WEBVTT

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 Let me pray for the preaching of God's word.

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 Heavenly Father,

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 it is your word that is powerful and efficacious.

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 Your word that's conveyed by your powerful spirit.

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 Not the words of men.

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 And so we ask God that your word would be proclaimed faithfully.

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 We pray that you would speak to us,

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 address us as your people through this passage.

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 And form us as your people who belong to you

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 and honor you and boast in you alone.

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 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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 So 1 Corinthians 3, 1-23.

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 It's great to be back with you all.

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 I missed you all.

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 And eager to preach God's word to you this morning.

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 I once heard a story about a man

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 who was just standing

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 and maybe just got his office car

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 at a parking lot in a shopping mall.

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 And he saw at a distance

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 what he thought was the most beautiful woman

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 he had ever seen coming in his direction.

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 And he told himself,

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 I just cannot miss out on this opportunity.

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 So he told himself,

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 I need to strike up a conversation with her.

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 And he happened to spot this really expensive

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 and nice-looking luxury vehicle nearby.

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 And so to try to make himself look a little cooler,

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 he kind of leaned on the car.

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 And as she came, he said,

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 Hey, how are you doing?

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 And she said,

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 I'm fine, thank you.

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 Now if you would please move out of the way

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 so I can get into my car.

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 And I heard another preacher use that illustration

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 to talk about the fact

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 that just some of the church leaders in the church

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 act like the church belongs to them.

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 As if the church exists to make them look good

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 when the church belongs to God.

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 It doesn't even belong to them.

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 Right.

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 And so in the Corinthian church,

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 it wasn't so much the leaders themselves

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 who were seeking to claim the church as their own,

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 but the people themselves had this erroneous view of the church.

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 And they were saying to themselves

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 and boasting in their human leaders,

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 saying, I follow Apollos, I follow Paul.

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 And in this passage,

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 Paul uses several memorable imagery

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 to teach that the church does not belong ultimately to men,

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 but to God.

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 And his main point is this,

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 that the church that belongs to God

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 should not boast in men.

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 And so in verses 1 to 9,

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 he talks about God's field.

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 In verses 10 to 23,

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 he talks about God's temple,

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 really the two main images that he uses.

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 So first, Paul addresses the fact

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 that the Corinthian church is God's field

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 in verses 1 to 9.

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 Chapter 3 flows directly out of chapter 2,

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 where Paul argued that the true wisdom

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 that we should seek

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 is not the wisdom of this world,

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 which is doomed to pass away.

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 Taryn talked about that last week,

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 the temporary wisdom of this world.

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 Because the Corinthian believers

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 were pursuing the wrong kind of wisdom,

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 and because of that,

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 they were being divisive.

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 So Paul addresses their divisions

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 in the name of their leaders as well,

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 here in verses 1 to 4.

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 And we know from the contextual clues

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 within this letter itself,

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 that they, the Corinthian believers,

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 were challenging Paul's own authority

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 as to teach them,

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 and as their apostle.

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 And in particular,

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 they criticized the fact that

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 his teaching didn't meet their standards

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 of lofty speech,

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 and the wisdom of this world.

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 So from verses 1 to 2,

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 we could further deduce

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 that some of the Corinthians

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 believed that they were so spiritual

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 that they had graduated

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 from Paul's preaching of the gospel.

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 They belittled Paul's teaching

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 as baby food, right?

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 And they were seeking

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 what they considered solid food,

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 and worldly wisdom and speech

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 from other places.

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 And so Paul corrects this

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 with biting irony in verses 1 to 4.

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 Please read with me.

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 But I, brothers,

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 could not address you

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 as spiritual people,

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 but as people of the flesh,

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 as infants in Christ.

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 I fed you with milk,

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 not solid food,

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 for you were not ready for it.

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 And even now you are not yet ready,

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 for you are still of the flesh.

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 For while there is jealousy

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 and strife among you,

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 are you not of the flesh

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 and behaving only in a human way?

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 For when one says,

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 I follow Paul,

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 and another,

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 I follow Apollos,

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 are you not being merely human?

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 And the reason why Paul

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 couldn't address

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 the Corinthian believers

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 as spiritual people

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 was not due to his inadequacy,

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 but due to their deficiency.

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 Notice the repetition of words

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 like flesh and human

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 in these verses.

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 He calls the Corinthians

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 of the flesh or fleshly three times.

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 He describes their behavior

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 as human two times.

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 And later in chapter 15,

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 we learn that

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 the Corinthian believers

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 view themselves as so spiritual

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 that they deny the necessity

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 of the future bodily resurrection

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 and consummation.

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 And so Paul is really putting them

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 back into their place

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 when he says that

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 they're fleshly and human.

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 You think you're so spiritual

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 that you graduated from my teaching.

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 In fact, you're just fleshly.

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 You're of the flesh.

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 Now there's a common misunderstanding

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 about these verses

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 that I need to address

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 because all of our church members

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 come from various different backgrounds

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 and some of you may have been exposed

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 to this teaching.

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 And what I mean is this.

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 Some people argue

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 based on this passage

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 that there are three classes

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 of Christians, right?

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 So in chapter 2, verses 14 to 16,

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 Paul contrasted the natural person

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 from the spiritual person, right?

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 You guys remember that?

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 And here in chapter 3, verses 1 to 4,

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 Paul contrasts the spiritual person

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 from the fleshly person

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 or the carnal person

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 as the old translations had it, right?

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 And based on these categories,

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 some people argue

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 that there is the natural person

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 who is an unbeliever,

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 not a Christian,

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 who has rejected Christ.

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 And that there is the carnal person, right?

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 Who is a believer

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 that is living in his own strength

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 and not following the Spirit of God.

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 And then there is the spiritual person

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 who is a believer

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 who is following Christ full-heartedly.

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 And sometimes this is described in this way,

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 that the carnal Christian,

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 so-called carnal Christian,

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 accepts Jesus Christ as his Savior,

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 but not as his Lord.

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 And that this spiritual person,

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 the spiritual Christian,

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 is the one who accepts Christ

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 as both his Savior and Lord.

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 So this is,

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 some of you guys are nodding your head,

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 you've probably heard of this before.

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 And this three-level view of Christians

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 misses what Paul is getting at

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 because Paul's not saying

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 that the Corinthian believers

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 do not have the Spirit of God, right?

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 Because Paul addresses them

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 as brothers in verse 1,

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 which means he assumes

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 that they are members

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 of the family of God.

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 And then by definition,

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 then these brothers and sisters,

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 it's in Greek,

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 commonly the plural form

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 of the word brother,

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 it refers to both brothers and sisters.

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 And so Paul considers Corinthians

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 brothers and sisters

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 in meaning that they possess

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 the Spirit of God

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 because for Paul,

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 there's no such thing

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 as a Christian

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 who does not have

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 the Spirit of God.

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 The very meaning

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 of what it means to be Christian

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 is to have the Spirit of God.

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 So he writes in Romans 8, 9,

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 you, however,

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 are not in the flesh,

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 but in the Spirit,

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 if in fact the Spirit of God

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 dwells in you,

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 anyone who does not have

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 the Spirit of Christ

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 does not belong to him, right?

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 What then does Paul mean

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 when he addresses

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 these Corinthian believers

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 as people of the flesh, right?

