1 Corinthians 3:16-23

1 Corinthians

3:16-23

Intro:

A couple of weeks ago we studied 3:10-15. We learned that Paul laid the gospel-foundation by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ in Corinth. Paul then informed the Corinthians that another person was now building on the gospel-foundation. The materials used to build on the gospel-foundation consist of a pastor's teaching and life-example. Paul declared that every pastor's work will be revealed in the presence of Christ when He tests it with fire. A ministry of pure biblical teaching and life-example will survive the fire and result in heavenly reward. A ministry of impure teaching and life-example won't survive the fire and will result in the pastor being snatched from the fire with nothing to show for it. Wow! Can you imagine? It is going to happen. There will be saved pastors and Christians who will stand before Jesus and because of impure living will receive no heavenly reward.

This week we are going to study 3:16-23. In this passage Paul is going to discuss leaders and people who destroy the local church through false teaching and wicked actions. Paul teaches the believers that human leaders are nothing, God is everything! The apostle teaches how not to conduct yourself in a local church.

Message:

Paul asks the Corinthian church if they recognize what they are as a local church in the eyes of God (16). The local church (saved people) as a whole is a temple of God. The “you” here is plural so Paul is referring to the church as a whole, not just individual believers as a temple of the Holy Spirit, as he does later (cf. 6:19). God's Spirit dwells in the church as a whole. This is very important to understand for one to be able to comprehend what follows.

Paul has already mentioned two types of workers who build on the gospel-foundation (vv. 12-15). They refer to saved men who build on the gospel-foundation through their teaching and life-example. A man who builds on the gospel-foundation with pure biblical teaching and life-example will receive heavenly reward. A man who builds on the gospel-foundation with impure teaching and life-example won't receive heavenly rewards. Now, Paul describes a third type of worker (17). A person who tears apart the church through false teaching and wicked actions. Paul uses strong language to describe the consequences for such a worker, as someone whom God will destroy. This is very strong language, which indicates that such a person is not born again. This language seems to indicate eternal destruction for this false teacher (cf. Rev. 20:11-15). This worker destroys the church through false teaching and wicked actions. Paul teaches that the temple (“the church as a whole”) is holy and the church is that temple. The church is holy because it has been set apart by God through Christ for His use and glory.

Paul urges his hearers not to deceive themselves (18). In fact, if they think they are wise and it is with worldly wisdom, Paul tells them to become foolish in the eyes of the world. Remember, the world views the gospel as foolish (cf. 1:18-24). They need to be saved through faith in the gospel, so that as a result they may believe the Word of God and become wise with God's wisdom (cf. 2:14-16). In the N.T. when the “world” is mentioned in the majority of cases it refers to the world system, which is under Satan's authority and is opposed to God (Eph. 2:1-3; Jas. 3:13-18). Believers are to reject man's wisdom and to seek God's wisdom (Jas. 1:5; Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Pet. 3:14-18).

God has declared this world's wisdom to be foolish (19). The reason for this is that worldly wisdom is man's wisdom, which is opposed to God (Rom. 8:5-8). Paul quotes Job and declares that God won't be outwitted by men who think they are wise. Then he quotes Psalm 94. Peter states that God knows what the wise of this world think and God declares their thinking to be useless (20). Unregenerate man is unable to please God and his thinking is opposed to God (Rom. 3:10-18).

Paul calls the Corinthian church to no longer spend any time boasting about humans (21). Anyone who truly is wise has received his wisdom from God, so it is God's wisdom. The implication is that they are to boast about God! He informs them that all things belong to the church (21).

All of the truth Christian leaders belong to the entire church, not just certain groups (22). The universe is still the God-given and God-made possession of all believers (2 Cor. 4:15; 1 Jn. 5:19; Rom. 8:18-21). Believers will inherit the earth someday when Christ establishes God's Kingdom on earth (Rev. 21; Dan. 7:22, 27). Believers possess eternal life through Christ (Jn. 14:23; 2 Pet. 1:3-4). Believers have overcome physical and spiritual death through Christ (1 Cor. 15:54-57; Phil. 1:21-24). Believers have overcome all things in the present world through Christ (Rom. 8:37-39). Believers possess the blessings of heaven through Christ (1 Pet. 1:3-4). Through Christ all good and holy things are for the believers' blessing and God's glory (Eph. 1:3; 2:4-8; 2 Pet. 1:3).

Paul has just finished informing the believers that all things belong to them. Now he tells them that the whole church belongs to Christ (23). Born again Christians were placed into a spiritual union with Christ by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:15, 17; Eph. 5:23). The Holy Spirit united them with Christ when they believed the gospel (Eph. 1:13-14, 22-23). Born again Christians belong to Jesus Christ. Paul concludes his argument by declaring the Christ belongs to God. Jesus Christ is God the Son, the Second Person of the divine Trinity. God the Son is in union with God the Father (Jn. 10:30) and God the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14). The argument that Paul makes is that: Christians are in union with one another and they are also in union with Christ (23). Christ is in union with the other two members of the Trinity. All things belong to God, so make a big deal out of God!

Conclusion:

Local churches are visible expressions of Christ's universal church. The Word of God says that anyone who destroys a local church through false teaching and wicked actions will be destroyed by God. This refers to unbelievers who somehow end up being pastors, or teachers, or members of a local church. Their false teaching and wicked actions lead to the tearing apart of the local church. They will be judged by God.

Paul concludes the passage by calling them to seek God's wisdom, which is obtained through salvation by faith in Christ. After accepting Christ as Savior they are able to continually receive more wisdom through the Word of God. We belong to Christ, He is our Lord. We are in spiritual union with Jesus Christ and also all other believers. As a result of belonging to Christ, we belong to God. Therefore, we should glorify God only and above all.