1 Cor. 3

1 Corinthians – Chapter Three

Chapter summary – The Corinthians were being distracted from their personal spiritual growth and effective Christian service.  They were dividing into factions according to which preacher they thought was better.  Paul tells them that as a result they were not continuing to be transformed into the image of Christ, but rather slipping back into carnality in their actions, thoughts and attitudes. 

Paul explains to the Corinthians in this chapter, that the leaders of the church are merely the servants of God.  If anyone was or is being convicted and saved as an unbeliever or changed and growing as a believer, it was God who was doing the work.  The unsaved and the congregation, are the focus of God’s work here, not the leaders. The leaders are God’s laborers working in the fields that are ripe to harvest, as well as ministering to and among God’s flock. 

Christ is the foundation for that work Paul says, as Christ builds the church qualitatively and qualitatively; by saving the lost and maturing the saved.  In the end, both the Christian leaders lives as well as the Christian congregations lives will be evaluated as to how we responded to God’s Holy Spirit and Word.  The gospel believer will only be rewarded for what he or she did right.  The gospel believer will suffer loss for everything else.

Paul is making it very clear here to the Corinthian believers that they are involved in what is going to amount to nothing, but loss and heartache.

2.    the CARNALITY of the Conflict, (3:1-4)

  Interpretation:

1)   The Meaning of Carnality (1-2),

(1) It means immaturity in their point of view, (1)

¹   And I, brethren (even though you are indwelt by the Spirit of God), could not speak to you (in this letter), as to spiritual people (as those who are filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit, being transformed into the image of Christ), but as to carnal (lit., “fleshly ones”—one who is filled with and controlled by his fleshly desires, continuing to be conformed to this world), as to babes in Christ, (as one who is no more spiritually mature than one who has just recently placed saving faith in Christ for salvation).

(2) It means an inability to digest in-depth teaching, (2)

²   I fed you (taught you), with milk (with the most basic, elementary truths of faith in Christ), and not with solid food (the heavier, more in-depth truths of faith in Christ); for until now you were not able to receive it (which is entirely natural and understandable when you were first saved, like a newborn infant), and even now (though, about 5 years later), you are still not able (to digest solid spiritual food.  You’re still eating baby food which is not natural nor appropriate);

  Application:

They had come through the door of faith but had gone no farther.^[1] They had exercised saving faith in order to be saved, but they had not exercised any practical faith in growing to be like their Savior.[2]  This is wrong.  It is as wrong and unnatural as a five year old child still eating a steady diet of baby food.

2)   The Manifestations of Carnality (3-4),

(1) Envy, (3a)

(2) Strife, (3b)

(3) Divisions, (3c)

³   for you are still carnal, (still listening to and satisfying the sin force within). For where there are envy (which refers to their feelings—when you are filled with jealousy because you don’t have what others have), strife (which refers to their words—when you quarrel with each other over your differences or preferences), and divisions among you (which refers to their actions—when you shun others or drive others always), are you not carnal and behaving like mere men (are you not behaving like the unsaved who follow their fleshly impulses)?

(4) Fanaticism, (4)

⁴   For when one says, “I am (a follower), of Paul,” and another, “I am (a follower), of Apollos,” are you not carnal (are you not following the impulses of your flesh, the philosophies of the world, and the lies of the devil, rather than seeking and following the direction of the Holy Spirit)?

  Application:

In his book The New Life Michael Green reports that a friend of his came to him and explained his new–found Christian life in words something like these: “It is rather like a cyclist who, when he is climbing a long hill, thinks he will be able to freewheel down the other side. It is not until he reaches the top that he sees that his task has only just started and that the road winds on with even steeper hills than the one he has just climbed.”

Many Christians have come to the same conclusion. Faithful Christian living becomes increasingly more difficult and more demanding. It is the furthest thing from a downhill ride. Christ does solve all of our important problems. He does bring peace, joy, meaning, purpose, and many other blessings of which the unbeliever knows nothing. But the Christian life is not easy. In many ways living is far more demanding than before we were saved.

How is this so? How—when we have God’s own Spirit within us, the mind of Christ, and the power of God—could it become more difficult to do what is right, to do what our Lord wants us to do? There are two reasons: the world and the flesh. The first is outside us, the second is inside us. They are Satan’s supreme instruments in tempting believers and keeping them from faithfulness and victory.^[3]

Carnality

I.     The Divisions of People In Respect to Carnality

1.  The natural man

The natural man is the unregenerate, unsaved man, whose even morally good thoughts, actions and attitudes, which certainly benefit him or her in this earthly life, count for nothing in eternity.[4]

2.  The carnal Christian

1)   He does not grow further spiritually; he makes no forward progress whatever.  He actually begins to slip backwards into old or new sinful practices.[5]

2)   He bears no spiritual fruit; he is spiritually barren. His prayers are hindered. He is like the withered and dead wood on the vine that the Father prunes and burns.[6]

3)   He lives under the dominion of sin.[7]

4)   He employs the law of Moses or some other legalistic system as the principle of the Christian life and therefore cannot grow spiritually.[8]

5)   He does not walk in the Spirit, rather, he walks in the flesh.[9]

6)   He fails to live in newness of life.[10]

7)   He believes on Christ as his Savior, but does not acknowledge and/or submit to the Lordship of Christ.  He does not pick up his cross daily.  No one can serve two masters for he will love one and hate the other.[11]

8)   He lacks spiritual discernment and sensitivity, and thus enjoys virtually no communion or illumination from the Spirit.  He quenches and grieves the Spirit.  (e.g., Ananias and Sephira)[12]

9)   He experiences the indwelling presence of the Spirit, but fulfills none of the conditions for being filled with Him.[13]

3.  The spiritual Christian

1)   He grows in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ in an ever-upward ascent.  He grows daily.

2)   He produces the fruit of the Spirit, (e.g., love, joy, peace and so on).

3)   He abides in Christ, as he follows His counsel.

4)   He experiences a daily deliverance from the dominion of sin, as he yields his members as members of righteousness.

5)   He lives and walks in the Spirit, being filled with Him.

6)   He walks in newness of life, counting himself dead to sin.

7)   He submits to the Lordship of Christ, picking up his cross.

8)   He confesses and repents of all known sin, keeping short accounts—getting up quickly when he falls.

9)   He knows the joy of full surrender and complete yieldness to Christ, having lost his life he finds it.

10) He has perfect victory by knowing he is dead to sin, reckoning it to be so and yielding to the Spirit.

11) He is filled with the Spirit, controlled by Him.

12) He receives a special illumination of the Spirit, being sensitive to Him.

II. The Proper Concept of Carnality

1.  The carnality of the unsaved in Romans 8:5-13

1)   The unsaved person minds the things of the flesh, (5).[14]

2)   The unsaved person represents, models, illustrates a state of death, (6)[15]

3)   The unsaved person entertains hostility and hatred toward God, (7)[16]

4)   The unsaved person refuses to submit to the Word of God, (7)[17]

5)   The unsaved person is incapable of submitting to or pleasing God, (7, 8)[18]

6)   The unsaved person lives in the sphere of the flesh, (8)[19]

7)   The unsaved person lives after the flesh, (13)[20]

2.  The carnality of the saved in the Corinthian church

1)   What carnality in the Corinthian church cannot mean

(1)  The carnality of the Corinthians cannot mean that they have no spiritual qualities whatsoever.