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 In verse 1,

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 the phrase,

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 as people of the flesh,

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 is parallel to

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 as infants in Christ.

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 So Paul is saying

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 that the Corinthians

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 were spiritual babies

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 when he calls them fleshly.

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 So they have the Spirit,

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 and that's precisely the problem.

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 They have the Spirit of God,

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 but they're acting

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 as if they didn't have

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 the Spirit of God.

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 They're acting fleshly,

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 as if they were of the flesh

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 in a worldly way.

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 And that's something

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 that Paul is saying

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 they need to grow out of.

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 So they are spiritual

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 in a real way,

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 but their thinking and living

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 give evidence to the contrary.

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 And so Paul claims

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 that they cannot address,

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 that he cannot address them

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 as spiritual people,

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 but as unspiritual people,

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 which is ironic

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 because they pride themselves

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 on being spiritual,

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 but they are acting

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 in a fleshly way.

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 And what is this fleshly behavior

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 that Paul's talking about?

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 He tells us in verse 3,

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 For while there is jealousy

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 and strife among you,

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 are you not of the flesh

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 and behaving only

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 in a human way?

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 Right?

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 Jealousy and strife

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 are mutually exclusive

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 with spirituality

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 and maturity.

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 You cannot be simultaneously

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 spiritual and divisive

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 because we share

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 in the one Holy Spirit,

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 and that leads

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 to profound unity.

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 So jealousy and strife

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 that now characterizes

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 the Corinthian church

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 is evidence

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 that they are acting

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 in an unspiritual way.

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 So Paul's not here

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 giving us three classes

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 of Christians.

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 Of course,

00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:47.360
 there is a spectrum

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 of immaturity

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 and maturity

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 among Christians,

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 but the New Testament

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 never teaches,

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 and it consistently teaches,

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 that there are only

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 two classes of people.

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 Right?

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 The people of the flesh

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 and people of the spirit.

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 And that's why

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 in his second letter

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 to the Corinthians,

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 right,

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 when he is addressing

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 Corinthians who are still

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 following afterworldly wisdom,

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 he says to them

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 in 13.5 of his second letter,

00:09:11.819 --> 00:09:12.980
 examine yourselves

00:09:12.980 --> 00:09:14.439
 to see whether you are

00:09:14.439 --> 00:09:15.460
 in the faith.

00:09:16.379 --> 00:09:17.179
 Test yourselves,

00:09:17.240 --> 00:09:18.240
 or do you not realize

00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:18.980
 this about yourselves,

00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:20.759
 that Jesus Christ is in you,

00:09:20.860 --> 00:09:22.679
 unless indeed you fail

00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:24.159
 to meet the test.

00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:24.559
 Right?

00:09:25.139 --> 00:09:26.439
 So if you persist

00:09:26.439 --> 00:09:26.960
 in the way

00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:28.019
 the Corinthians are doing,

00:09:28.199 --> 00:09:28.939
 what that shows

00:09:28.939 --> 00:09:30.019
 is that they are not

00:09:30.019 --> 00:09:31.199
 actually in the faith,

00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:32.400
 that they are actually

00:09:32.400 --> 00:09:33.360
 failing the test

00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:34.180
 and they are not

00:09:34.180 --> 00:09:35.379
 in Christ,

00:09:35.500 --> 00:09:35.680
 right?

00:09:35.820 --> 00:09:36.720
 So there is no

00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:38.000
 in-between category

00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:39.180
 of carnal Christian

00:09:39.180 --> 00:09:41.340
 between a natural person

00:09:41.340 --> 00:09:42.480
 and a spiritual person.

00:09:43.020 --> 00:09:43.879
 And this is important

00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:44.520
 to get right

00:09:44.520 --> 00:09:45.640
 because this misunderstanding

00:09:45.640 --> 00:09:46.740
 about three categories

00:09:46.740 --> 00:09:47.180
 of Christians

00:09:47.180 --> 00:09:47.780
 can lead,

00:09:47.940 --> 00:09:48.640
 on the one hand,

00:09:48.900 --> 00:09:50.040
 to spiritual pride,

00:09:50.340 --> 00:09:51.520
 and on the other hand,

00:09:51.620 --> 00:09:53.200
 to spiritual complacency.

00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:53.780
 Right?

00:09:54.220 --> 00:09:54.940
 On the one hand,

00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:56.060
 some Christians can think

00:09:56.060 --> 00:09:56.940
 that they are better

00:09:56.940 --> 00:09:57.740
 than other believers

00:09:57.740 --> 00:09:58.700
 because they are

00:09:58.700 --> 00:09:59.680
 the spiritual ones

00:09:59.680 --> 00:10:00.460
 while other believers

00:10:00.460 --> 00:10:01.000
 are carnal.

00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:01.360
 Right?

00:10:01.920 --> 00:10:02.940
 They belong to a

00:10:02.940 --> 00:10:03.800
 fundamentally different

00:10:03.800 --> 00:10:04.280
 category.

00:10:04.940 --> 00:10:05.080
 Right?

00:10:05.180 --> 00:10:06.320
 They live by the Holy Spirit

00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:06.879
 while other believers

00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:07.259
 do not.

00:10:07.379 --> 00:10:08.180
 This misunderstanding

00:10:08.180 --> 00:10:09.840
 can lead to spiritual pride.

00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:11.000
 The truth is

00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:11.600
 that they are not.

00:10:11.680 --> 00:10:12.820
 No believer is fundamentally

00:10:12.820 --> 00:10:14.040
 different from another believer.

00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:15.259
 We have the same spirit.

00:10:15.340 --> 00:10:16.379
 We have the same baptism.

00:10:16.640 --> 00:10:17.620
 We have the same Lord

00:10:17.620 --> 00:10:18.780
 and the same faith.

00:10:18.940 --> 00:10:19.060
 Right?

00:10:19.580 --> 00:10:19.960
 Sure,

00:10:20.040 --> 00:10:21.100
 there are varying degrees

00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:21.860
 of maturity,

00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:23.120
 but we all belong

00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:24.200
 to the same class.

00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:24.460
 Right?

00:10:24.460 --> 00:10:25.420
 We're all Christians,

00:10:25.700 --> 00:10:26.440
 brothers and sisters.

00:10:26.980 --> 00:10:28.100
 On the other hand,

00:10:28.160 --> 00:10:29.020
 some people can think

00:10:29.019 --> 00:10:30.000
 that just because

00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:31.720
 they believed in Jesus Christ

00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:32.879
 and that now

00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:33.639
 they are safe

00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:34.240
 and secure

00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:35.120
 and even if they don't

00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:35.919
 live in obedience.

00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:36.319
 Right?

00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:37.699
 So they could think

00:10:37.699 --> 00:10:38.240
 to themselves

00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:39.039
 that being so-called

00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:39.879
 carnal Christian

00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:41.740
 is permissible

00:10:41.740 --> 00:10:42.779
 and they could get

00:10:42.779 --> 00:10:43.460
 into the mindset

00:10:43.460 --> 00:10:44.059
 of fulfilling

00:10:44.059 --> 00:10:45.240
 the minimum requirement.

00:10:45.620 --> 00:10:45.639
 Right?

00:10:45.899 --> 00:10:46.179
 Oh,

00:10:46.299 --> 00:10:47.539
 I kind of like

00:10:47.539 --> 00:10:48.419
 being a carnal Christian.

