1 Corinthians 3 - A summary illustration.
Picture a building (the “growth” in v7); also referred to as the “field” in v9; the “temple” in v16).
The foundation of the building is Christ (v11). See also Eph.2:20-22.
There is servant workers (vss 6-9; i.e., the teachers; those who are doing the “building”).
Apostle Paul is the appointed foreman (v10 – “wise master builder”). He has the blueprint given to him from the Master Architect.
Different materials are available to build (or hold) the building together (v12 – “gold, silver,
precious stones, wood, hay, straw”; i.e., figurative for doctrines (teachings); some good, some not so good, some worthless).
THE CAREFUL BUILDER - Some workers are more careful than others in the building materials they use (v10 – “be careful” i.e., in what they teach. cp. James 3:1, “Be not many teachers…”)
Fire will test the “work” (the material; the teaching; and the motivations behind their labor) used to build (v13). The “fire” of God’s judgment at the last Day, when all men will give an account of
their “works” to God (Romans 2:2-11; 2 Cor.5:10). Not something to be feared by the worker who
is following the foreman’s instructions (1 Thess.2:13 “…that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it, not as the word of men, but as it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”
A careful worker will carefully teach the doctrine delivered to us. “If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the
Lord’s commandment. But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.”
(1 Cor.14:37-38)
Quality material (sound teaching) will withstand the test and prove worthy (v14). cp 1Peter1:7, “that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus
Christ.”
Those workers (“if any man’s work…remains…”) who have used quality material (sound teaching) “he will receive a reward” i.e., the joy of seeing the fruit of their labors; cp.1Cor. 9:1, “are
you not (the result of) my work in the Lord?” also 1Thess.2:19-20, “For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation, is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?” The quality of the work is dependent upon how it relates to the foundation – Christ. (v14).
THE CARELESS BUILDER - Those workers (“if any man’s work is burned up…”) who, through ignorance or negligence, are careless in “how he builds”, will see their material (careless teaching) burned up (v15) but they themselves, by grace, “shall be saved”. The Day of Christ’s return will reveal the true interpretation of all biblical controversies. Careless teaching will be burned up, thereby showing its lack of quality – even uselessness (v15) cp. Phil.3:8, “…I have suffered the loss (same usage as in v15) of all things and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ”).
THE ONE WHO IS OUT TO DESTROY - In contrast to the careful and careless teacher, there are those workers (“if any man destroys…”) whose intent is to destroy the building (the “temple of God” in v17). Yet they will be destroyed.
These are false teachers. cp. 2Cor.11:13, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers…” also Phil.3:2,“…Beware of the evil workers…”
Summary - “Let no man deceive himself” (v18) i.e., to the false teachers, who believe the wisdom of the world will protect them from the judgment of God. “So then let no one boast in men.”(v21) i.e., boasting in the teaching of mere men without the authority of God’s Word.
Cp. 1Tim.4:16, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”
Friday, April 13, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
The Law of Christ - Traveling in Freedom
This short paper was written as a follow up to the previous post titled "The Treasure Hunt".
Hopefully it helps us understand the difference between living under the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ.
The Law of Christ – Traveling in Freedom
A practical illustration for us, as believers, to help us understand the Law of Christ in relationship to the Law of Moses, is to see ourselves as travelers on roadways with traffic laws
(i.e., the Law of Moses), yet always traveling in conscious awareness of “loving our neighbor as ourselves.” (i.e., The Law of Christ) (Lev.19:18; Matt.5:43)
This translates into our exhibiting, by the grace of God working within us, the fruit of the Spirit
(Gal.5:22-23) to our fellow travelers in ways that, if our intent was merely to obey the traffic laws, we would not experience the joy of loving our neighbor as ourselves.
Traffic laws are observable. There are signs and regulations that are readily seen. But the Law of Christ is not observable in the sense that we can point to signs posted along the way and be
satisfied we have met, or are meeting, the requirements of these laws.
As an example - a sign saying, “Do not stop on shoulder of road” might justify us from helping a fellow traveler who has inadvertently driven into a ditch on the side of the road. Some might continue driving on, because, as their argument might go, they have kept their obligation to the posted law. The Law of Christ however, would enable us to see beyond the “letter” of the law (which was to prevent thoughtless parking on the side of the road) and give us liberty to help out our fellow traveler.
In another instance, obeying the posted 10 mile an hour speed limit in a subdivision where we observe children are playing may not get you a ticket, but may still endanger a child who runs unawares into the street. The Law of Christ, not the posted speed limit, will cause us to slow down even more, and to be watchful for one of these “little ones”.
