimate Builder, but He uses Means to an End. Matt. 16:18"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
The Saints have a Part in Building this Temple. Christ is the Ultimate Builder, but He uses Means to an End. Matt. 16:18"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
The means to the end includes:
1. Apostles - 1 Cor. 4:15; 9:1 "For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." "Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?"
2. Members of church - Eph. 4:11 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers."
Conclusion:
Genuineness of work will be revealed by the rapture. Those who have made a mere profession will not appear at the Bema Seat. True believers will appear there. 1 Cor. 15:51
1. Apostles - 1 Cor. 4:15; 9:1 "For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." "Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?"
2. Members of church - Eph. 4:11 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers."
Conclusion:
Genuineness of work will be revealed by the rapture. Those who have made a mere profession will not appear at the Bema Seat. True believers will appear there. 1 Cor. 15:51
"Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,"
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