Biblical Theology for Transformation - 8th Posting

“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11


If there is one thing I wish to communicate in any message I send; it is the absolute sovereignty of Jesus Christ. If we are to see Jesus as the sovereign ruler over ALL (Colossians 1:15-20, Hebrews 1:3, Romans 11:36), then He must be the target of our affection and desire. In order for that to happen, He must be the foundation, or beginning, of anything we do. Jesus does not desire to be in any place in your life but FIRST!

Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians is charging them to change! The Corinthians were a bunch of believers who have not moved onto maturity as Christians. Paul calls them spiritual babies. In 1 Corinthians 3:2, he tells them that they were fed milk instead of solid food and that they still are not ready for the solid food. Paul is using food as a metaphor of their lack of spiritual growth. The author of Hebrews does this also in Hebrews 5:12-14.

The encouragement here is not that they need a new starting point. Paul makes it clear to them that the beginning of their teachings was Jesus Christ. He was and is the foundation for any sort of spiritual growth. Obviously there will be no growth if there is no initial relationship with Jesus. The Corinthians started with Jesus as their foundation but began to build upon that foundation with things that would not last for eternity. He tells us that what we build over the foundation of Jesus will be tested on that “Day”. This Day refers to the Day when we will have to give an account for the things we have done. For believers there will be no day of judgment, only a Day of rewards. These rewards will be granted to us according to what we have built on top of the foundation of Jesus Christ. Our works that do not honor and glorify Jesus will be burnt up as they are tested by fire (3:13). Our works that do honor and glorify Jesus will stand the test of fire and we will receive a reward for them (3:14).

Let me make clear that God is not telling us that we will not keep our salvation if our works don’t add up. But that our works are a reflection of our maturity IN CHRIST. So, though our salvation is secure (3:15), we will still be tested by fire for our works IN CHRIST.

My encouragement to you is this; first recognize that Jesus is our foundation and starting point. We must desire to glorify and magnify Him in our spiritual growth. Second, once we are aware of Christ as our foundation we should see that no matter the magnitude of our works, the foundation still stands through fire and we stand along side Him. Let me encourage you to seek to build upon that foundation with works that, in turn, reap for us rewards in heaven. Our desire should not be for the reward, but to see that Jesus Christ is our reward. Once we understand that, we will be better able to live our lives in a way that is most honoring and glorifying to Jesus. We will all be tested. Let our lives stand the test of fire and glorify Jesus as He should be.