00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:49.299
 I could enjoy

00:10:49.299 --> 00:10:49.740
 the pleasures

00:10:49.740 --> 00:10:50.539
 of this world

00:10:50.539 --> 00:10:51.179
 here and now

00:10:51.179 --> 00:10:52.399
 and then I'll enjoy

00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:52.819
 the pleasures

00:10:52.819 --> 00:10:53.559
 of heaven later

00:10:53.559 --> 00:10:54.220
 after I die.

00:10:54.220 --> 00:10:54.539
 Right?

00:10:55.199 --> 00:10:55.939
 But in the Bible,

00:10:56.079 --> 00:10:57.360
 there's no such category

00:10:57.360 --> 00:10:58.379
 as a middle category.

00:10:58.459 --> 00:10:59.279
 There's no such thing

00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:00.599
 as a halfway Christian.

00:11:01.099 --> 00:11:01.959
 There's no such thing

00:11:01.959 --> 00:11:03.159
 as a partial Christian.

00:11:03.459 --> 00:11:04.480
 A person that thinks

00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:04.959
 that way

00:11:04.959 --> 00:11:05.879
 is giving evidence

00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:06.339
 of the fact

00:11:06.339 --> 00:11:06.639
 that they have

00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:07.980
 an unregenerate heart

00:11:07.980 --> 00:11:09.079
 because people

00:11:09.079 --> 00:11:09.919
 who are true Christians,

00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:11.199
 they want to love God,

00:11:11.480 --> 00:11:12.599
 they love God

00:11:12.599 --> 00:11:13.659
 and they want to obey Him.

00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:15.519
 So that's inconsistent

00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:16.980
 to think that way.

00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:18.279
 So Paul is not here

00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:19.079
 rebuking them

00:11:19.079 --> 00:11:20.299
 for being in a third

00:11:20.299 --> 00:11:21.279
 category of believers.

00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:21.799
 Rather,

00:11:21.860 --> 00:11:22.599
 he's rebuking them

00:11:22.599 --> 00:11:23.360
 for living in a manner

00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:24.399
 that's inconsistent

00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:26.019
 with who they are,

00:11:26.079 --> 00:11:27.079
 their identity in Christ

00:11:27.079 --> 00:11:28.079
 as spiritual people.

00:11:29.399 --> 00:11:30.519
 It's also important

00:11:30.519 --> 00:11:31.000
 to note

00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:32.139
 that while Paul

00:11:32.139 --> 00:11:32.899
 talks about

00:11:32.899 --> 00:11:34.500
 how he fed them

00:11:34.500 --> 00:11:35.220
 with milk

00:11:35.220 --> 00:11:36.259
 and not solid food

00:11:36.259 --> 00:11:37.019
 because they were

00:11:37.019 --> 00:11:37.759
 not ready for it,

00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:38.399
 for Paul,

00:11:38.819 --> 00:11:40.039
 the milk and solid food

00:11:40.039 --> 00:11:40.500
 are actually

00:11:40.500 --> 00:11:41.299
 one and the same.

00:11:42.299 --> 00:11:43.459
 They are the message

00:11:43.459 --> 00:11:44.340
 of Jesus Christ

00:11:44.340 --> 00:11:45.279
 and Him crucified.

00:11:46.059 --> 00:11:46.799
 And this is clear

00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:47.559
 from what proceeded

00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:48.259
 in chapter 2

00:11:48.259 --> 00:11:49.379
 where Paul speaks

00:11:49.379 --> 00:11:50.759
 of deliberately rejecting

00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:51.779
 the wisdom

00:11:51.779 --> 00:11:52.340
 of this world

00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:53.340
 so that he could preach

00:11:53.340 --> 00:11:55.019
 what he perceives

00:11:55.019 --> 00:11:57.120
 what he calls

00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:57.980
 the wisdom of God,

00:11:58.060 --> 00:11:59.160
 namely that Jesus Christ

00:11:59.160 --> 00:12:00.060
 died for our sins

00:12:00.060 --> 00:12:00.840
 and rose again

00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:02.379
 for our vindication.

00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:03.560
 And Paul's,

00:12:03.800 --> 00:12:05.340
 when he says this here

00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:06.060
 that he fed them

00:12:06.060 --> 00:12:06.500
 with milk,

00:12:06.560 --> 00:12:07.240
 not solid food,

00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:08.320
 he's not admitting

00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:10.019
 then what the Corinthians

00:12:10.019 --> 00:12:10.740
 are arguing

00:12:10.740 --> 00:12:11.800
 that there are things

00:12:11.800 --> 00:12:13.360
 deeper than the gospel itself,

00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:14.280
 more advanced

00:12:14.280 --> 00:12:15.259
 than the gospel itself

00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:16.340
 that he intentionally

00:12:16.340 --> 00:12:17.060
 didn't teach them

00:12:17.060 --> 00:12:17.740
 because he didn't think

00:12:17.740 --> 00:12:18.519
 they were ready for it.

00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:19.460
 That's not at all

00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:20.000
 what he's saying.

00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:21.059
 That would be to confirm

00:12:21.059 --> 00:12:22.120
 the Corinthians'

00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:23.600
 misunderstanding of the gospel.

00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:25.379
 And so it's

00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:26.840
 the fact that they think

00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:28.080
 that Paul's teaching

00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:29.200
 is baby food,

00:12:29.299 --> 00:12:29.980
 that it was milk,

00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:31.679
 shows that they are

00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:32.799
 infants in Christ.

00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:35.320
 Paul's not saying

00:12:35.320 --> 00:12:35.840
 that, oh yeah,

00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:37.279
 I just gave you baby food

00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:38.080
 because you're acting

00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:38.539
 like babies.

00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:39.539
 He's saying the fact

00:12:39.539 --> 00:12:40.159
 that you think

00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:41.340
 my teaching is baby food

00:12:41.340 --> 00:12:42.600
 shows that you are babies

00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:43.580
 is what Paul is saying.

00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:45.580
 And the Christians

00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:46.720
 never advance

00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:47.600
 beyond the gospel

00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:48.419
 of Jesus Christ.

00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:49.959
 Tim Keller explains

00:12:49.959 --> 00:12:50.979
 this in a memorable way.

00:12:51.099 --> 00:12:51.379
 He writes,

00:12:51.740 --> 00:12:53.099
 the gospel is not just

00:12:53.099 --> 00:12:54.259
 the ABCs

00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:55.579
 but the A to Z

00:12:55.579 --> 00:12:56.419
 of Christianity.

00:12:57.019 --> 00:12:58.339
 The gospel is not just

00:12:58.339 --> 00:12:59.539
 the minimum required

00:12:59.539 --> 00:13:00.500
 doctrine necessary

00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:01.419
 to enter the kingdom.

00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:02.779
 It's the way

00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:03.919
 we make progress

00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:04.699
 in the kingdom.

00:13:06.039 --> 00:13:07.179
 When we struggle

00:13:07.179 --> 00:13:08.099
 with fear

00:13:08.099 --> 00:13:09.419
 or anxiety,

00:13:09.699 --> 00:13:10.659
 it's because

00:13:10.659 --> 00:13:12.240
 we have not understood

00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:13.159
 or appropriated

00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:13.740
 the gospel

00:13:13.740 --> 00:13:14.740
 and God's radical

00:13:14.740 --> 00:13:16.000
 and providential

00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:17.120
 care for us

00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:18.059
 displayed in the

00:13:18.059 --> 00:13:18.859
 crucified Lord.