But believers coexist with an unbelieving world. There is a good purpose for traffic laws. There is a reason for the Law of Moses also. Both laws attempt to keep the disobedient orderly (1 Tim.1:8-11). Without laws, the unbeliever would have no self-justifying reason or obligation to refrain from doing as they please.
Traffic laws hold people accountable, under threat of punishment, and protect us from careless or purposeful lawlessness. In the same way, The Law of Moses holds even those who profess they keep that law accountable. At best, those laws create order. At their worst, no one can claim to have kept them perfectly (Romans 3:19-20).
The freedoms we believers have in traveling in a world of laws, yet set free to ultimately obey the Law of Christ, are expressed by our concern for the well being of our fellow travelers. There is no limitation to the amount of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control (the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5) we might display to
others while traveling. This is why Galatians 5:23 ends with, “against such there is no law.”
Imagine traveling the country on roads where there is no traffic laws to be enforced, yet everyone is looking out for each other!
While we need laws to protect ourselves from those who desire to live recklessly, what laws would be needed to restrict us from loving and serving each other?
Merely obeying traffic laws, or the Law of Moses, can result in a joyless, loveless journey. The freedom to do more than the law requires, as the Law of Christ enables us to, makes every
detour, hill, valley, and encounter with others, only another opportunity to express the love of Christ.
For believers, the Law of Christ is written on our hearts and cannot be taught,
only revealed to us as an act of God in salvation. As we read the Word of God and contemplate
the example of Jesus Christ, we will see more clearly how to manifest the Law of Christ in our lives.
Hopefully it helps us understand the difference between living under the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ.
The Law of Christ – Traveling in Freedom
A practical illustration for us, as believers, to help us understand the Law of Christ in relationship to the Law of Moses, is to see ourselves as travelers on roadways with traffic laws
(i.e., the Law of Moses), yet always traveling in conscious awareness of “loving our neighbor as ourselves.” (i.e., The Law of Christ) (Lev.19:18; Matt.5:43)
This translates into our exhibiting, by the grace of God working within us, the fruit of the Spirit
(Gal.5:22-23) to our fellow travelers in ways that, if our intent was merely to obey the traffic laws, we would not experience the joy of loving our neighbor as ourselves.
Traffic laws are observable. There are signs and regulations that are readily seen. But the Law of Christ is not observable in the sense that we can point to signs posted along the way and be
satisfied we have met, or are meeting, the requirements of these laws.
As an example - a sign saying, “Do not stop on shoulder of road” might justify us from helping a fellow traveler who has inadvertently driven into a ditch on the side of the road. Some might continue driving on, because, as their argument might go, they have kept their obligation to the posted law. The Law of Christ however, would enable us to see beyond the “letter” of the law (which was to prevent thoughtless parking on the side of the road) and give us liberty to help out our fellow traveler.
In another instance, obeying the posted 10 mile an hour speed limit in a subdivision where we observe children are playing may not get you a ticket, but may still endanger a child who runs unawares into the street. The Law of Christ, not the posted speed limit, will cause us to slow down even more, and to be watchful for one of these “little ones”.
But believers coexist with an unbelieving world. There is a good purpose for traffic laws. There is a reason for the Law of Moses also. Both laws attempt to keep the disobedient orderly (1 Tim.1:8-11). Without laws, the unbeliever would have no self-justifying reason or obligation to refrain from doing as they please.
Traffic laws hold people accountable, under threat of punishment, and protect us from careless or purposeful lawlessness. In the same way, The Law of Moses holds even those who profess they keep that law accountable. At best, those laws create order. At their worst, no one can claim to have kept them perfectly (Romans 3:19-20).
The freedoms we believers have in traveling in a world of laws, yet set free to ultimately obey the Law of Christ, are expressed by our concern for the well being of our fellow travelers. There is no limitation to the amount of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control (the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5) we might display to
others while traveling. This is why Galatians 5:23 ends with, “against such there is no law.”
Imagine traveling the country on roads where there is no traffic laws to be enforced, yet everyone is looking out for each other!
While we need laws to protect ourselves from those who desire to live recklessly, what laws would be needed to restrict us from loving and serving each other?
Merely obeying traffic laws, or the Law of Moses, can result in a joyless, loveless journey. The freedom to do more than the law requires, as the Law of Christ enables us to, makes every
detour, hill, valley, and encounter with others, only another opportunity to express the love of Christ.
For believers, the Law of Christ is written on our hearts and cannot be taught,
only revealed to us as an act of God in salvation. As we read the Word of God and contemplate
the example of Jesus Christ, we will see more clearly how to manifest the Law of Christ in our lives.
