'Rightly Dividing the Word'
I Cor 3:9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.
Every Christian is a servant of God but each one is also
1. God's field - meant for planting and harvesting (evangelistic works). The seed sown is the gospel of Christ which was taught by our Lord Jesus and preached by all His Apostles.
Gospel of Christ - Christ Jesus, the Son of God was the Word made flesh. He suffered and was crucified as the sacrificial Lamb of God. On the cross He poured out His blood for the cleansing of our sins. He died and on the third day, He rose from the dead after having overcome death.
Whoever believes and accepts the gospel of Christ will be saved and God will give him the Holy Spirit as the seal of redemption.
Luke 24:46-47 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
2. God's building or temple, which needs to be furnished (discipleship or transformation into His image).
The moment that a person has converted to Christianity, the Holy Spirit dwells in him, making his physical body the temple of God.
However, this new temple of God is empty except for the bronze altar in outer court.
I Cor 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
I Cor 3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
To be a wise builder, he must build this new tabernacle on the foundation, which is Jesus Christ.
I Cor 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Foundation of Christ Jesus
Our Lord Jesus had established doctrines or truth, which we must use to build this new temple. Some of these are:-
1. The Bible is the infallible Word of God.
2. The word of Jesus is paramount, complimented with the Apostles' Epistles
3. Message of the Cross or the blood of Jesus
4. Jesus had fulfilled and obsoleted the Law and the Prophets
5. Jesus had completed all His redemptive work at the cross
6. Jesus had provided the blood, water and Spirit for our redemption, sanctification and perfection.
7. Jesus New Covenant of grace and truth has annulled the Old Mosaic law
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Note: Doctrines that contradict the attributes of God, the words and teachings of Jesus and the Apostles are erroneous and possibly heretic.
Rewards for building Temple
I Cor 3:12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
As long as a Christian builds on the foundation of Christ (without any heresy), he will be rewarded for his good works out of love and sincerity, or else he will be without any reward. However, he is still saved because of his faith in the gospel of Christ.
I Cor 3:14-15 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
