Central Truth

A Day of Judgment is coming, in which only works which are built on faith in Christ and emulate His teachings and ministry will survive to be rewarded; any works not based upon Christ Jesus, but instead out of disobedience or the "flesh" will perish.

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Reflections

It seems like in his ministry and travels, Paul was constantly having to deal with churches and bodies of believers who just couldn't get along. Arguments over who had been baptized by whom, or concerning doctrinal differences threatened to divide and splinter churches Paul had played a role in planting. Thus, his letters, which became our canonized Scripture, seem to constantly be dealing with well-intentioned believers who just couldn't get along. Pride, stubbornness, and petty squabbles seem to be as common a theme as theology proper in the Pauline epistles. His words in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, then, seem to be fitting for many of us who may have encountered or experienced communities within the church that just don't live up to our expectation of what the body of Christ is intended to be.

Paul's admonition to the church in Corinth is to beware of what they build on top of the foundation that he has laid, according to the grace which God has sovereignly bestowed upon him. This foundation is none other than Christ Jesus, whom Paul has tirelessly preached among the Corinthian believers to be the only basis for their hope for eternity. As Paul laments in the preceding verses, the Corinthian believers have not exhibited spiritual maturity, and his efforts among them have stalled as they consistently require being reminded of the core tenets of the budding Christian faith - namely that belief in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, who was slain and resurrected on the third day, is the perfect offering for the sins of mankind.

Paul's message here is that for any who have placed their faith in the name of Christ, their lives, choices, activities, relationships, and work - all will eventually be tested at the day of judgment. This day of judgment cannot be avoided; every person who has ever lived will face it. What we do out of obedience to Christ, emulating his life and loving one another, rather than out of disobedience or selfishness, will stand the test of judgment. God's children share a commonality - Christ as Savior.

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Discussion Questions

1. What petty grievances are keeping us from participating fully in living lives of obedience to God, and lovingly supporting and building the community of believers?

2. Is Christ indeed the foundation on which the fabric and intent of our lives is built? Do our daily lives, decisions, and relationships spring forth from obedience and glorification of God, or out of busyness, self-promotion, and the pursuit of the momentary rewards our flesh begs us to value?

3. Are there works in our lives which, bearing no fruit and finding no foundational support in Christ, will ultimately be burned away when we come before the throne to be judged? If so, are we actively (and humbly) taking steps to cast these works aside? Are we seeking accountability from our brothers and sisters in the church for the purpose of pursuing a lifestyle that honors God?

4. Will the activities of our lives survive the test of fire?

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