A BELIEVERS FOUNDATION IS JESUS THE CHRIST

PROCLAMATION

“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation … no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  If anyone builds on this foundation … their work will be shown for what it is … it will be revealed with fire, and fire will test the quality of each person’s work.  If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.  If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved …”  1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Paul began this chapter by telling the believers in Corinth that they were still “worldly, mere infants in Christ” quarreling and jealous, and he had to feed them The Word of God as milk for they were not ready for it as solid food. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)  It was not important which leader they followed for all of them were servants, vehicles which brought them The Word of God. (1 Corinthians 3:4-5)  One of them planted the seed and one watered it but only God made it grow. (1 Corinthians 3:6-9)  Then he told them that he given them the foundation, Jesus Christ, and they should be careful what they build upon that foundation.  All that they built, their work in this life, would be judged and tested with fire.  Only those things which gave God glory would pass through the fire.  He ended the chapter by telling them that their body is God’s temple.  The Spirit of God dwells within them and they should be careful how they treat that temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

 

APPLICATION

Only what we do for Christ will be counted in the end.  As believers we will pass through the fire on Judgment Day but our work and efforts here on earth which did not glorify God will be burned up.  Only those things which gave God glory will survive the fire and we will receive a reward for them.  Everything that we have done in our lives from the moment we accepted Christ will constitute our works, and only that which glorified God will be counted in the final tally.  As believers, it is on Christ the solid Rock we stand and build our house. (Luke 6:48 and 1 Corinthians 10:4)

 

A BELIEVERS FOUNDATION IS JESUS THE CHRIST

Proclamation:

“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation … no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  If anyone builds on this foundation … their work will be shown for what it is … it will be revealed with fire, and fire will test the quality of each person’s work.  If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.  If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved …”  1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Paul began this chapter by telling the believers in Corinth that they were still “worldly, mere infants in Christ” quarreling and jealous, and he had to feed them The Word of God as milk for they were not ready for it as solid food. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)  It was not important which leader they followed for all of them were servants, vehicles which brought them The Word of God. (1 Corinthians 3:4-5)  One of them planted the seed and one watered it but only God made it grow. (1 Corinthians 3:6-9)  Then he told them that he given them the foundation, Jesus Christ, and they should be careful what they build upon that foundation.  All that they built, their work in this life, would be judged and tested with fire.  Only those things which gave God glory would pass through the fire.  He ended the chapter by telling them that their body is God’s temple.  The Spirit of God dwells within them and they should be careful how they treat that temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

Application:

Only what we do for Christ will be counted in the end.  As believers we will pass through the fire on Judgment Day but our work and efforts here on earth which did not glorify God will be burned up.re.  Only those things which gave God glory will survive the fire and we will receive a reward for them.  Everything that we have done in our lives from the moment we accepted Christ will constitute our works, and only that which glorified God will be counted in the final tally.  As believers, it is on Christ the solid Rock we stand and build our house. (Luke 6:48 and 1 Corinthians 10:4)

WE ARE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD

Proclamation:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith; and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the Apostle Paul under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Paul wanted them to know that they used to live in sin, following the thoughts and desires of the flesh, (Ephesians 2:1-3) but now they were saved because of God’s great love. (Ephesians 2:4-5)  It was by the grace of God that they were saved.  It was God’s gift to them, it was not something that they earned or deserved. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  They were created to do good works, but the good works did not earn them salvation. (Ephesians 2:10)  For the remainder of the chapter Paul states that both Jews and Gentiles were reconciled through the blood of Christ.

Application:

We all were lost in sin in the past.  Now we are saved by the grace of God.  In the future we will reside in heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:4-7)  The Lord God has given us this gift, it is now up to us to show our appreciation by performing the good works which we were created to do. (Ephesians 2:10)  We are to do good works so that men may see them and give glory to God. (Matthew 5:16)  The Lord God will reward us for our good works (Matthew 16:27) but they have nothing to do with our salvation.