CHRIST IS OUR SURE FOUNDATION (Outline)
October 30, 2022 – Reformation – 1 CORINTHIANS 3:16-23
INTRO: In our uncertain, ever-changing world we can confidently celebrate the certainty of our eternal salvation. Christ IS our sure foundation. The Apostle Paul wrote to the new believers in Corinth about building on the sure foundation. Foundations of wood and stone, gold or silver certainly, always fail. Faith in the risen Savior Jesus Christ was their only enduring foundation. "In fact, no one can lay any other foundation than the one that has been laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 CORINTHIANS 3:11).
CHRIST IS OUR SURE FOUNDATION I. We are God’s temples. II. We have God’s wisdom.
I. WE ARE GOD’S TEMPLES
A. (Verse 11). Jesus Christ is the only foundation that can be laid. Only foundation of faith.
1. Corinth was a large metropolitan city. It was also known as the wickedest city in the world.
2. This city was filled with immorality. Wickedness. Idolatry. Fulfilling every evil desire.
B. Verse 16. “…you yourselves are God’s temple, and God’s Spirit lives in you”. Surprising statement.
1. Corinth was also a city that had many temples. Worship places for different false gods.
2. The temples were magnificent buildings. Believers are called God’s temples. Alive.
3. God’s Spirit lived in believers. Saved by faith. Living temples built on Christ alone.
C. Verse 17. God’s temple was believers. Destroyed? Immoral living could destroy one’s faith.
1. Worshiping false gods destroyed one’s faith. Such temples not built on foundation of Christ.
2. Paul reminded these believers that were God’s holy temple. Living lives made holy.
D. Satan still uses many things in this world to distract us. Our sinful nature is drawn to those objects that we can see. Touch. Grasp. Our nation has become one, big marketplace. Day after day we are bombarded with products that we desperately need to have. Items we may not even have known that were so important in our lives. Bigger, better, newer becomes the driving force in many peoples’ lives. There is nothing wrong with improving our lives. Godliness and contentment are great gain. "After all, what good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (MARK 8:37, 38). Christ is our sure foundation. Every day. Every generation.
E. Admittedly our sinful nature may be a “driving force” from time to time. But it is God’s Spirit that is our “ruling force” all the time. On our own we are lost and condemned creatures. By ourselves we only deserve eternal punishment. We are conceived and born in sin. We begin our earthly lives as enemies of God. Even though enemies we are now made members of God’s family. “I will put my Spirit within you and will cause you to walk in my statutes, and you will carefully observe my ordinances” (EZEKIEL 36:27). The power of the Holy Spirit changes our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. In our hearts of flesh God’s Word is planted. Takes root. Springs up. Bears abundant fruit. Saved by faith alone.
F. Christ is our sure foundation. This truth reminds us to expand our earthly thinking. We take a deep breath and concentrate on God’s meaning for us. For our lives. For our eternity. Foundation refers to buildings. We are God’s buildings. Temples that are living. "…you also, like living stones, are being built as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, in order to bring spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 PETER 2:5). The Lord himself calls us living stones. Holy priesthood. Yes. Each one of us are called into God’s kingdom. Members of his family. God’s church. Each of us have very valuable vocations (callings). We joyfully live lives of love because of the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. We offer acceptable spiritual sacrifices. Fruit of lips that confess his name (Hebrews 13:15). Saved by grace alone.
CHRIST IS OUR SURE FOUNDATION. We are living temples of God.
II. WE HAVE GOD’S WISDOM
A. Verse 18. Those thinking they are wise in the world are to become fools. Morons. God serious.
1. Knowledge had become a god in the world during the time of the Apostle Paul.
2. Only knowledge was worth worshipping. Anything physical or created was corrupt.
B. Verse 19. No wonder the Lord says: “…the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.”
1. Verses 19b, 20. Paul quotes Scripture. God catches the wise in their craftiness – Job 5:13
2. Reasoning of the wise is worthless – Psalm 94:11. Verse 21. Therefore, no more boasting.
C. Verses 21b, 22a. All things belonged to these believers. God’s gift of wisdom provided everything.
1. In life, death, present, or future the God who created all things gave them faith. Wisdom.
2. Verses 22b. 23. These believers belonged to Christ. Christ belonged to God. Had all things.
a. Christ = true God. b. Paid perfect price. c. Christ = true man. d. Died and rose.
D. Our world concentrates on all things earthly. Too many today live in fear and dread. Too many are scared about the future. Today’s elite paint a frightening picture. The climate is changing. There is no hope. We do not have enough energy. Clean water. Clean air. The scare list keeps growing. The Lord God created the heavens and the earth. Our loving, heavenly Father still provides for all our earthly needs. Daily. "From ancient times no one has heard. No ear has understood. No eye has seen any god except you, who goes into action for the one who waits for him" (ISAIAH 64:4). God’s wisdom gives us hope.
E. What is wisdom? Wisdom is what we learn added to our experience. Wisdom is much, much more that information. We are living in an information age. We have unlimited access to information. Worldwide. All day. Every day. Information is just that, information. Much of our information provided is not necessarily true. In fact, it takes great wisdom to sift out what is true from what is false. Christ is our sure foundation. We have God’s wisdom. This divine wisdom is always correct. Always true. The wisdom of God never misleads. "Then he said to mankind: Listen carefully. The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding" (JOB 28:28). To know God is to know good from evil. Right from wrong. God’s wisdom. We can and will turn away from evil. God’s wisdom.
F. There is a great emphasis placed on learning in our nation. Throughout the world. We do learn many different things in our lifetime. Important things. Basic teachings. Our most important learning comes from our loving, heavenly Father. From his Word. With any education learning takes place over time. We grow in learning. Learn to understand. Understanding leads to wisdom. We hear, read, and study God’s Word to learn. Understand. Have wisdom. "…and that from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 TIMOTHY 3:15). Wise for salvation. No greater wisdom. Saved by Scripture alone.
CONC.: Christ is our sure foundation. The triune God lives in us by faith. We are God’s living temples. We live by faith alone. Scripture makes us wise for salvation. We live by Scripture alone. The Word of God reveals that Jesus is our Savior. Lived, died, buried, and rose again for our sins and the sins of the world. We live by Christ alone. The Lord has called us to be his own. We live by grace alone. "Indeed, if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord” (ROMANS 14:8). CHRIST IS OUR SURE FOUNDATION. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
REFORMATION rdgs.: JEREMIAH 31:31-34; ROMANS 3:19-28; JOHN 17:6-19; (PSALM 46)
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