The Foundation of Jesus Christ
1st Corinthians 3:9b-17 - Victory Fellowship
July 7, 2024 - Rev. Roderick Grabski
I. Introduction:
a. What happens when you don’t build on a solid foundation? It’s foolish. All of your hard work and investment $ would be useless.
b. Similarly, as it relates to our FAITH, unless we build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ with an eternal perspective, we are wasting our time.
II. RELATING THE TEXT
a. In our scripture text this morning, Paul is describing how we build our faith on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
b. While he mentions materials such as gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw – Paul is really talking about spiritual matters – and what Christians do to build up Christ’s Holy Church.
c. While he mentions “a building or Temple” he is referring to Christians. People not buildings
d. Paul reveals that on Judgement Day Jesus will test our efforts with fire and reward what stands.
e. We are the Holy Temple of God and His Spirit resides in us. God will destroy those who destroy His Temple.
III. Application
a. Practically speaking, we build up the Foundation of Jesus Christ is 3 ways – by our Motives, our Conduct, and our Service. To the level and effort we put into these three things determines whether we are building with gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.
b. Our MOTIVES: WHY we do something is as important as WHAT we are doing.
1st Cor. 4:5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both-bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.
c. Our CONDUCT: it can be good, evil, or just plain useless. 2nd Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
i. The Greek word here for “bad” is kakos kak-os' and is best understood as “produces no gain” like Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25:14-30.
d. Our SERVICE: we must use not only our own abilities, but we must seek and employ the gifts of the Holy Spirit to build up the foundation of Jesus Christ.
2nd Timothy 2:20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.
e. We should seek to honor, not dishonor, the Lord with our service.
IV. Conclusion
a. Someone who doesn’t make the proper investment of time, materials, and skill into building a solid foundation will suffer loss.
b. We, too, can be negligent in building up our faith, even if it seems like we are really committed and busy for the Lord.
c. We begin with a solid foundation in our faith in Jesus Christ.
d. Through our relationship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit takes up residence with us and we become God’s Holy Temple – God’s building.
e. We should build up our faith in the power of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:24-25 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
PRAYER
SONG: Working on the Building
1st Corinthians 3:9b-17 NLT
9b …You are God’s building. 10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. 12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. 16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17 God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.