1a  They called on the name of Jesus Christ, (1:2).[21]

2a  Paul had reason to thank God for them, (1:4).[22]

3a  The grace of God was working in them, (1:4).[23]

4a  They were waiting for the coming of Christ, (1:7).[24]

5a  They had been called into the fellowship of Christ, (1:9).[25]

6a  Their faith stood because of divine power, (2:5).[26]

7a  They were blessed in the possession of spiritual gifts, (1:7)[27]

(2)  The carnality of the Corinthians cannot mean that they were spiritually ignorant.

1a  In everything they were enriched in all utterance and in all knowledge, (1:5).[28]

2a  Paul spoke wisdom among them that are perfect, (2:6).[29]

3a  They possessed the Spirit who was given to them in order to know the things that are freely given to us of God, (2:12).[30]

4a  Paul says, “we” have the mind of Christ, (2:16).[31]

(3) The carnality of the Corinthians cannot mean that they had made no progress in the Christian life.

1a  The testimony of Christ was confirmed in the them, (1:6).[32]

2a  They had the assurance that this confirmation would continue to the end, (1:8).[33]

3a  Their spiritual progress would continue until they stood blameless in the day of Christ because the faithfulness of God was the guarantee of their spiritual success, (1:8, 9).[34]

2.   What the Carnality in the Corinthian church does mean

(1)  The carnality of the Corinthians is a childish behavior for believers.

1a  Delinquent qualities of carnal babies

1b   They are preoccupied with themselves, self sits on the throne

2b   They are willful, nobody can tell them how to live.

3b   Their contentment is based entirely upon sensuous satisfaction, (e.g., Ananias and Sephira wanting the praise of men).

4b   They cry and pout when they cannot have their own way, (e.g., Ahab when he couldn’t acquire Naboth’s vineyard).

5b   They are selfish with their possessions, (e.g., Nabal rejecting any provision for David after protecting his flocks).

6b   They are not amendable to reason; correction must take a much stronger form, (Hymenaeus and Alexander who were opposing Paul and were turned over to Satan).

7b   They have virtually no discernment, (Heb. 5:14)

8b   Their nourishment is limited to baby food, (e.g., David when he looked upon Bathsheba).

9b   Their appreciation for what others do for them is undetectable, (e.g., Saul seeking David’s death).

10b They lack the skills which come with maturity, (Heb. 5:13) (John Mark’s running awol on one of Paul’s missionary trips).

2a  Commendable qualities of proper babies

1b   They do not exhibit the following sinful qualities, malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, slander (1 Pet 2:1).

2b   They have an appetite for the kind of food that will cause them to grow (1 Pet 2:2).

3b   They know that what they are eating is palatable, even delicious (1 Pet 2:3)

4b   They make up quickly after a quarrel.

5b   They believe everything that they hear.

6b   They have not learned to be proud (Mat. 18:4)

7b   They live entirely dependent upon the parent.

(2)  Carnality is a display of our natural traits in sinful behavior.

The Corinthians were saved individuals and had in many ways manifested spiritual qualities and behavior.  Nevertheless, the flesh remained in them as it does in all of God’s children.  The flesh is incorrigibly wicked.  The ugly traits of the natural man remain in all of us.  There is a constant war that rages within every believer; the war of spirituality verses carnality.  It is also though, a war that every believer can win as he can do all things through Christ.  The reality of the issue is in part an understanding of right and wrong, but it is even more an issue of choice.

A man who has traveled in Europe says that while many of the old cathedrals in France are beautiful on the inside, their exterior is often distasteful because of the art carvings which depict animals with hideously distorted features.  Inquiring about this strange custom he was told that the builders in the Middle Ages wanted these figures to represent man’s carnal appetites and prejudices!  They were placed there to remind all who came to worship that they should leave bitterness and wrath outside the sanctuary if they hoped to receive God’s blessing.  To approach the Lord in any other manner would be unacceptable and would deprive them of inner peace.

C. H. Spurgeon wrote, “There are many locks in my house and all with different keys, but I have one master key which opens all.  So the Lord has many treasuries and secrets all shut up from carnal minds with locks which they cannot open, but he who walks in fellowship with Jesus possesses the master key which will admit him to all the blessings of the covenant; yea, to the very heart of God.  Through the Well-beloved we have access to God, to heaven, to every secret of the Lord.”

   [Pulpit Helps, Mar 1993.  Page 16.]

3.  the cure for the Conflict, —of I follow Paul, I follow Apollos, I follow Cephas of which Paul said was carnal, (3:5-4:21)

The story is told of three churches located on the corners of the same intersection.  Each began its evening meeting with a rousing song service.  On a warm summer night, when all the doors and windows were open wide, one congregation began by singing, “Will there be any stars in my crown?”  The strains had barely faded away when the folks across the street sang the familiar hymn, “No, Not One!”  They had just finished when there rang out loud and clear from the third church, “O that will be glory for me!” [That is carnal conflict.]

1)    The pastor is nobody special in and of himself, he is simply a servant, (5, 7)

⁵   Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos (neither are anything unique or special—both are), but ministers (meaning simple servants. “Ministers” is synonymous with a menial worker of any sort whether free or slave—It is the word used for deacon.  Paul and Apollos are simply busboys, menial servants) through whom (as they introduced you to Christ), you believed (placed saving faith in Christ), as the Lord gave (the fruit being here the gift of faith), to each one, (in order to believe) ?[35]

2)    God assigns every pastor a particular function, (6a)

(1)  Some plant churches—i.e., establish and organize the local group of believers

⁶   I (Paul), planted, (I brought the gospel to you and sowed it among you)

(2)  Some water or disciple churches—mature and train the local group of believers

Apollos watered, (Apollos instructed you in the gospel that its roots may be established and grow in strength and maturity)

3)    Pastors only fulfill their function, they do not produce the results, (6b-7)

but (even so), God gave the increase, (we only created the environment conducive to salvation and spiritual growth—we simply fulfilled God’s will for our lives as His servants. God caused any progress or good that came out of it—It was not the result of man’s wisdom).

⁷   So then (in light of this truth), neither he who plants is anything (is worthy of any special honor), nor he who waters, but God (is, because it is He), who gives the increase, (who causes fruit to take place).

  Application:

D. L. Moody told the story of a passenger on an Atlantic steamer who lay in his bunk during a raging storm with a severe case of seasickness. Suddenly he heard the cry, “Man overboard!”  “May God help that poor fellow,” he prayed, “but there’s nothing I can do.”  Then he thought, “I can at least put my lantern in my small window,” and with an effort he did so.  The man was finally rescued.  In recounting the story the next day, he said, “I was going down in the darkness for the last time when someone put a light in a porthole. It shone on my hand, and a sailor in the lifeboat grabbed it and pulled me in.”

The passenger simply put his light in the window and God used it.  Paul and Apollos simply put the light of God’s word before men and God used it.

4)    Pastors are never to be in competition with one another, (8a)

⁸   Now (then, can’t you see that), he who plants and he who waters are one, (are one and the same.  Their only difference is in function—how they serve, not in importance as all are mere servants)

5)    Every pastor will receive a reward for how well he performs his own particular work, (8b)

and each one (each servant who fulfills his particular function), will receive his own (individual), reward according to his own (according to how he performed his individual), labor, (not according to the success or results of his labor).

  Application:

Do you see that?  Anyone can do what he is supposed to do and that is what God rewards a man for; his obedience, not the fruit that God developed out of it.

6)    Pastors and their flock are one in their worth and endeavors, (9)

⁹   For we (Paul and Apollos), are God’s fellow workers (we labor together as a team of servants for the Lord); you (the church), are God’s field (we are all laboring together in the same field), you are God’s building, (we are all servants in the same church that Christ is building).