00:13:19.819 --> 00:13:20.659
 When we struggle

00:13:20.659 --> 00:13:21.339
 with anger

00:13:21.339 --> 00:13:22.639
 or discontent

00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:24.219
 toward people

00:13:24.219 --> 00:13:25.439
 and our circumstances,

00:13:25.779 --> 00:13:26.299
 it's because

00:13:26.299 --> 00:13:27.379
 we have not understood

00:13:27.379 --> 00:13:28.779
 the gospel of Jesus Christ

00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:29.639
 which reveals

00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:30.159
 the depth

00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:31.439
 of our own sinfulness

00:13:31.439 --> 00:13:32.659
 and our desperate need

00:13:32.659 --> 00:13:33.559
 to rely on God

00:13:33.559 --> 00:13:34.579
 and not on ourselves.

00:13:35.619 --> 00:13:36.739
 And when we struggle

00:13:36.739 --> 00:13:38.039
 with spiritual lethargy,

00:13:38.599 --> 00:13:40.279
 when we lack love

00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:40.979
 and zeal

00:13:40.979 --> 00:13:41.500
 for God

00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:42.179
 and his people,

00:13:42.479 --> 00:13:43.059
 it's because

00:13:43.059 --> 00:13:44.299
 we have not experienced

00:13:44.299 --> 00:13:44.839
 the depth

00:13:44.839 --> 00:13:45.739
 of God's love

00:13:45.740 --> 00:13:46.580
 for us revealed

00:13:46.580 --> 00:13:47.539
 on the cross

00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:48.940
 of Jesus Christ.

00:13:50.340 --> 00:13:51.340
 Because we do not

00:13:51.340 --> 00:13:52.240
 know his love,

00:13:52.299 --> 00:13:53.000
 we do not love him

00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:53.460
 in return.

00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:55.340
 Christians never

00:13:55.340 --> 00:13:56.259
 graduate

00:13:56.259 --> 00:13:57.560
 from the gospel

00:13:57.560 --> 00:13:58.279
 of Jesus Christ.

00:13:58.600 --> 00:13:59.200
 What the Corinthians

00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:00.620
 needed was not

00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:01.720
 a different diet

00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:02.759
 but a different

00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:03.560
 perspective.

00:14:04.519 --> 00:14:05.560
 The solid food

00:14:05.560 --> 00:14:06.519
 that Paul fed them

00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:07.340
 seemed to them

00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:08.200
 like milk

00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:09.299
 not because

00:14:09.299 --> 00:14:10.299
 of the immaturity

00:14:10.299 --> 00:14:11.139
 of Paul's teaching

00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:11.759
 but because of

00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:12.299
 their own

00:14:12.299 --> 00:14:13.339
 spiritual immaturity.

00:14:15.079 --> 00:14:16.000
 And because

00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:16.719
 the Corinthians

00:14:16.719 --> 00:14:17.439
 in their immaturity

00:14:17.439 --> 00:14:18.639
 pursued wisdom

00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:19.620
 other than

00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:20.599
 the wisdom of God,

00:14:21.079 --> 00:14:21.759
 this led to

00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:22.839
 divisions and factions

00:14:22.839 --> 00:14:24.039
 in the Corinthian church.

00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:24.939
 And so Paul

00:14:24.939 --> 00:14:25.639
 addresses this

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.779
 in verses 4 to 5.

00:14:27.339 --> 00:14:28.379
 For when one says

00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:29.459
 I follow Paul

00:14:29.459 --> 00:14:30.139
 and another

00:14:30.139 --> 00:14:31.439
 I follow Apollos,

00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:32.459
 are you not

00:14:32.459 --> 00:14:33.740
 being merely human?

00:14:34.479 --> 00:14:35.199
 What then

00:14:35.199 --> 00:14:35.979
 is Apollos?

00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:37.120
 What is Paul?

00:14:37.839 --> 00:14:38.439
 Servants

00:14:38.439 --> 00:14:39.039
 through whom

00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:39.579
 you believed

00:14:39.580 --> 00:14:40.700
 as the Lord

00:14:40.700 --> 00:14:42.280
 assigned to each.

00:14:42.800 --> 00:14:43.620
 You could hear

00:14:43.620 --> 00:14:45.060
 Paul's disdain

00:14:45.060 --> 00:14:46.520
 for this kind

00:14:46.520 --> 00:14:47.440
 of divisive

00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:48.379
 slogans

00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:49.020
 that the Corinthians

00:14:49.020 --> 00:14:49.660
 were using,

00:14:49.780 --> 00:14:49.920
 right?

00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:50.860
 What then

00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:51.420
 is Apollos?

00:14:51.520 --> 00:14:52.180
 What then

00:14:52.180 --> 00:14:52.639
 is Paul?

00:14:53.160 --> 00:14:53.639
 Servants

00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:53.940
 through whom

00:14:53.940 --> 00:14:54.240
 you believed

00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:54.580
 as the Lord

00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:55.120
 assigned to each.

00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:56.300
 Paul's undercutting

00:14:56.300 --> 00:14:56.800
 the Corinthian

00:14:56.800 --> 00:14:57.240
 believers'

00:14:57.440 --> 00:14:58.139
 infatuation

00:14:58.139 --> 00:14:59.020
 with certain

00:14:59.020 --> 00:15:00.000
 leaders in the church

00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:00.879
 by teaching

00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:01.620
 these leaders

00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:02.860
 that they are

00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:03.700
 merely servants.

00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:04.800
 And Jesus

00:15:04.800 --> 00:15:05.620
 himself taught

00:15:05.620 --> 00:15:06.420
 this in Mark

00:15:06.420 --> 00:15:06.860
 10,

00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:07.940
 40 to 45,

00:15:08.040 --> 00:15:08.200
 right?

00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:08.740
 He says,

00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:09.399
 you know that

00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:09.919
 those who are

00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:10.759
 considered rulers

00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:11.680
 of the Gentiles

00:15:11.680 --> 00:15:12.720
 lord it over them

00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:13.940
 and their great ones

00:15:13.940 --> 00:15:15.159
 exercise authority

00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:15.860
 over them,

00:15:15.940 --> 00:15:16.940
 but it shall not

00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:18.200
 be so among you.

00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:18.980
 But whoever

00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:19.840
 would be great

00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:20.279
 among you

00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:21.360
 must be your servant

00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:22.120
 and whoever

00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:23.180
 would be the first

00:15:23.180 --> 00:15:23.720
 among you

00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:24.580
 must be slave

00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:25.019
 of all.

00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:25.820
 For even the

00:15:25.820 --> 00:15:26.320
 Son of Man

00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:27.279
 came not to be

00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:27.620
 served,

00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:28.519
 but to serve

00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:29.919
 and to give his life

00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:30.759
 as a ransom

00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:31.379
 for many,

00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:31.860
 right?

00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:33.379
 Servant leadership

00:15:33.379 --> 00:15:36.279
 is the paradigm

00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:37.320
 for Christian leadership

00:15:37.320 --> 00:15:38.360
 and it finds

00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:38.960
 its prototype

00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:39.960
 in Jesus Christ

00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:40.580
 himself.

