3:11 ¶ For other foundation can no man lay than that
is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now
if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay,
stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be
made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by
fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built
thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15
If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself
shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
The only legitimate foundation for the church is the death,
burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you left-leaning Christians base
your ministry on your own vision for how to make society a better place or your
right-leaning Christians on how you think people should behave privately or
publicly and use the church to further your liberal or conservative agenda you
are undermining the gospel. Yes, we want people to treat each other better and
not exploit or do violence to each other. Yes, there are admonitions in the
Bible and things people should and should not do. But the gospel is about
Christ. The church is about Christ. Your political agenda, left or right, is
not suitable for the foundation of a church that is valid at all times and in
every place in the world.
Paul makes it clear here that your intentions will be judged. He
will mention later about being a faithful steward of God’s mysteries. He
emphasizes faithfulness to the gospel of Christ. It is not a philosophy or a
faith-based government out-reach program. It is the gospel of Christ.
Our hope of heaven must be based on Christ and His righteousness
not on our works, life-style, political party, or how we were raised, and
especially not on our opinions, paranoia, bigotry, and fear.
If you try to base your ministry for others on any other
proposition you are still saved but your works will mean nothing to God. Most
likely you will stand before Him ashamed and remorseful, if the picture of us
standing in front of Him like a soldier in front of his commanding officer
getting a dressing down or a school-child standing in front of the principal for
a verbal reckoning so popular among fundamentalists is correct.
This passage appears to be a reference to the Judgment Seat of
Christ, before which all Christians will appear.
Romans 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why
dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
2Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Logically, it must take place before the Marriage Supper of the
Lamb where His bride, the church, sups with Him before returning to earth with
Him in judgment as He returns to take possession of the kingdoms of the world.
This is before Christ’s millennial reign of a thousand years on earth before the
Great White Throne judgment and eternity begins. But, you know all of this from
reading the book of Revelation.
You have to read this verse in the context in which it is written.
You need to see its part in the argument that Paul is building. The foundation
of the Corinthian church must not be the opinions of their favorite preacher or
teacher, a charismatic person in the church, or the person who “led them” to
Christ. The foundation must be a risen Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, the
physical, visible image of God or the church becomes nothing more than another
social or political club and the first and second century Romans were justified
in their minds in banning it on that account.
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