  Application:

Gospel believers are not in competition with each other.  They are in a tug of war with evil and they’re all needed to pull together, in harmony on the same end of the rope.

7)    Every pastor is dependent upon the grace of God to perform his particular work, (10)

¹⁰ According to the grace (the unmerited favor), of God which was given to me (i.e., God’s grace wasn’t something I earned, purchased or deserved, but because of it), as a wise master builder I (Paul, God’s missionary evangelist), have laid the foundation (planted the church here at Corinth), and another (Apollos, God’s pastor teacher—Timothy in Ephesus), builds on it, (maturing the church and equipping the saints for the work of the ministry). But let each one (each servant continually), take heed (exercise caution in), how he builds on it, (how he builds on the foundation which has been laid in the church of Corinth.  It must be God’s work, done according to His Word, in His timing and He must always be the One who gets the credit for it.  Paul draws this truth out again in 15:10).[36]

  Application:

It has been said that, “If you wish to be a leader you will be frustrated, for very few people wish to be led. If you aim to be a servant you will never be frustrated.” [Why? Because so many need to be served].  —Frank F. Warren^[37]

The dome of the cathedral of Florence, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, has a very unique feature. A small opening was left in it, positioned in such a way that a shaft of sunlight can stream through it only on June 21.  At just the right spot on the floor of the sanctuary is a brass plate, and if the rays should fail to cover it completely, there would be cause for concern.  The divergence of the light in any direction would indicate that the structure has shifted its center of gravity, and steps would have to be taken to correct the problem. Brunelleschi, knowing that the cathedral has been constructed on marshy ground, devised this unique method to detect if the great church begins to shift.

    Those of us who are Christians are “God’s building” (1 Cor. 3:9).  The sunlight of His love has fallen upon us by grace. [If gospel believers ever forget that, or forget that if God uses us in some wonderful ways afterward by His grace—they are out of plumb with the truth.

8)    Every pastor is to build upon the same foundation—Jesus Christ, (11)

¹¹ For no other foundation (no other fundamental principle or basis), can anyone lay (no matter what they believe), than that which is (once and for all), laid, which is Jesus Christ. (There is no room or place for anyone to share the same place of preeminence as or with Christ in the building of the church, either through salvation or spiritual growth.  World religions like Buddhism, Jehovah’s Witness, Mormonism, Islam, Christian Science, New Age and Hinduism are all built on [at least in part], another foundation—other than from the precepts and principles of Christ’s life and work alone).        

  Application:

An elderly man gave some good advice.  He said, “Brother, don’t ever try to be a big preacher. Instead, preach a big Savior.”  Elevate Christ, never yourself or another fellow servant.

9)    Every pastor and layperson is accountable to Jesus Christ for his attitudes, motivations, thoughts and actions while he builds, (12-15)

¹² Now if anyone (pastor or layperson), builds on this foundation (by serving Christ as He builds church through salvation and spiritual growth), with gold, silver, precious stones, (that which is permanent, valuable and rare verses), wood, hay, straw, (which is temporary, cheap and common)

  Application:

The materials used in the building may be interpreted in at least four ways:

(a) The gold, silver, costly stones refer to the enduring quality of the builder’s work; and the wood, hay, or straw suggest work that is temporary and valueless. This view is supported by “work” (v. 13) and “what he has built” (v. 14).

(b) The three expensive materials suggest sound doctrine which the builder “builds” into people’s lives, and the three valueless materials are false doctrines.

(c) The first three materials refer to the worker’s worthy motives, and the other three point to his unworthy motives (cf. 4:5).[38]

(d) The “gold, silver, costly stones” refer to believers who constitute the church (this is supported by similar uses of the metaphor in Eph. 2:22; 2 Tim. 2:20; and 1 Peter 2:5), and the “wood, hay, or straw” represent unregenerate people present in the church (chorton, rendered “hay” in 1 Cor. 3:12, is used of unbelievers in James 1:10, where the niv renders it “wild flower”).^[39]

¹³ each one’s (each individual’s), work (professed labor in the name of the Lord), will become clear (will be laid out in the open); for the Day (at the judgment seat of Christ),[40] will declare it (prove its quality), because it will be revealed by fire (referring to Christ’s judgment—when ungodliness comes into contact with God’s purity it is consumed); and the fire will test each one’s (individual), work, of what sort (or what quality), it is.

¹⁴ If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures (which would mean that it would have to meet Christ’s criteria for building His church), he will receive a reward, (in return).

¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned (which would mean that it did not meet Christ’s criteria for building His church), he will suffer loss (he will receive no reward); but (even so), he himself will be saved (he will not lose his salvation), yet so as through fire, (even though he has suffered under God’s judgment).

JESUS’APPRAISAL OF HIS CHURCH

[Gospel believer’s] are subject to three divine judgments:

1.  As sinners we were judged at the cross in the person of our Savior and  Substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:8; 1 Peter 2:24; 2 Cor. 5:21).[41]  Because of His sacrifice, we were divinely acquitted of all past present and future sin. 

2.  As God’s children we are now subject to His parental corrective chastisement when we fail to deal with known sins in our lives (Rev. 3:19; 1 Cor. 11:26-32). 

3. As the Lord’s servants we shall answer to Him for our behavior during our Christian lifetime (2 Cor. 5:9-10; Col. 3:24-25; 1 Cor. 3:8-15; 2 John 8). 

I.     THE REASONS FOR THIS APPRAISAL

This judgment in no way relates to our salvation or eternal destination.  These issues were settled when we trusted in the Savior for salvation (John 3:36; 5:24).  The reasons for this appraisal of the Lord’s people are these:

1.  That Each Saved Person May Give an Account of His Behavior (Rom. 14:8, 12).[42]

This means that we shall be required to explain the reasons for all our conscious earthly behavior since the time of our salvation (Luke 19:12-15).[43]  The Lord has left us here for a while that we might work with Him in the building of His church (which is exactly what Paul is trying to get the believers in Corinth to understand)—(2 Cor. 5:9-10, 14-15; Matt. 28:19),[44] we are answerable to Him for the use of our bodies, time, energy, abilities, opportunities, material goods, spiritual possessions, and the like.

2.  That Each Saved Person May Receive His Proper Reward (1 Cor. 3:8; 2 Cor. 5:10).[45]

By this appraisal the Lord will evaluate everything that we did during our Christian lifetime and will determine what reward, or pay, we should receive.  It is His desire that we receive a full reward (John 15:16; 2 John 8).[46]

II.   THE DETAILS OF THIS APPRAISAL

1. Its Time

The appraisal of the church will take place after its translation to heaven, before she prepares herself for her marriage to the Lord Jesus (Rev. 22:12; 19:7).[47]  His people’s present work will end with the completion of the church’s construction.  Although our active participation ends with death, there are elements of our ministries that continue to make their impact on the lives of others, like a shared gospel witness or a Bible lesson.  We shall be pleasantly surprised to see what the Lord did with those parts of our lives that were yielded to Him (1 Thess. 2:19-20).[48]

2. Its Place

The appraisal will take place in heaven before “the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10).  In the Scriptures, this “judgment seat” is seen as a judicial bench where court decisions were made (Matt. 27:19; Acts 18:16).  However, this appraisal should not be regarded as a judicial examination that will bring upon us divine condemnation for our sins.  The atoning work of the Lord has adequately taken care of this for all who are trusting Him for their salvation (Rom. 8:1, 30-34).  But we shall still answer for the total output of our Christian lifetime while we were on earth, for we are responsible for our actions.