00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:42.100
 And the pattern

00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:43.020
 of this world,

00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:43.660
 the pattern

00:15:43.660 --> 00:15:44.080
 of the rulers

00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:44.760
 of this world

00:15:44.760 --> 00:15:45.720
 is to domineer

00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:46.760
 and to lord it

00:15:46.760 --> 00:15:47.420
 over people

00:15:47.420 --> 00:15:48.020
 under them.

00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:48.800
 But the leaders

00:15:48.800 --> 00:15:49.300
 of the church

00:15:49.300 --> 00:15:50.220
 must be servants

00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:50.760
 of all.

00:15:51.460 --> 00:15:52.300
 So why then

00:15:52.300 --> 00:15:53.000
 do you boast

00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:54.140
 about servants?

00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:55.700
 They're your servants,

00:15:56.180 --> 00:15:56.980
 servants of the Lord.

00:15:57.160 --> 00:15:57.940
 They're merely doing

00:15:57.940 --> 00:15:58.460
 what the Lord

00:15:58.460 --> 00:16:00.100
 assigned them to do

00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:01.020
 as the Lord

00:16:01.020 --> 00:16:02.080
 assigned to each,

00:16:02.400 --> 00:16:02.600
 right?

00:16:02.800 --> 00:16:03.320
 And a person

00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:04.160
 cannot receive

00:16:04.160 --> 00:16:04.940
 even one thing

00:16:04.940 --> 00:16:05.600
 unless it comes

00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:06.220
 from heaven.

00:16:06.580 --> 00:16:07.000
 The servants

00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:08.000
 did not merit

00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:09.460
 or earn their rank

00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:10.100
 or task.

00:16:10.220 --> 00:16:10.420
 Rather,

00:16:10.680 --> 00:16:11.040
 the Lord

00:16:11.040 --> 00:16:12.139
 sovereignly assigned

00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:12.620
 it to them.

00:16:12.920 --> 00:16:14.139
 So there's no sense

00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:15.080
 that in boasting

00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:16.800
 about those leaders

00:16:16.800 --> 00:16:17.560
 and holding them

00:16:17.560 --> 00:16:18.659
 in such high regard.

00:16:19.420 --> 00:16:20.100
 So Paul and Apollos

00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:21.139
 are merely servants

00:16:21.139 --> 00:16:22.040
 through whom

00:16:22.040 --> 00:16:23.340
 you believed.

00:16:24.060 --> 00:16:25.220
 And notice how

00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:25.720
 he says that,

00:16:25.800 --> 00:16:27.040
 through whom you believe.

00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:27.700
 So Corinthians

00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:28.180
 are saying,

00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:29.139
 I follow Paul,

00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:30.139
 I follow Apollos,

00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:31.540
 but Paul is reminding

00:16:31.540 --> 00:16:31.840
 that,

00:16:32.060 --> 00:16:32.860
 did you believe

00:16:32.860 --> 00:16:33.240
 in them?

00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:34.139
 Did you get saved

00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:35.040
 in their name?

00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:35.959
 No, of course not.

00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:37.039
 They are servants

00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:38.219
 through whom you believe.

00:16:38.299 --> 00:16:38.839
 You didn't believe

00:16:38.839 --> 00:16:39.480
 in them.

00:16:39.699 --> 00:16:40.379
 So why say,

00:16:40.539 --> 00:16:41.219
 I follow Paul

00:16:41.219 --> 00:16:42.279
 or I follow Apollos?

00:16:43.079 --> 00:16:44.279
 And Paul continues

00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:44.980
 this line of thought

00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:46.039
 in verses 6 to 7

00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:47.019
 with a metaphor

00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:47.759
 of the field.

00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:49.719
 I planted,

00:16:50.459 --> 00:16:51.439
 Apollos watered,

00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:52.740
 but God gave

00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:53.259
 the growth.

00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:54.839
 So neither he

00:16:54.839 --> 00:16:55.519
 who plants

00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:56.719
 nor he waters

00:16:56.719 --> 00:16:57.459
 is anything

00:16:57.459 --> 00:16:58.759
 but only God

00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.480
 who gives

00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:00.459
 the growth.

00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:02.959
 So since Paul

00:17:02.959 --> 00:17:03.599
 addresses the

00:17:03.599 --> 00:17:04.259
 Corinthian believers

00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:05.519
 here in the plural

00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:06.680
 consistently

00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:07.420
 throughout this passage,

00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:08.259
 he's not thinking

00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:09.519
 here of a conversion

00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:10.960
 of an individual believer,

00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:12.180
 but he's thinking

00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:13.140
 about the planting

00:17:13.140 --> 00:17:14.599
 of the whole church.

00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:16.180
 So Paul says

00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:16.779
 that he's the one

00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:18.039
 who planted the seed

00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:19.379
 meaning that Paul's

00:17:19.379 --> 00:17:20.000
 the one who founded

00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:20.519
 the church

00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:22.059
 and then Apollos

00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:22.660
 watered it,

00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.440
 meaning Apollos

00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:25.519
 had nourished them

00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.559
 by having a teaching

00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:27.519
 ministry among them.

00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:29.000
 But the most important

00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:29.839
 part of this

00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:30.599
 growth process

00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:31.619
 is not Paul

00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:32.779
 and it's not Apollos,

00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:33.679
 but it's God

00:17:33.679 --> 00:17:34.099
 because it says,

00:17:34.379 --> 00:17:35.079
 but God

00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:36.579
 who gave the growth.

00:17:36.939 --> 00:17:37.539
 So neither he

00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:38.139
 who plants

00:17:38.139 --> 00:17:39.000
 nor he who waters

00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:39.599
 is anything

00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:40.479
 but only God

00:17:40.479 --> 00:17:41.039
 who gives

00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:41.919
 the growth.

00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:44.019
 This metaphor

00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:45.199
 is particularly

00:17:45.199 --> 00:17:45.739
 appropriate.

00:17:46.679 --> 00:17:47.319
 Hannah and I

00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:48.139
 have notorious

00:17:48.139 --> 00:17:48.979
 black thumbs.

00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:49.859
 I hear that

00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:50.459
 that's the opposite

00:17:50.459 --> 00:17:51.119
 of green thumb,

00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:51.419
 right?

00:17:51.659 --> 00:17:52.379
 Anything green

00:17:52.379 --> 00:17:52.899
 that comes into

00:17:52.899 --> 00:17:53.659
 our house dies

00:17:53.659 --> 00:17:56.039
 and that's part

00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:56.839
 of it due

00:17:56.839 --> 00:17:57.659
 to our negligence.

00:17:57.719 --> 00:17:58.199
 We just don't know

00:17:58.199 --> 00:17:58.719
 how to take good

00:17:58.720 --> 00:17:59.220
 care of it.

00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:00.500
 But even if we

00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:01.500
 take good care of it,

00:18:01.600 --> 00:18:02.720
 we can't in any

00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:03.420
 meaningful sense

00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:04.120
 claim that we

00:18:04.120 --> 00:18:05.039
 made the plants

00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:05.740
 grow, can we?

00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:06.299
 Right?

00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:07.319
 I mean, yeah,

00:18:07.360 --> 00:18:08.160
 you can create

00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:08.880
 an environment

00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:09.720
 that's conducive

00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:10.420
 to its growth.