The Treasure Hunt
I wrote this short paper in 2007 in order to clear up any misunderstanding of my teaching on the difference between law and grace. Nearly every time I was teaching on this passage, I would hear someone complain, "The ten commandments are not ten suggestions!".
Hopefully this helps clear some things up.
The Treasure Hunt – regarding Matt.5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law
or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”
An analogy: There is a treasure hidden and for many years’ men have had a map that contains the clues to finding the treasure, yet the location of the treasure has remained a mystery. A man
finally comes along who understands the meaning behind the clues that lead to the treasure. It can be said afterward, that this man did not "abolish" or reject the clues that lead him to the treasure, but that he “fulfilled” the intended purpose of the clues.
In a similar way, Jesus took the clues (the mystery) of the Old Testament law and prophecies and revealed to us that it was He Himself that these clues were speaking of. Jesus was
the "fulfillment" (i.e., completion) of the Law and Prophets.
Jesus did not come to destroy or “abolish” the Law of Moses or the prophecies, but He
came to show that the treasure was now found, "completed" in Himself.
Jesus is the Treasure!
We can now look back at the clues in the
OT and realize, in hindsight, that although the answer was right in front of
us, failing to see Christ, we fail to find the Treasure.
For example, the clues regarding the Sabbath day are now seen to be, not a "day” (24 hours as such) of rest, but were only a shadow (a clue) that the "Sabbath rest" was speaking of our eternal rest in Christ (“For we who have believed enter that rest…” Heb.4:3,10). If we continue to
see the Sabbath (or Sunday) as a 24 hour period where no physical work is allowed, we fail to see Christ as the Treasure already revealed and will find ourselves restlessly searching for something that has already been given to us.
This same truth may be applied to understanding such things as the Passover in Egypt (“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed…” (1Cor.1:7), or the holy sacrifices (…"But as it is, He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” Heb. 9:26), and countless other examples in the Scriptures.
Jesus said "These are My words which I spoke to you
while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the
Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then He
opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" (Luke 24:44,45).
"Fulfilled" is the same word as in Matt.5:17. Not meaning "to continue", but "made
complete".
Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:17 are not to be understood that the Law is to continue in the same manner as previously understood, but that Jesus Himself is the fulfillment of the Law.
Pray that God would open our minds to better understand the shadows, types and patterns in the OT that picture our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us not be like the Israelites, “But their minds were
hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.” (2 Cor. 3:14-16)
Hopefully this helps clear some things up.
The Treasure Hunt – regarding Matt.5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law
or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”
An analogy: There is a treasure hidden and for many years’ men have had a map that contains the clues to finding the treasure, yet the location of the treasure has remained a mystery. A man
finally comes along who understands the meaning behind the clues that lead to the treasure. It can be said afterward, that this man did not "abolish" or reject the clues that lead him to the treasure, but that he “fulfilled” the intended purpose of the clues.
In a similar way, Jesus took the clues (the mystery) of the Old Testament law and prophecies and revealed to us that it was He Himself that these clues were speaking of. Jesus was
the "fulfillment" (i.e., completion) of the Law and Prophets.
Jesus did not come to destroy or “abolish” the Law of Moses or the prophecies, but He
came to show that the treasure was now found, "completed" in Himself.
Jesus is the Treasure!
We can now look back at the clues in the
OT and realize, in hindsight, that although the answer was right in front of
us, failing to see Christ, we fail to find the Treasure.
For example, the clues regarding the Sabbath day are now seen to be, not a "day” (24 hours as such) of rest, but were only a shadow (a clue) that the "Sabbath rest" was speaking of our eternal rest in Christ (“For we who have believed enter that rest…” Heb.4:3,10). If we continue to
see the Sabbath (or Sunday) as a 24 hour period where no physical work is allowed, we fail to see Christ as the Treasure already revealed and will find ourselves restlessly searching for something that has already been given to us.
This same truth may be applied to understanding such things as the Passover in Egypt (“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed…” (1Cor.1:7), or the holy sacrifices (…"But as it is, He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” Heb. 9:26), and countless other examples in the Scriptures.
Jesus said "These are My words which I spoke to you
while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the
Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then He
opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" (Luke 24:44,45).
"Fulfilled" is the same word as in Matt.5:17. Not meaning "to continue", but "made
complete".
Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:17 are not to be understood that the Law is to continue in the same manner as previously understood, but that Jesus Himself is the fulfillment of the Law.
Pray that God would open our minds to better understand the shadows, types and patterns in the OT that picture our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us not be like the Israelites, “But their minds were
hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.” (2 Cor. 3:14-16)
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