3. Its Examiner

Various references to this appraisal reveal that the examiner will be our Master, the Lord Jesus (Rom. 14:7-12).[49]  The apostle John described our Lord’s judicial appearance in Revelation 1:13-16,[50] with each feature symbolically portraying some aspect of His judicial bearing.  His clothing marked His dignity and honor; His white hair reflected the wisdom and integrity of His judgments; His fiery eyes, penetrating and searching out all things, showed His assessing all things in the light of divine holiness; His glowing feet indicated His readiness to trample upon all that He will not approve; His roaring voice assured that His word will be final; His hand indicated His sovereign control over all people; His mouth, projecting a sword, declared God’s Word, the criterion of what is good and right; finally, His brilliant face radiated the unveiled glory of God.

Although the apostle fainted at the sight, he was assured that he had nothing to fear (Rev. 1:17-18).  Elsewhere, John declared that they who abide in Jesus will have boldness in His presence, but the rest will shrink from Him in shame (1 John 2:28).[51]

4. Its Regulatory Principles

In appraising the lives of His bride, the Lord will adhere to those divine principles that He follows in all His judicial evaluations and decisions (Rom. 2:1-16).

1.  His judgments are according to truth (v. 2).[52]  They are factual and are in keeping with the moral standards of God’s Word.

2.  His judgments are according to His bride’s deeds (v. 6).[53]  They are in keeping with what his bride deserves (v. 6).

3.  His judgments are without respect of persons (v. 11).[54]  They are impartial.  He does not give preferential treatment.

These principles assure that the Lord will deal with each person fairly and will give him his due reward (1 Cor. 3:8).[55]

III.  A DESCRIPTION OF THIS APPRAISAL

The apostle Paul warned the many teachers, who were busy at Corinth, to take heed how they built upon the foundation that he had laid during his planting or pioneer gospel work there as well as Apollos’ sowing, (1 Cor. 3:8-12).  He then gave three descriptive features of this appraisal (vv. 13-15):

1.  Everyone’s Work Will Be Made Visible (1 Cor. 3:13a).[56]

Every conscious personal activity of our Christian lifetime will be revealed to us for the purpose of review, accounting, and evaluation.  We shall have to give our reasons for doing what we did.  Since this will be a personal matter, I believe that it will be a private review, carried on simultaneously with all who are being appraised (cp.  Luke 24:34).[57]

2.  Everyone’s Work Will Be Tried by Fire (1 Cor. 3:13b).[58]

Fueled by divine holiness (Heb. 12:25-29),[59] our Lord’s fiery gaze will examine and evaluate these works for the purpose of approving those that meet His standards (Rev. 1:14; Heb. 4:12-13; 12:29).[60]  “The Lord will examine and evaluate all our actions, words, thoughts, emotions, attitudes, motivations, and intentions (2 Cor. 5:10; Col. 3:25; Rev. 22:12).[61]  The phrase “of what sort it is” indicates that He will be concerned with quality.  The works that He will approve are represented by materials that withstand fire like precious metals and gems (1 Cor. 3:12).  All else will be rejected and consumed like wood, hay, and stubble.

What kind of works will He approve? 

1) Only that in which He had a part (John 15:5),[62] that which was in keeping with His will and that was done in His strength (Eph. 6:8; Heb. 13:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:10; Phil. 1:11, 21; 4:13).[63] 

2) All that was done independently of Him will be rejected, regardless of its appearance and results, for it represents nothing more than what unsaved people can do and it is sinful in God’s sight (Rom. 14:23; Heb. 11:6; John 15:5b).[64]

3.  Everyone’s Work Will Receive Its Proper Reward (1 Cor. 3:8, 14-15).[65]

That which pleases the Lord will bring us gain; that which He disapproves will bring us loss.  Keep in mind that the purpose of this appraisal is to reward us as His servants; it is not to punish us judicially for our sinful works.  However, being accountable people, we must answer to the Lord Jesus for the use of all that He committed to our trust while we were here on earth (cp.  Luke 19:11-15).[66]

IV.  THE OUTCOMES OF THIS APPRAISAL

The Lord’s appraisal of our lives is going to bring us both gain and loss (2 Cor. 5:10).[67] 

1.  The Nature of These Rewards (some are positive and the others are negative)

The nature of these rewards, or wages, is illustrated by the Lord’s parable about a lord and his three slaves (Matt. 25:14-30).”[68]

1) The profitable rewards (1 Cor 3:14; cp.  Matt. 25:20-23)[69]

Our works that survive the appraisal will bring us tremendous blessings, which is a part of our eternal inheritance (Col. 3:24).[70]  The parable illustrates three kinds of profitable rewards.

(1)  The Lord’s commendation (Matt. 25:21, 23) [71]

In the parable the lord declared that two of his servants, who were good stewards of the talents given them, were “good” and “faithful” and had “well done” (cp. 1 Peter 1:7).[72]  These words reveal our Lord’s recognition and pleasure of those who faithfully do what was good in His sight, those who fulfill His will.  In His messages to the seven churches of Asia Minor (Revelation 2-3), the Lord used several metaphors that express this approval and honor.

1.  The garland (Rev. 2:10, KJV “crown”)[73]

When he portrayed the Christian life as a race (1 Cor. 9:24-25),[74] the apostle

Paul alluded to the Isthmian Games that were held near Corinth every two years in a grove of spruce trees, sacred to Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea.  Comparable to our Olympic gold medal, the prize was a garland, or wreath, of spruce.  This represented the highest pinnacle of human achievement and happiness.  It brought the winner the highest honors and the most coveted distinction a Greek could acquire.

Unlike that of the Greek athlete, the gospel believer’s garland will be an imperishable one (1 Cor. 9:25).  It will represent our Lord’s lasting recognition and commendation of His gospel believer’s good works.  The Scriptures describe several kinds of garlands:

1)  for soul winners, a crown of rejoicing (1 Thess. 2:19);

2)  for obedient life-completers, a crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8);

3)  for humble servers, a crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4); and

4)  for enduring sufferers, a crown of life (James 1:12; Rev. 2:10). 

Our receiving our crown and wearing it will reflect an honor greater than anything that this world confers.[75]

2)  The engraved white stone (Rev. 2:17)[76]

Similar to our trophy cup, this tablet of white stone was engraved with the

victor’s name and it celebrated his victory.  The Lord will personalize His honoring obedient gospel believers by giving them new names, engraved upon these trophy pieces.

3)  The white garment (Rev. 3:5)[77]

While the victorious Greeks were often clad in purple, overcoming gospel believers will clad themselves in white garments, whose fabric will consist of their righteous deeds (Rev. 19:8).[78]  The garment represents how we honored Christ.  We are now weaving our garments by doing the Lord’s will in His strength.  Careless or unrepentant gospel believers who are living thoughtlessly or in known sin will have in some distinguishable way, defiled garments (Rev. 3:4; cp. 18; 16:15).[79]  These garments will portray the overall kind of Christian life that we lived while on earth.[80]

At the time of this appraisal, our Lord’s commendation will be far more important to us than anything in our present life that would lead us to neglect pleasing Him (2 Cor. 5:9-10).[81]  What is your present priority of life?  Are you running to win the Lord’s commendation?

b.    The Lord’s granting greater responsibility (Matt. 25:21, 23)[82]

In the parable the lord of the slaves increased the duties of the faithful ones when he said, “I will make you ruler over many things.” This portrays the reward of administrative positions in our Lord’s earthly millennial kingdom, which will be filled by His people, regardless of the historical age in which they lived (Rev. 2:26-27; 2 Tim. 2:12; Luke 19:12-19; Rev. 20:4).[83]  The extent of one’s authority will be determined by the amount of profitable reward that one received.

