Plainly Speaking
 with Karl J. Forehand

 

 

Building the Temple

(1 Corinthians 3:10-23)

by Karl J. Forehand

 

According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it.  (I Cor. 3:10)

 

  Each of has a personal responsibility in building the temple.  In verse 16, we are told that “we” are the temple.  In chapter 6, we are told that our bodies are temples.  This passage is talking about the church, the body of Christ, as a temple of God.  That temple houses the Holy Spirit.

 

  The Spirit of God is not floating around out there somewhere.  He is not just a smoke that blows in when we get on fire.  The Spirit first resided in the tabernacle, which was a tent the Israelites carried with them.  Later, a structure was  built called the temple.  Now the Spirit of God indwells believers.  We are the temple (v.16). 

 

  We each have a responsibility to built that temple correctly.  The Old Testament had very specific guidelines about constructing the tabernacle and the temple.  Now the church, as a temple, has some guidelines for building our temple.

 

1. It must have the right foundation (10-11)

 

  Many ministries being knowing their target audience.  They may even design the programs to reach those people.  But, the beginning point must be the foundation, Jesus Christ.  Paul tells us that he founded all these churches by proclaiming Christ (2:1-2).  He chastises them and calls them spiritual babies for trying to found them again on a foundation of men. 

 

  If our church is solid, it will be because it has a firm foundation.  The foundation has to remain the cross of Christ and proclaiming that message.  This passage says, “No one can lay another foundation.”  The hardest thing to do to a building is repair the foundation once it has been built upon.  If the foundation is no good, it is almost better to tear it down and start over.  The Corinthians kept trying to find a new thing to build their church upon. 

 

  The false foundation they built on was that of men.   We cannot even build upon doctrine – doctrine is important, but it’s not a foundation.  Jesus Christ is the foundation.  Styles, methods and approaches are not foundations.  If the foundation is not good, we should “blow it up” and start over with the right foundation. 

 

2.  It must be built with the right materials (12-17)

 

Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.  (I Cor. 3:12-13)

 

  The materials used to build the temple are mined from the Word of God.  It is evident from the first few chapters of I Corinthians that the Word of God is essential to the church.  My professor used to say, “The only two things that endure are the Word of God and the souls of men.”  The souls of men is the church and the building material that lasts are the great truths of the Word of God. 

 

  The quality of the material we use to build the church will become evident when the storms come.  We can build with gold, silver and precious stones or we can use the easier, temporary materials.  When we build with inferior materials we “defile” the temple.  God reserves the right to tear down a temple that is built with inferior materials.

 

  If a church is built with a bad foundation, it will eventually collapse under it’s own weight.  But, if it is built with the wrong materials, it will eventually burn up.  Our foundation is Jesus Christ.  The materials are the truth of the Word of God applied.

 

3.  It must have the right blueprints (18-20)

 

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become foolish that he may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness";  and again, "The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless."  (I Cor. 3:18-20)

 

  You cannot run a church exactly the same as you run a business.  We cannot just duplicate the “business practices” of one and make another one.  A typical business runs on promotion, prestige and the influence of money.  A church, however, runs on prayer and the working of the Spirit. 

 

  Once a church has been successful, it will likely have many coming to find out “how they did it.”  They ask these questions to see if they can duplicate the success.  On the other hand, I know about 50 pastors that had a good plan, based on the best advice that failed.  The reason:  The blueprint for building the temple is utter dependence upon the Spirit of God and prayer.  You can’t teach or duplicate that.  It’s a heart thing.

 

4.  Must have the right objective (21-23)

 

  So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.  (I Cor. 3:21-23)

 

  Can we make this one really simple and say “the objective of building the temple is that glorify Christ.”  Everything we have been given is a gift.  We belong to Christ.  Given these truths, we can have no other objective. 

 

 

 

                                                © Karl J. Forehand, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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