The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Foundation

  • Works Shall be Made Manifest

    “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.”

    1 Corinthians 3:13

    Once one believes that Jesus died upon the cross to pay for sin, then trusts in Jesus as one’s Lord, there is a growing process that is to begin. Christians learn to walk in obedience to God’s Word. We must also learn to joyfully surrender to His will. Christians are to lay aside the sinfulness of this world, in obedience to God, understanding one day we will be with Him in heaven (see Romans 6:12-13). So as we live here on earth, Christians are to live lives for Christ.

    There are many lives recorded in the Bible that are examples to help us understand how to live as a Christian. Paul was one of the great ones. He recognized the importance of obedience, and recorded the following to help us understand. “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). This verse does not mean that one “works” for his salvation. Work out means “to work fully, that is, accomplish; by implication to finish… perform, work out; toil; commit.” Christians are to allow the salvation (that we already have because of Jesus) to be manifested (revealed by how we live Christ-like) in the expression of this new life. Christians need to live Christ-like for our own benefit. However, it is more than this. It is also important for Christians to accomplish, finish, what God has for us to do while we live here in this world. This verse emphasizes that it is each Christian’s responsibility. Salvation here means “of the present experience of God’s power to deliver.”

    The greatest thing to recognize is that Christians have been given the Holy Spirit within to teach us and lead us into the truths found in God’s Word. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). God promises that He will work in our lives, helping us to do what is right and pleasing to Him. God working in Christians emphasizes that God enables us; for we cannot do it on our own. When you read “both to will”, it is letting Christians know that it is to be our desire to do what God expects of us. When you read “and to do,” we understand that all that we do for the Lord here depends upon His working in us, fulfilling His plan. He allows us to accomplish things for Him while we are on this earth – if we will only obey Him. Remember: we are not doing it alone – for God’s power is helping us. We are to not come short of what God has for our lives here on the earth. Christians are to actually accomplish what God has for us to do.

    There is a picture for us that may help in understanding how we can please God. “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” (1 Corinthians 3:11-14). Once I belong to Jesus (He is my foundation), I choose how to build my life here on this earth. In verse twelve, we find six things built upon the foundation “which is Jesus Christ”. The first three listed (gold, silver, and precious stones), picture things that glorify God. Fire cannot destroy the first three. Fire purifies them. However, fire will destroy the last three mentioned (wood, hay, stubble). These things are representative of things from this life and world that we cannot take with us into eternity. It is important that we choose to build lives here that glorify God, and to not choose the temporary things of the here and now. One day, when I stand before God, I will account for the kind of life I lived for Him. My salvation was determined when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. However, one day I will be rewarded for the things I have accomplished for the Lord. (“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” Ephesians 2:10. Also see Romans 8:1). Anything I have done that did not glorify Him will be burned up – for “it shall be revealed by fire”.

    Something that should make the choices in this life easier: Christians are to remember that our lives are no longer our own, for we have been bought with a price. “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20). Remembering that Jesus gave His life to purchase each Christian’s salvation, Christians are to choose to accomplish the things He has for us to do, pleasing Him.

    Have you chosen to fill your life with the things of this world that will one day be “revealed by fire”?

    Or

    Have you determined to build your life with things that glorify God, looking forward to a reward from Him?

  • God Gives the Increase

    “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”
    1 Corinthians 3:7

    Paul, the Apostle, understood the importance of the message he was to deliver: Jesus, God’s Son, lived a perfect life, died on the cross paying for man’s sin, and rose again the third day. This was a message the world did not, and could not understand. It is a mystery to them. “7. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8. Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:7-8). If the people in Jesus’ time had understood that Jesus had come to deliver them from sin, they never would have crucified Him. Paul wanted Believers to understand that their job was simply to preach this Gospel message, and God would reveal Himself to the individual.

    If God’s church would operate under this system, simply preaching and teaching Jesus, see what is promised. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). If God’s people (Christians) would simply present the Gospel message, God would reveal Himself; and Christians could never even imagine what He will do. Remember when Peter first preached Jesus on the day of Pentecost – three thousand were saved on that day (see Acts 2:41).  In addition, just a few days later, he preached again and five thousand were saved (see Acts 4:4). In every city Paul entered, he preached Jesus, and many people believed.

    Why did God want to reveal such mighty things to us? “12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:12-14). Remember that once a person is saved (becomes a Christian) that they have a new nature (God’s Spirit). God gave His Spirit, “that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” God will then teach each Christian exactly how to live a life pleasing to Him (as one reads God’s Word, and listens to godly teaching). People, who do not know Jesus, do not understand why Christians want to go to church, or revival, or even read the Bible, as they learn how to live a Christian life – for “they are foolishness unto him.” Non-Christians cannot understand these things “because they are spiritually discerned.” Christians have a different nature.  

    Paul understood that the Believers in the church at Corinth had not grown in maturity in Christ as they should have, so he reprimanded them. “1. And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3. For ye are yet carnal…” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). Because they had not yet learned how to live a Christian life, they were still “carnal” (carnal means “weakness; frailty; of persons being worldly”).

    Paul then explained to them the importance of different teachers and workers. “5. Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6. I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:5-7).  Some workers plant the seed (plant means “to be the first to preach the gospel in a place”), another may water (watered means “to water, irrigate; used metaphorically of instruction”), but only God gives the increase (gave the increase means “to grow, increase, or add something”). Only God saves people.

    “8. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour … 10. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:8-11). Each Christian is supposed to plant and water – for we are all to tell others about Jesus. We are to be a “wise masterbuilder” – just like Paul was. Wise masterbuilder means “a skillful, expert workman or builder; an architect.” But most importantly, the foundation must be Jesus (foundation means “the elementary doctrine and instruction; fundamental doctrine or principle – which is Christ”). The Gospel message of Jesus must be taught first in order for anyone to be saved.

    Do you plant or water, sharing the Gospel message of Jesus to others?

    How to be Saved