We should remember more often the principle that faithfulness in small duties prepares us for greater responsibilities (Luke 16:10).[84]  Are you faithfully fulfilling your present duties, regardless how small they may be?  All that the Lord gives us to do, regardless of its quantity, is important.  It must be done faithfully and heartily as unto Him (Gal. 2:20; Phil. 4:13; Col. 3:23-24).

c.     The Lord’s allowing intimate fellowship with Himself (Matt. 25:21, 23)[85]

In the parable the lord invited his faithful servants to participate in the celebration of his return when he said, “Enter into the joy of your lord.” The promises to the overcomer, like their eating “hidden Manna,” being given the “Morning Star,” receiving Jesus’ “new name,” and sitting “with Him,” suggest a reward that denotes some degree of intimate fellowship with the Lord (Rev. 2:17, 28; 3:12, 21).[86]  This view is supported by the degrees of fellowship that the Lord’s disciples had with Him during His earthly ministry.  That of John was the most intimate (John 21:20);[87] then that of Peter, James, and John (Matt. 17:1);[88] next that of the twelve apostles collectively (Mark 3:14);[89] then that of the seventy disciples (Luke 10:1);[90] and finally that of the distant crowd (7:11).[91]

For us who are still alive on earth, it is not too late for us to do something about our daily relationship with the Lord Jesus (I Cor. 1:9; John 15:4-5; Col. 3:16; Matt. 11:28-39).

The fact of gainful rewards manifests God’s boundless grace.  Amazingly, He not only enables obedient believers to do His will but He also rewards them for doing what He enabled them to do in the first place.  This should encourage us to seek to please Him daily, as the apostle Paul did (1 Cor. 9:26-27; 2 Cor. 5:9-10; 2 Tim. 4:7-8; cp.  1 Cor. 15:58), and to live for His glory (1 Cor. 10:31).[92]

2)  The unprofitable rewards (1 Cor 3:15; cp.  Matt. 25:24-30)

Some feel that this unprofitable servant was not a true believer. But it seems that he was a true servant, even though he proved to be unprofitable. The “outer darkness” of Matthew 25:30 need not refer to hell, even though that is often the case in the Gospels (Matt. 8:12; 22:13). It is dangerous to build theology on parables, for parables illustrate truth in vivid ways. The man was dealt with by the Lord, he lost his opportunity for service, and he gained no praise or reward. To me, that is outer darkness.^[93]

The works that do not meet the Lord’s approval will bring us unprofitable results at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  These results will not only be:

   the loss of potential,

   the loss of favorable rewards that we could have had

   but also the gain of undesirable results.

Being forgiven, the sins as a Child of God that we commit and judge by repentance and confession (Rev. 2:5; 1 John 1:9) will not receive the Lord’s censure.  But…. our sinning brings us the irrecoverable loss of time, effort, and opportunity, which could have been used more profitably.  Focusing on the slave who chose to follow his own will, Jesus’ parable illustrates three kinds of unprofitable results (Matt. 25:24-30).

(1)  One Unprofitable Reward Is a Firm Reprimand (Matt. 25:26, 30)

Mt 25:26—“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant,…

Mt 25:30—cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness…

In the parable the lord reproved his slave for his being:

   “wicked,”

   “lazy,”

   and “unprofitable.”

This means that for failing to invest his lord’s money profitably, the slave was wrong, lazy, and useless.  This is a vivid description of the saved person who is carnal, or living in sin, (cp., 1 Cor. 3:15; Jn. 15:2, 5, 6).[94]  

The reason for this reprimand is that the servant:

   is doing wrong,

   is neglecting God’s will,

   and is of no use to the Lord in this world. 

If he does not shape up, he will be prematurely removed from earth (Jn. 15:2; 1 Cor. 11:27-32; Eph. 6:1-3).[95]

In summery: the Lord Jesus will express His disapproval of our unacceptable works (Rev. 2:4, 14, 20),[96] which represent the unprofitable use of our time, energy, and possessions, and which make us sinful, fruitless, and ineffective.”

Matthew 25:18, 25, 27, clearly shows us that the Lord has just claim to all that our lives can produce as well as to life itself.[97] 

His reprimand will bring us shame (1 John 2:28).[98]  But this will not affect our salvation (1 Cor. 3:15) or our positional sanctification in Jesus (1:2, 30).

(2)  One Unprofitable Reward Is a Loss of responsibility, (Matt. 25:28-29)[99]

The lord had the unfaithful slave’s talent taken from him.  Our evil, selfish works will bring us loss of administrative duties in the coming millennial kingdom (cp.  Rev. 2:26-27).[100]

(3)  One Unprofitable Reward Is a Loss of intimate fellowship with Christ, (Matt. 25:30)[101]

The unfaithful slave was not disowned, but he was not allowed to attend the

celebration of his master’s return.  This portrays the loss of intimate fellowship with Jesus that more faithful people will enjoy.  Our sinning results in our neglecting to walk in the Lord’s fellowship, which, in turn, will limit our future capacity for fellowship with Him (cp., 2 Cor. 4:17; Heb. 11:35).[102]

It is urgent that we visualize the impact of these losses and allow this to motivate us to please the Lord Jesus in everything.  The apostle Paul’s reference to rejection in I Corinthians 9:27 refers to failure in winning profitable rewards, not to salvation.[103]

10)  Pastors and their flocks constitute a holy temple in which the Holy Spirit dwells and works, (16-23)

¹⁶ Do you not know (or certainly you are aware of the fact), that you are (regardless of your spiritual health—not “a temple of God” but), the temple of God (temple here is the word for the inner sanctuary, the holy of holies, which every believer is in this dispensation of Grace or the church), and that the (Holy), Spirit of God dwells in you (and no longer in the ark of the covenant—deity literally indwells your soul and spirit)?[104]

  Application:

Everywhere you go, God goes with you.  A believer and God are inseparable.  It is impossible to do anything or go anywhere separate from Him.

 ¹⁷ If anyone (in the context we have been only talking about saved individuals), defiles (i.e., soils, damages, corrupts, subverts or depraves), the temple of God, God will destroy (same word as defiles), him, (God will bring retribution upon a hardened church wrecker or a holy of holies polluter). For (the reason being), the temple of God (the saved individual or the local church of saved individuals), is holy (sanctified, set apart for holy use), which temple you are.[105]

  Application:

As a boy, F. B. Meyer enjoyed visiting the Polytechnic, a science museum in London.  One of the exhibits he liked most was a diving bell.  It had no bottom, but there were seats attached to the rim at its base.  At various times throughout the day, visitors were allowed to enter the diving bell and occupy those seats.  It was then lowered into a deep tank of water.  What fascinated Meyer was the fact that no water ever came up into the bell, even though its occupants could have reached out and dipped their fingers into it.  How was this possible?  The reason it did not fill with water is that air was constantly being pumpled into the bell from above.  If a vacuum had existed, the water would have rushed in.  Meyer then made this application to believers:  “If you are full of the Holy Ghost, the flesh-life is underneath you, and though it would surge up, it is kept out.”

What destroys an individual believer or a gospel preaching church?

  Easy believism.

  Negativity/Disharmony.

  Jealousy/Competition.

  Picking what to believe/False teaching.

  Gossip/Contention.