00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:11.400
 You could expose

00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:12.000
 it to sunlight.

00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:13.160
 You could water it.

00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:14.400
 But can anyone

00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:15.839
 make a plant grow?

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.200
 No.

00:18:17.019 --> 00:18:18.059
 The growth comes

00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:19.519
 apart from us.

00:18:20.100 --> 00:18:20.839
 In the same way,

00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:21.839
 that's the point

00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:22.620
 that Paul's making.

00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:24.299
 God gives the growth.

00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:25.400
 Paul can plant

00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:25.920
 something

00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:26.680
 and Apollos

00:18:26.680 --> 00:18:27.620
 can water something,

00:18:27.619 --> 00:18:28.479
 but unless God

00:18:28.479 --> 00:18:29.199
 gives the growth,

00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:30.419
 nothing will come

00:18:30.419 --> 00:18:30.959
 of it.

00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.119
 So why give

00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:33.919
 such credit

00:18:33.919 --> 00:18:35.079
 to the people

00:18:35.079 --> 00:18:35.739
 who don't deserve

00:18:35.739 --> 00:18:36.159
 the credit?

00:18:36.299 --> 00:18:37.079
 The credit belongs

00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:37.639
 to God.

00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:39.179
 Glory belongs

00:18:39.179 --> 00:18:39.819
 to God.

00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:42.699
 For this reason,

00:18:42.879 --> 00:18:43.539
 Paul writes

00:18:43.539 --> 00:18:44.519
 in verse 8,

00:18:44.879 --> 00:18:45.859
 he who plants

00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:46.799
 and he who waters

00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:47.639
 are one

00:18:47.639 --> 00:18:49.259
 and each will receive

00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:49.859
 his wages

00:18:49.859 --> 00:18:51.139
 according to his labor.

00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:52.399
 This verse

00:18:52.399 --> 00:18:53.019
 highlights both

00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:53.599
 the unity

00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:54.739
 and the diversity

00:18:54.739 --> 00:18:56.439
 of Christian labor.

00:18:56.979 --> 00:18:57.079
 Right?

00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:58.079
 So on the one hand,

00:18:58.159 --> 00:18:59.000
 there is no sense

00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:59.399
 in holding

00:18:59.399 --> 00:19:00.279
 either the planter

00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:01.299
 or the gardener

00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:02.500
 in higher esteem

00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.099
 than the other

00:19:03.099 --> 00:19:04.319
 because they have

00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:06.079
 no independent significance.

00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:07.159
 They are one.

00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.379
 They're on the same team.

00:19:08.779 --> 00:19:09.759
 They're doing different parts

00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:11.019
 of the same work.

00:19:11.679 --> 00:19:12.879
 But at the same time,

00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:15.179
 they're going to be rewarded

00:19:15.179 --> 00:19:16.779
 according to their work.

00:19:16.899 --> 00:19:17.740
 They're going to receive

00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:19.379
 wages according to their...

00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:20.220
 Each will receive

00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:20.779
 his wages

00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:22.259
 according to his labor.

00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:23.319
 So there is a division

00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:23.819
 of labor

00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:25.480
 and each will receive

00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:27.359
 their distinct reward.

00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:28.679
 So Paul's talking about

00:19:28.679 --> 00:19:29.299
 both the diversity

00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:30.319
 and unity of the work

00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:31.319
 and he will elaborate

00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:32.279
 on the rewards later

00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:33.519
 in verses 10 to 17.

00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.939
 And then Paul gives

00:19:35.939 --> 00:19:37.059
 one final reason

00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:37.700
 why the Corinthians

00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:38.740
 should not obsess

00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:39.839
 over various leaders

00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:40.899
 in verse 9.

00:19:41.439 --> 00:19:44.259
 For we are God's fellow workers,

00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:45.839
 you are God's field,

00:19:46.220 --> 00:19:47.119
 God's building.

00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:48.859
 The word God

00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:49.459
 is repeated

00:19:49.459 --> 00:19:51.179
 three times here

00:19:51.179 --> 00:19:51.859
 in this verse

00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:52.479
 for emphasis.

00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:54.299
 And in the Greek,

00:19:54.439 --> 00:19:56.179
 it's actually even more emphatic

00:19:56.179 --> 00:19:57.539
 because the first word

00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:58.500
 of each phrase

00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.219
 is God.

00:19:59.739 --> 00:20:01.399
 So if you were to read it

00:20:01.399 --> 00:20:01.719
 literally,

00:20:01.879 --> 00:20:02.359
 it says this,

00:20:02.719 --> 00:20:03.879
 God's therefore

00:20:03.879 --> 00:20:04.939
 fellow workers,

00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:05.459
 we are.

00:20:05.959 --> 00:20:06.939
 God's field,

00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:08.199
 God's building,

00:20:08.439 --> 00:20:08.879
 you are.

00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:10.979
 So Paul's not saying

00:20:10.979 --> 00:20:12.500
 that he and Apollos

00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:13.379
 are fellow workers

00:20:13.379 --> 00:20:14.779
 along with God.

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.099
 God,

00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:16.279
 to say that

00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:17.720
 would be to undermine

00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:18.359
 what the point

00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:19.180
 that he's trying to make

00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:20.119
 and namely that God alone

00:20:20.119 --> 00:20:20.859
 deserves the credit.

00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:22.019
 What he's saying is

00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:22.940
 that he and Apollos

00:20:22.940 --> 00:20:23.779
 are fellow workers

00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:25.139
 who both belong to God.

00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:27.039
 So NIV makes this

00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:27.960
 a little bit more clear.

00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:28.319
 He says,

00:20:28.619 --> 00:20:30.200
 for we are co-workers

00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:31.599
 in God's service.

00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:33.339
 So the emphasis

00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:34.779
 on God's possession

00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.899
 and ownership,

00:20:36.339 --> 00:20:37.440
 God's fellow workers,

00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:38.819
 God's field,

00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:40.619
 God's building.

00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.379
 In short,

00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:42.899
 you are a field

00:20:42.899 --> 00:20:44.639
 and God is the owner

00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:45.240
 of the field

00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:46.500
 and Paul and Apollos

00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:47.540
 are just farmers,

00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:49.080
 laborers,

00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:49.600
 servants.

00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:50.880
 So stop your nonsense

00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:52.120
 about I follow Paul,

00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:53.480
 I follow Apollos

00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:54.380
 and bring your focus

00:20:54.380 --> 00:20:55.300
 back to Christ

00:20:55.300 --> 00:20:56.500
 and his gospel.

00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:58.300
 Too often,

00:20:58.580 --> 00:20:59.940
 the leaders of the church,

00:21:00.120 --> 00:21:00.660
 the clergy,

00:21:00.840 --> 00:21:01.480
 so to speak,

00:21:01.600 --> 00:21:03.160
 can pay lip service

00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:03.680
 to the fact

00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:04.220
 that the church

00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:05.140
 belongs to God.

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:05.580
 Oh yes,

00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:06.700
 the church belongs to God.

00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:08.040
 But for all intents

00:21:08.040 --> 00:21:08.600
 and purposes,

00:21:08.860 --> 00:21:09.840
 act as if the church

00:21:09.840 --> 00:21:10.680
 belonged to them.

