New Testament Temple Living (Part 1 of 2)
1 Corinthians 3:10-17
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Not a Proof Text for Purgatory
One of the first things to bring to bear on this passage relates to how Roman Catholics typically view it from verse 10 onward as a proof text for the doctrine of purgatory. Purgatory is the idea in Roman Catholicism that if a person dies not thoroughly sanctified, still having venial sins that do not cause them to lose salvation, they must go to a place called purgatory after death to suffer and work off those sins for a specified period before entering heaven. This gave rise to indulgences, where the living could pay money to reduce purgatory time for themselves or loved ones—a practice still in the church today.
This is the only real biblical attempt to back up this heretical doctrine, which dismantles the sufficiency of Christ's work. They point to "if anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire," claiming it describes suffering in purgatory. But the context is pre-death: if anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss though he himself will still be saved as through fire. This is not about post-death suffering, which contradicts New Testament teaching on Christ's sacrifice. Just to get that out of the way, in case you have Roman Catholic family or encounter someone who believes in purgatory—it's not biblically there.
The Context: Divisions and Immaturity in Corinth
The Corinthian church was dividing into factions: "I am of Paul," "I am of Apollos," "I am of Cephas," "I am of Christ." This stemmed from pride, jealousy, and strife, as Paul said in verse 3: "for while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?" They were engaging in rivalries, popularity contests, living merely human lives.
Paul teaches there is a transcendent, mature, spiritual lifestyle beyond mere human living—one that produces lasting works. Living merely human results in deeds like wood, hay, straw that burn up in the fire of testing. There is a greater way: progressing from infants in Christ to mature spiritual people, contributing to the temple of God.
Paul instructs us to work hard as Christians, with potential for reward beyond salvation itself. He entices us into this mature Christian life, using himself as an example. In verse 8: "He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor." Salvation is not the reward—it's already ours by Christ's work, not ours. Verse 15 confirms: even if works burn up, "he himself will be saved, but only as through fire." Salvation is secure; reward depends on activity that builds up the body of Christ, the temple of God—both individually and collectively.
Many churches neglect this: come be saved, then it doesn't matter much beyond soul-winning. But Scripture calls for work, diligence, maturity, and reward.
According to the Grace of God
This cannot happen without the grace of God. Verse 10: "According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation." The term "skilled" is sophia, wisdom—the theme since chapter 2. Paul's wisdom came from God's gracious involvement in his life.
Nothing significant in a believer's life happens except by God's grace. Even diligence for reward depends on grace. Paul said he worked harder than all, "yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me." He gives credit to God, not boasting despite factions claiming him. He and Apollos were merely servants: Paul planted, Apollos watered, God gave growth. Paul laid the foundation of Jesus Christ by grace, as Ephesians echoes: built on apostles, prophets, Christ the cornerstone.
Imagine what God's grace can do in our lives beyond salvation: enable work that builds the temple and earns reward.
The Correct Foundation: Jesus Christ
It also requires the correct foundation. No one can lay another: "which is Jesus Christ." Paul determined to know nothing among them except "Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). Churches, youth groups, ministries must build on Christ, not divide into separate silos. Heritage is one body representing the universal church visibly.
"Let each one take care how he builds upon it." Paul laid the foundation; others build. Works of gold, silver, precious stones endure; wood, hay, straw burn. The Day discloses by fire.
Building identity on social justice, causes like "Black lives matter" or "Blue lives matter," or even sanctity of life without centering Christ fails. We recognize all lives matter, justice via civil magistrate, but don't align with unbelievers over the gospel. Videos emphasizing fairness without confronting sin, calling to conform to Christ, glorify man over God. Recall the parable: house on sand swept away; on rock (Christ) withstands storms.
Paul preached Christ crucified, laying the foundation spiritually. Others build upon it. Grace enables, foundation is Christ, work is worthy of wage. Paul is our example to imitate: focus on Christ, build diligently.
Building as Unity in the Temple
What are you doing to build God's temple? Everyone contributing in unity. Imagine building a temple divided—like mismatched Legos, half X-wing, half TIE fighter. Paul rebukes divisions, immaturity, rivalries, jealousies because they prevent building the temple.
A consistent gospel-focused life deals with personal sin and helps others, building each other up. Recently discussing church discipline: how discern sins for discipline (Matthew 18)? We all sin. Should we exhaustively police everyone? Some sins warrant discipline for specific reasons, yet we deem others "less sinful." How make that call?