  Pride/

(1)  Believers are not to defile the temple by depending upon worldly wisdom—e.g., by adopting the competitive attitudes of the world in our building, (18-20)

¹⁸ Let no one deceive himself, (by allowing himself to be led astray from God and His Word, as a result of having too high an opinion of human thinking and ability). If anyone (any believer), among you seems to be (or regards himself to be), wise in this age (by the world’s standards concerning spiritual matters), let him become a fool (in the worlds eyes by forsaking that kind of wisdom—may he humble himself before God), that he may become (truly), wise.[106]

  Application:

Matthew Henry says of these verses, “We are in great danger of deceiving ourselves when we have too high an opinion of human wisdom and arts; plain and pure Christianity will be likely to be despised by those who can suit their doctrines to the corrupt taste of their hearers, and set them off with fine language, or support them with a show of deep and strong reasoning. But he who seems to be wise must become a fool that he may be wise. He must be sensible of his own ignorance, and lament it; he must distrust his own understanding, and not lean on it. To have a high opinion of our wisdom is but to flatter ourselves, and self-flattery is the very next step to self-deceit. The way to true wisdom is to sink our opinion of our own to a due level, and be willing to be taught of God. He must become a fool who would be truly and thoroughly wise. The person who resigns his own understanding, that he may follow the instruction of God, is in the way to true and everlasting wisdom.”^[107]

¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, (or you could say “What the world thinks is spiritual wisdom, God calls folly.”). For it is written (in Job 5:13), “He (God), catches (ensnares or condemns), the (worldly), wise in their own craftiness” (by their own so called wisdom as He did with Job’s friends when they thought they were so spiritually wise, or as He did when Haman sought to destroy the Jews but found himself in a noose, [Esther 7:7ff]);

²⁰ and again (as Psalm 94:11 says), “The Lord knows (even), the thoughts of the wise (that they are so out of sync with God’s), that they are futile,” (utterly useless).

  Application:

It is by this very worldly wisdom that the Corinthians assess the worth of different teachers and leaders. It is this pride in the human mind… The trouble about this intellectual pride is that it is always two things.

(a)  It is always disputatious[argumentative]. It cannot keep silent and admire; it must talk and criticize. It cannot bear to have its opinions contradicted… It is never humble enough to learn; it must always be laying down the law.

(b)  Intellectual pride is characteristically exclusive. Its tendency is to look down on others rather than to sit down beside them. Its outlook is that all who do not agree with it are wrong. Long ago Cromwell wrote to the Scots, “I beseech you by the bowels of Christ, think it possible that you may be mistaken.” That is precisely what intellectual pride cannot think. It tends to cut men off from each other rather than to unite them.

Paul urges the man who would be wise to become a fool. This is simply a vivid way of urging him to be humble enough to learn. No one can teach a man who thinks that he knows it all already. Plato said, “He is the wisest man who knows himself to be very ill-equipped for the study of wisdom.” Quintilian said of certain students, “They would doubtless have become excellent scholars if they had not been so fully persuaded of their own scholarship.” The old proverb laid it down, “He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not is a fool; avoid him. He who knows not, and knows that he knows not is a wise man; teach him.” The only way to become wise is to realize that we are fools; the only way to knowledge is to confess our ignorance.^[108]

(2)  Believers are not to defile the temple by glorying in personalities—e.g., by esteeming Paul, Apollos or Cephas above another, (21-23)

²¹ Therefore (because man’s so called wisdom is so far from God’s), let no one boast in men. (Period.  Where God puts a period, let no man put a question mark.)[109] For all things (living and nonliving), are yours: (you don’t belong to them [1:12], but they belong to you, or are for your benefit),

²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (each being given by God is thus equally for your benefit), or (whether), the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours, (God created and sustains all that materially exists for the equal benefit of His children.  He has taken the sting out of death and gives each gospel believer a more abundant and eternal life.  Whether the gospel believer’s experiences are a result of God’s decretive or permissive will—He uses them all for the benefit of those who love Him).

The following ancient Oriental story is said to have had a great influence on Tolstoi:

    “A traveler in the desert is attacked by a furious wild beast.  To save himself the man gets into a dry well, but at the bottom of the well he sees a huge serpent, with jaws wide open to devour him.  He dares not get out for fear of the wild beast.  He dares not descend for fear of the serpent.

    “So he catches hold of a branch growing out of a crevice in the side of the well.  His arms grow tired, but still he holds on.  Then he sees two mice, one white, one black, gnawing through the branch, inch by inch.  He knows that it must give way soon, and he must perish.  Yet seeing a few drops of honey on the leaves, he reaches out and takes them, but he finds them no longer sweet.

    “The interpretation is not difficult.  The desert is the world; the wild beast is passion; the serpent is death; the branch is the life to which we cling; the black and white mice which gnaw through the branch are the nights and the days; the honey drops on the leaves are the few poor, transient pleasures at which men vainly clutch as they hang over the abyss.  And what are they worth?”

   [Pulpit Helps, Jan 1995.  Page 10.]

²³ And you (who have placed saving faith in Christ), are Christ’s (you belong to Him), and Christ is God’s, (and thus so is every believer in Christ).

In his book Divine Lord and Savior, theologian Albertus Pieters tells about a man who was known as “Old Pete.”  Although he had little education, he had a good grasp of God’s Word.

   On one occasion when he was visiting Dr. Pieters, Old Pete made a simple yet profound observation.  He said, “If God should take me to the very mouth of hell and say to me, ‘Here you go, Pete; this is where you belong.’  I would say to Him, ‘That’s true, Lord, I do belong there, but if You make me go to that place, Your dear Son Jesus Christ must go with me.  He and I are one and we cannot be separated anymore.'”

   Every person who has trusted in the Lord Jesus for salvation has been united with Him.  And that union is inseparable.

  Application:

  Interpretation:

  Commentary:

Carnality

I.    The Divisions of People In Respect to Carnality

1. The natural man

The natural man is the unregenerate, unsaved man, whose even morally good thoughts, actions and attitudes, which certainly benefit him or her in this earthly life, count for nothing in eternity, (Isa 64:6).

2. The carnal Christian

1) He does not grow spiritually; he makes no forward progress whatever.  He actually begins to slip backwards into old or new sinful practices, (1 Tim. 1:18-20).

2) He bears no spiritual fruit; he is spiritually barren. He is like the withered and dead wood on the vine, (Jn. 15).

3) He lives under the dominion of sin, (Rom 6:16).

4) He employs the law of Moses or some other legalistic system as the principle of the Christian life and therefore cannot grow spiritually, (Gal. 3:2, 3).

5) He does not walk in the Spirit, rather, he walks in the flesh, (Gal 3:3).

6) He fails to live in newness of life, (Rom 6:4).

7) He believes on Christ as his Savior, but does not acknowledge and/or submit to the Lordship of Christ, (Mat 6:24).

8) He lacks spiritual discernment and sensitivity, and thus enjoys virtually no communion or illumination from the Spirit, (Ac 5:3).

9) He experiences the indwelling presence of the Spirit, but fulfills none of the conditions for being filled with Him, (Eph 5:17, 18).

3. The spiritual Christian

1) He grows in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ in an ever-upward ascent.

2) He produces the fruit of the Spirit.

3) He abides in Christ.

4) He experiences a daily deliverance from the dominion of sin.

5) He lives and walks in the Spirit.

6) He walks in newness of life.

7) He submits to the Lordship of Christ.

8) He confesses and repents of all known sin.

9) He knows the joy of full surrender and complete yielded ness to Christ.

10) He has perfect victory by reckoning and yielding.

11) He is filled with the Spirit.