00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:12.759
 We get possessive,

00:21:13.080 --> 00:21:14.220
 we get defensive,

00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:16.900
 and we use the church

00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:17.880
 to enlarge

00:21:17.880 --> 00:21:19.040
 our own prestige,

00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:20.220
 our influence,

00:21:20.520 --> 00:21:21.020
 wealth,

00:21:21.580 --> 00:21:22.320
 rather than pointing

00:21:22.320 --> 00:21:23.420
 away from themselves

00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:24.420
 to Jesus Christ.

00:21:26.280 --> 00:21:26.880
 And that,

00:21:27.140 --> 00:21:27.840
 this doesn't mean,

00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:28.640
 what Paul's saying here

00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:29.160
 doesn't mean

00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:29.780
 that the leaders

00:21:29.780 --> 00:21:30.580
 need to abdicate

00:21:30.580 --> 00:21:31.640
 all form of leadership

00:21:31.640 --> 00:21:32.120
 and authority,

00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:33.420
 they still need to lead.

00:21:33.880 --> 00:21:34.960
 But as they do that,

00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:35.620
 they need to recognize

00:21:35.620 --> 00:21:36.440
 that they are under

00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:37.380
 God's authority

00:21:37.380 --> 00:21:37.840
 and that they are

00:21:37.840 --> 00:21:39.180
 accountable to him.

00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:40.160
 And therefore,

00:21:40.360 --> 00:21:40.980
 remember that God

00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:42.300
 is ultimately in charge

00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:42.639
 and that they are

00:21:42.639 --> 00:21:43.480
 merely servants

00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.619
 at his service

00:21:44.619 --> 00:21:46.220
 working for his pleasure.

00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:48.359
 In a similar way,

00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:49.119
 some of the members

00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:49.659
 of the church

00:21:49.659 --> 00:21:50.740
 can also mistakenly

00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:51.639
 think and act

00:21:51.639 --> 00:21:52.799
 like they own the church.

00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:55.159
 I've been attending

00:21:55.159 --> 00:21:56.319
 this church all my life.

00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.799
 I'm the biggest tither

00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.440
 in this church.

00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:01.539
 I'm the most gifted

00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:02.559
 member of this church.

00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:04.139
 I serve the church

00:22:04.139 --> 00:22:05.159
 more than anyone else.

00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:07.180
 But strictly speaking,

00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:08.740
 the church doesn't belong

00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:10.400
 to its members either.

00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:11.060
 Strictly speaking,

00:22:11.140 --> 00:22:12.200
 it belongs to God

00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:13.440
 and it belongs to them

00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.340
 only insofar

00:22:14.340 --> 00:22:15.160
 as they themselves

00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:16.120
 belong to him.

00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:18.220
 We all belong to God.

00:22:18.360 --> 00:22:19.680
 The church is God's field.

00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:22.220
 In the last phrase,

00:22:22.300 --> 00:22:23.540
 he says God's building

00:22:23.540 --> 00:22:23.900
 as well.

00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:24.560
 That introduces

00:22:24.560 --> 00:22:25.360
 a new metaphor

00:22:25.360 --> 00:22:25.940
 and that brings me

00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:26.880
 to my second point

00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:28.320
 which Paul continues

00:22:28.320 --> 00:22:29.820
 in verses 10 to 23.

00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:31.100
 God's temple.

00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:33.860
 In verse 10,

00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.320
 Paul says,

00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:35.279
 according to the grace

00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.339
 of God given to me,

00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:38.720
 like a skilled master builder,

00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:40.279
 I laid a foundation

00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:41.460
 and someone else

00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.480
 is building upon it.

00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:44.399
 Let each one take care

00:22:44.399 --> 00:22:46.399
 how he builds upon it.

00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:48.579
 Just as he described himself

00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:49.480
 in the earlier metaphor

00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:50.419
 of planting,

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:52.419
 as a planter,

00:22:52.700 --> 00:22:53.839
 here he describes himself

00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:54.379
 as the one

00:22:54.379 --> 00:22:55.579
 who laid a foundation,

00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.779
 meaning he was the apostle

00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:58.960
 who did the foundational work

00:22:58.960 --> 00:23:00.139
 for the Corinthian church.

00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:00.839
 He's the one

00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:02.039
 who originally planted it,

00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:02.859
 the first builder

00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:03.480
 of the church.

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:05.920
 And this was no credit

00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:06.660
 to himself

00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:08.019
 because he insists

00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:08.819
 it was according

00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:10.599
 to the grace of God

00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:11.680
 given to me.

00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:14.539
 Paul sees his own apostleship

00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:16.339
 as a gift of God's grace.

00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:17.299
 That's what he said

00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:18.440
 in Ephesians 3.8,

00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.140
 To me,

00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:20.559
 though I am the very least

00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:21.500
 of all the saints,

00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:23.539
 this grace was given

00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:25.180
 to preach to the Gentiles

00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:26.360
 the unsearchable riches

00:23:26.360 --> 00:23:27.240
 of Christ.

00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:28.640
 And sometimes,

00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:29.180
 as Christians,

00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:30.319
 we can make much

00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:31.460
 of gifted people,

00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:32.500
 and I used to do this

00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:33.799
 with Apostle Paul himself,

00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:34.140
 right?

00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.440
 We sometimes talk about

00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:37.840
 his impeccable Jewish heritage,

00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:40.960
 his peerless scholarly training,

00:23:41.100 --> 00:23:42.620
 biblical training that he had.

00:23:42.840 --> 00:23:44.500
 And sometimes we mistakenly think

00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:45.380
 that that's the reason

00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:47.279
 why God chose to use Apostle Paul

00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:48.559
 in the first place.

00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:49.920
 But for Paul,

00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:51.360
 he never made that mistake

00:23:51.360 --> 00:23:52.180
 in thinking that.

00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:52.759
 Sure,

00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:54.700
 God used his extensive training

00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:55.360
 and background,

00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:57.659
 but Paul never let himself forget

00:23:57.659 --> 00:23:58.599
 that he was chosen

00:23:58.599 --> 00:23:59.359
 as an apostle,

00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:01.279
 not because of his qualifications,

00:24:01.719 --> 00:24:03.199
 but because of God's grace.

00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:05.779
 In fact,

00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:07.799
 he says he had no business

00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.879
 being a Christian,

00:24:09.179 --> 00:24:10.500
 let alone an apostle,

00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:12.519
 apart from the grace of God.

00:24:13.679 --> 00:24:15.959
 And Paul testifies,

00:24:16.099 --> 00:24:17.219
 so it's no credit to himself,

00:24:17.339 --> 00:24:18.479
 but never does he testifies

00:24:18.479 --> 00:24:19.959
 that he didn't do this work

00:24:19.959 --> 00:24:21.359
 in a haphazard way,

00:24:22.139 --> 00:24:23.179
 in a careless way.

00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:23.500
 No,

00:24:23.560 --> 00:24:24.100
 Paul says,

00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:25.500
 I laid a foundation

00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:28.019
 like a skilled master builder.

00:24:28.920 --> 00:24:31.180
 There's a biting irony here,

00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:31.779
 again,

00:24:31.860 --> 00:24:32.560
 in Paul's statement.

00:24:32.860 --> 00:24:33.440
 So first,

00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:33.960
 he says,

00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.799
 I was not an average,

00:24:35.860 --> 00:24:36.100
 you know,

00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:38.720
 run-of-the-mill construction worker,

00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:39.060
 right?