12) He receives a special illumination of the Spirit.

II. The Proper Concept of Carnality

1. The carnality of the unsaved in Romans 8:5-13

1) The unsaved person minds the things of the flesh, (5).

2) The unsaved person represents a state of death, (6)

3) The unsaved person entertains hostility and hatred toward God, (7)

4) The unsaved person refuses to submit to the Word of God, (7)

5) The unsaved person is incapable of submitting to or pleasing God, (7, 8)

6) The unsaved person lives in the sphere of the flesh, (8)

7) The unsaved person lives after the flesh, (13)

2. The carnality of the saved in the Corinthian church

1) What carnality in the Corinthian church cannot mean

(1)   The carnality of the Corinthians cannot mean that they have no spiritual qualities whatsoever.

1a   They called on the name of Jesus Christ, (1:2).

2a   Paul had reason to thank God for them, (1:4).

3a   The grace of God was working in them, (1:4).

4a   They were waiting for the coming of Christ, (1:7).

5a   They had been called into the fellowship of Christ, (1:9).

6a   Their faith stood because of divine power, (2:5).

7a   They were blessed in the possession of spiritual gifts, (1:7)

(2)   The carnality of the Corinthians cannot mean that they were spiritually ignorant.

1a   In everything they were enriched in all utterance and in all knowledge, (1:5).

2a   Paul spoke wisdom among them that are perfect, (2:6).

3a   They possessed the Spirit who was given to them in order to know the things that are freely given to us of God, (2:12).

4a   Paul says, “we” have the mind of Christ, (2:16).

(3) The carnality of the Corinthians cannot mean that they had made no progress in the Christian life.

1a   The testimony of Christ was confirmed in the them, (1:6).

2a   They had the assurance that this confirmation would continue t the end, (1:8).

3a   Their spiritual progress would continue until they stood blameless in the day of Christ because the faithfulness of God was the guarantee of their spiritual success, (1:8, 9).

2) What the Carnality in the Corinthian church does mean

(1)   The carnality of the Corinthians is a childish behavior for believers.

1a   Delinquent qualities of carnal babies

1b   They are preoccupied with themselves

2b   They are willful.

3b   Their contentment is based entirely upon sensuous satisfaction.

4b   They cry and pout when they cannot have their own way.

5b   They are selfish with their possessions.

6b   They are not amendable to reason; correction must take a much stronger form.

7b   They have virtually no discernment, (Heb. 5:14)

8b   Their nourishment is limited to baby food.

9b   Their appreciation for what others do for them is undetectable.

10b They lack the skills which come with maturity, (Heb. 5:13).

2a   Commendable qualities of proper babies

1b   They do not exhibit the following sinful qualities, malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, slander (1 Pet 2:1).

2b   They have an appetite for the kind of food that will cause them to grow (1 Pet 2:2).

3b   They know that what they are eating is palatable, even delicious (1 Pet 2:3)

4b   They make up quickly after a quarrel.

5b   They believe everything that they hear.

6b   They have not leaned to be proud (Mat. 18:4)

7b   They live entirely dependently upon the parent.

(2)   Carnality is a display of our natural traits in sinful behavior.

JESUS’ APPRAISAL OF HIS CHURCH

I.   THE REASONS FOR THIS APPRAISAL

1.  That Each Saved Person May Give an Account of His Behavior (Rom. 14:8, 12)

2.  That Each Saved Person May Receive His Proper Reward (1 Cor. 3:8; 2 Cor. 5:10)

II.  THE DETAILS OF THIS APPRAISAL

1.  Its Time

2.  Its Place

3.  Its Examiner

4.  Its Regulatory Principles

1)  His judgments are according to truth (Rom.2:2). 

2)  His judgments are according to His bride’s deeds (v. 6). 

3)  His judgments are without respect of persons (v. 11). 

III. A DESCRIPTION OF THIS APPRAISAL

1.  Everyone’s Work Will Be Made Visible (1 Cor. 3:13a).

2.  Everyone’s Work Will Be Tried by Fire (3:13b).

What kind of works will He approve? 

1) Only that in which He had a part (John 15:5; Eph. 6:8; Heb. 13:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:10; Phil. 1:11, 21). 

2) All that was done independently of Him will be rejected

3.  Everyone’s Work Will Receive Its Proper Reward (1 Cor. 3:8, 14-15).

2.  the CARNALITY of Conflict, (3:1-4)

1)  The Meaning of Carnality (1-2),

(1)   It means immaturity in their point of view, (1)

(2)   It means inability to digest in-depth teaching, (2)

2)  The Manifestations of Carnality (3-4),

(1)   Envy, (3a)

(2)   Strife, (3b)

(3)   Divisions, (3c)

(4)   Fanaticism, (4)

3.   the cure for the Conflict, (3:5-4:13)

1)   The pastor is nobody in himself, he is simply a servant, (5, 7)

2)   God assigns every pastor a particular function, (6a)

(1)  Some plant churches—establish and organize the local group of believers

(2)  Some water or disciple churches—mature and train the local group of believers

3)   Pastors only fulfill their function, they do not produce the results, (6b-7)

4)   Pastors are never to be in competition with one another, (8a)

5)   Every pastor will receive a reward for how well he performs his own particular work, (8b)

6)   Pastors and their flock are one in their worth and endeavors, (9)

7)   Every pastor is dependent upon the grace of God to perform his particular work, (10)

8)   Every pastor is to build upon the same foundation—Jesus Christ, (11)

9)   Every pastor and layperson is accountable to Jesus Christ for his attitudes, motivations, thoughts and actions while he builds, (12-15)

10) Pastors and their flocks constitute a holy temple in which the Holy Spirit dwells and works, (16-23)

(1)  We are not to defile the temple by depending upon worldly wisdom—e.g., by adopting the competitive attitudes of the world in our building, (18-20)

(2)  We are not to defile the temple by glorying in personalities—e.g., by esteeming Paul, Apollos or Cephas above another, (21-23)

IV.  THE OUTCOMES OF THIS APPRAISAL

1.  The Nature of These Rewards (some are positive and the others are negative)

1)  The profitable rewards (1 Cor 3:14; cp.  Matt. 25:20-23)

(1)  The Lord’s commendation (Matt. 25:21, 23)

1a The garland or crown (Rev. 2:10)

2a The engraved white stone (Rev. 2:17)

3a The white garment (Rev. 3:5)

(2)  The Lord’s granting greater responsibility (Matt. 25:21, 23)

(3)  The Lord’s allowing intimate fellowship with Himself (Matt. 25:21, 23)

2) The unprofitable rewards

  the loss of potential,

  the loss of favorable rewards that we could have had

  the gain of undesirable results.

(1) One Unprofitable Reward Is a Firm Reprimand.

  “wicked”

  “lazy”

  “unprofitable”

The reason for this reprimand is that the   servant:

  is doing wrong,

  is neglecting God’s will,

  is of no use to the Lord in this world 

 (2)  A Second Unprofitable Reward Is a Loss of responsibility.

 (3)  A Thrid Unprofitable Reward Is a Loss of intimate fellowship with Christ.

---

  Commentary:

^[1]MacArthur, John. 1 Corinthians. Includes indexes. Chicago: Moody Press, 1996, c1984.

[2] Heb 5:12-15—For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. ¹⁴ But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

^[3]MacArthur, John. 1 Corinthians. Includes indexes. Chicago: Moody Press, 1996, c1984.

[4] Is 64:6—But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.

[5] 1 Ti 1:18-20—This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, ¹⁹ having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, ²⁰ of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

[6] Jn 15:6—If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

[7] Ro 6:16—Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

[8] Ga 3:2-3—This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—³ Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

[9] Ga 3:3—Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

[10] Ro 6:4—Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

[11] Mt 6:24— “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

[12] Ac 5:3—But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?

[13] Eph 5:17-18—Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.’ ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

[14] Ro 8:5—For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

[15] For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

[16] ^7a Because the carnal mind is enmity against God…

[17] ^7b  (the carnal minded)…is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

[18] ^{7 “}Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. ⁸ So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”  God says, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” in John 14.

[19] ⁸ So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

[20] ⁹ But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. ¹⁰ And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. ¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

[21] 1 Co 1:2—To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

[22] 1 Co 1:4—I thank my God always concerning you…

[23] 1 Co 1:4—I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus,

[24] 1 Co 1:7b—…eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

[25] 1 Co 1:9—God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

[26] 1 Co 2:5—that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

[27] 1 Co 1:7a—so that you come short in no gift…

[28] 1 Co 1:5—that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,

[29] 1 Co 2:6—However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

[30] 1 Co 2:12—Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

[31] 1 Co 2:16—For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

[32] 1 Co 1:6—even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,

[33] 1 Co 1:8—who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[34] 1 Co 1:8-9—who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

[35] Eph 2:8-10—For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

[36] 1 Co 15:10—But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

^[37] Barton, Bruce B., and Grant R. Osborne. 1 & 2 Corinthians. Life application Bible commentary, Page 51. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1999.

[38] 1 Co 4:5—Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

^[39] Walvoord, Zuck, and Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary

[40] 2 Co 5:9-11—Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. ¹¹ Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

[41] For He [God the Father], made Him [Jesus Christ], who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed. (2 Co 5:21;1 Pe 2:24)

[42] Ro 14:8, 12—For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s…So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

[43] Lk 19:12-15—Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. ¹³ So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ ¹⁴ But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ ¹⁵ “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

[44] 2 Co 5:9-10, 14-15—Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad….¹⁴ For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; ¹⁵ and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Mt 28:19—Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

[45] 1 Co 3:8—Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

2 Co 5:10—For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

[46] Jn 15:16—You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

2 Jn 8—Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.

[47] Re 22:12— “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. (1 Thess. 4: 13-18)

Re 19:7—Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” (Eph. 5:25-27)

[48] 1 Th 2:19-20—For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.

[49] Ro 14:7-12—For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. ⁸ For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. ⁹ For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. ¹⁰ But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. ¹¹ For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” ¹² So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

[50] Re 1:13-16—and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. ¹⁴ His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; ¹⁵ His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; ¹⁶ He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

[51] 1 Jn 2:28—now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

[52] Ro 2:1-2—Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. ² But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.

[53] Ro 2:3-6—And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴ Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? ⁵ But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, ⁶ who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:

[54] Ro 2:7-11—eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; ⁸ but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, ⁹ tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; ¹⁰ but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹¹ For there is no partiality with God.

[55] 1 Co 3:8—Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

[56] 1 Co 3:13—each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it…

[57] Lk 24:34—saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”

[58] 1 Co 3:13—each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

[59] Heb 12:25-29—See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, ²⁶ whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” ²⁷ Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. ²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. ²⁹ For our God is a consuming fire.

[60] Heb 4:12-13—For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

[61] 2 Co 5:10—For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Col 3:25—But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

Re 22:12— “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

[62] Jn 15:5—”I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

[63] Heb 13:20-21—Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

[64] Ro 14:23—But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Heb 11:6—But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Jn 15:5—”I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

[65] 1 Co 3:8—Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

1 Co 3:14-15—If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

[66] Lk 19:11-15—Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. ¹² Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. ¹³ So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ ¹⁴ But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ ¹⁵ “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

[67] 2 Co 5:10—For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

[68] The talents that were entrusted to these slaves were huge sums of money, which they were to use in a way that would bring their master a profitable return.  A talent was worth about 6,000 days, or 20 years, of wages for a common laborer.  The Lord Jesus has given us the priceless “talents” of life, time, strength, opportunity, native abilities, spiritual and material resources, and the like to be used as He directs for God’s glory.

[69] 1 Cor 3:14—If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

Mt 25:20-23— “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ ²¹ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ ²² He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ ²³ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

[70] Col 3:24—knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

[71] Mt 25:21—His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’…²³ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

[72] 1 Pe 1:6, 7—In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

[73] Re 2:10—Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

[74] 1 Co 9:24-25—Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. ²⁵ And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

[75] Unlike competitive sports, all can win garlands/crowns in the race of the Christian life.  We are not contending against one another but against our spiritual enemies, which would use us for their evil expressions.  Exercising holy self control by yielding to God’s control, the Apostle Paul ran to win, (1 Cor. 9:25-27; cp. Gal. 5:16, 21-22)

[76] Re 2:17—“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’

[77] Re 3:5—He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

[78] Re 19:8—And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is (representitive of), the righteous acts of the saints.

[79]Re 3:4—You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

Re 3:18—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

Re 16:15—“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

[80] Just like the Rich Man who ended up in torment never questioned why he ended up there, neither will any gospel believer question why he received the garment he did.  It will be accepted.

[81] 2 Co 5:9-10—Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

[82] Mt 25:21—His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’…²³ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

[83] Re 2:26-27—And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— ²⁷ ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father;

2 Ti 2:12—If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

Lk 19:12-19—Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. ¹³ So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ ¹⁴ But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ ¹⁵ “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. ¹⁶ Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ ¹⁷ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ ¹⁸ And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ ¹⁹ Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’

Re 20:4—And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

[84] Lk 16:10—He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

[85] Mt 25:21—His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ …²³ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

[86] Re 2:17–“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’…²⁸ and I will give him the morning star.

Re 3:12—He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name…²¹ To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

[87] Jn 21:20—Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”

[88] Mt 17:1—Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;

[89] Mk 3:14—Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach,

[90] Lk 10:1—After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.

[91] Lk 7:10—And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.

[92] 1 Co 9:26-27—Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. ²⁷ But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

2 Co 5:9-10—Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

2 Ti 4:7-8—I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

1 Co 15:58—Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Co 10:31—Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

^[93]Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary.

[94] 1 Co 3:15—If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Jn 15:2, 5-6—² Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit…⁵ “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

[95] Jn 15:2a—Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;

1 Co 11:27-32—Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. ³⁰ For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. ³¹ For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. ³² But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

Eph 6:1-3—Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: ³ “that it may be well with you and (that) you may live long on the earth.”

[96] Re 2:4—Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Re 2:14—But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

Re 2:20—Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

[97] Mt 25:18—But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.

Mt 25:25—And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

Mt 25:27—So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.

[98] 1 Jn 2:28—And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

[99] Mt 25:28-29—So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ²⁹ ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

[100] Re 2:26-27—And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—²⁷ ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father;

[101] Mt 25:28-29—So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ²⁹ ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

[102] 2 Co 4:17—For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

Heb 11:35—Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

[103] 1 Co 9:27—I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

[104] 2 Co 6:16—And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”

Eph 2:22—in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Heb 3:6—but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

1 Pe 2:5—you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

[105] Re 3:19—As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

Heb 12:5-1—And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; ⁶ For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” ⁷ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? ⁸ But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. ¹¹ Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

[106] 1 Co 1:20—Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

^[107] Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume, 1 Co 3:18.

^[108] The Letters to the Corinthians. Edited by Barclay, The Daily study Bible series, Rev. ed.

[109] Is 55:7-11—Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. ⁸ “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. ⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. ¹⁰ “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, ¹¹ So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Pr 12:15—The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.