00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:39.700
 He's saying,

00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.860
 I was a master builder.

00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:42.360
 He describes himself in that way.

00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.580
 So that means he didn't,

00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:44.240
 and secondly,

00:24:44.320 --> 00:24:45.580
 he says he didn't lay a foundation

00:24:45.580 --> 00:24:46.259
 in a clumsy,

00:24:46.840 --> 00:24:47.779
 incompetent way.

00:24:48.080 --> 00:24:48.560
 He says,

00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:50.580
 he did so as a skilled builder,

00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:50.900
 right?

00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:52.279
 And the word translated,

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:53.120
 skilled here,

00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:54.759
 is actually the same Greek word

00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:56.840
 that's translated as wise

00:24:56.840 --> 00:24:58.080
 in different parts

00:24:58.080 --> 00:24:58.900
 of 1 Corinthians.

00:24:59.580 --> 00:25:00.799
 And the word wise,

00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:01.299
 or wisdom,

00:25:01.380 --> 00:25:02.060
 is a key word

00:25:02.060 --> 00:25:03.519
 that recurs throughout this book.

00:25:04.100 --> 00:25:04.519
 For example,

00:25:04.580 --> 00:25:05.220
 in chapter 1,

00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:06.080
 we learned that the Corinthians

00:25:06.080 --> 00:25:07.420
 believers were seeking

00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:08.400
 worldly wisdom,

00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:09.620
 and they believed

00:25:09.620 --> 00:25:11.480
 and touted their own wisdom,

00:25:11.660 --> 00:25:12.759
 that they were wise.

00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:13.940
 And knowing this,

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.779
 Paul says again,

00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:15.519
 in this chapter,

00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:16.840
 in verses 18 to 19,

00:25:16.839 --> 00:25:18.519
 let no one deceive himself.

00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.500
 If anyone among you

00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.699
 thinks that he is wise

00:25:20.699 --> 00:25:21.659
 in this age,

00:25:21.939 --> 00:25:22.980
 let him become a fool

00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:24.439
 that he may become wise.

00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:26.359
 For the wisdom of this world

00:25:26.359 --> 00:25:28.699
 is folly with God.

00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:29.500
 Right?

00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:30.759
 So contrary to the Corinthians'

00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:32.240
 claim and accusation

00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:33.019
 that Paul's teaching

00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:34.699
 was elementary and infantile,

00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:36.079
 Paul laid the foundation

00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:37.039
 of the Corinthian church

00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:38.379
 with wisdom.

00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:40.919
 He was a wise master builder.

00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:43.180
 So contrary to the Corinthians'

00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:44.380
 claim that they knew

00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:45.300
 greater wisdom,

00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:47.259
 their failure to recognize

00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:48.240
 Paul's wisdom

00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:49.039
 in the wise and ways,

00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:49.820
 the God's wisdom

00:25:49.820 --> 00:25:51.320
 in the way Paul built the church,

00:25:51.580 --> 00:25:53.240
 betrayed their own foolishness.

00:25:54.340 --> 00:25:55.460
 So Paul laid the foundation

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:57.000
 as a skilled master builder,

00:25:57.120 --> 00:25:57.640
 and he says,

00:25:57.840 --> 00:25:59.220
 now others are building on it.

00:25:59.600 --> 00:26:00.420
 He says in verse 10,

00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:02.539
 let each one take care

00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:04.600
 how he builds upon it.

00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:06.960
 So who does he mean by this?

00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:08.900
 So who's building on the foundation

00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:10.060
 that Paul left?

00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:12.319
 We could assume Apollos,

00:26:12.399 --> 00:26:13.839
 obviously from the earlier reference,

00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:14.659
 but I don't think

00:26:14.659 --> 00:26:16.099
 this is a reference to Apollos

00:26:16.099 --> 00:26:18.059
 or Cephas or other believers

00:26:18.059 --> 00:26:19.179
 that he has mentioned by name.

00:26:19.659 --> 00:26:20.839
 And the reason for that is this.

00:26:20.879 --> 00:26:21.940
 If you look at verse 6,

00:26:22.039 --> 00:26:22.399
 it says,

00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:25.319
 I planted, Apollos watered.

00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:27.559
 He mentions Apollos by name there.

00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:29.279
 But here in verse 10,

00:26:29.399 --> 00:26:30.399
 Paul says more genetically,

00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:31.339
 each one,

00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:32.839
 let each one take care

00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:33.919
 how he builds upon it.

00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.779
 And also in verse 6,

00:26:35.879 --> 00:26:37.059
 Paul said Apollos watered,

00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:38.639
 past tense,

00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:39.940
 he watered the church.

00:26:40.059 --> 00:26:41.359
 But here in verse 10,

00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:42.440
 the verb builds

00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:44.579
 is in the present tense, right?

00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:46.200
 So it's a reference

00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:48.359
 to those who are currently,

00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:50.119
 presently building upon

00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:51.519
 Paul's foundation,

00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:53.000
 not Apollos,

00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:53.720
 because Apollos,

00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:55.200
 we learned from chapter 16,

00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:55.659
 verse 12,

00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:56.779
 he's no longer in Corinth.

00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.539
 So Paul's addressing

00:26:58.539 --> 00:26:59.919
 people in Corinth,

00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:01.740
 the very ones probably

00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:03.299
 who are causing these divisions,

00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:04.359
 the leaders of the church.

00:27:04.819 --> 00:27:05.399
 And he's saying,

00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:05.659
 hey,

00:27:05.879 --> 00:27:07.579
 take care as each one,

00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:08.419
 how you build

00:27:08.419 --> 00:27:09.879
 on the foundation.

00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:12.799
 And why should they take care

00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:13.460
 of how they build?

00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.980
 Paul gives the reason

00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:15.859
 in verse 11.

00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:19.019
 For no one can lay

00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:19.879
 a foundation

00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:21.319
 other than that

00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:22.119
 which is laid,

00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:23.960
 which is Jesus Christ.

00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:24.600
 Christ.

00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:25.440
 Right?

00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:27.960
 We cannot denigrate

00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:28.519
 the foundation

00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.980
 that Paul expertly laid

00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:30.920
 because that foundation

00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:32.279
 is Jesus Christ,

00:27:32.340 --> 00:27:33.079
 the good news

00:27:33.079 --> 00:27:34.039
 of his life,

00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:34.519
 death,

00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.240
 and resurrection

00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:37.000
 on behalf of sinners.

00:27:37.380 --> 00:27:39.420
 And there's no other foundation.

00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:41.519
 You know,

00:27:41.580 --> 00:27:42.640
 buildings collapsing

00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:43.360
 due to,

00:27:43.360 --> 00:27:44.140
 you know,

00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:46.100
 inadequate foundation

00:27:46.100 --> 00:27:47.779
 is a common occurrence

00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:48.360
 even today,

00:27:48.560 --> 00:27:48.759
 right?

00:27:49.300 --> 00:27:51.080
 One of the deadliest accidents

00:27:51.080 --> 00:27:51.880
 in recent memory

00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:53.100
 was in 2013

00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:54.840
 when Rana Plaza,

00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:56.019
 which is a five-story

00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:56.840
 garment factory

00:27:56.840 --> 00:27:57.519
 in Bangladesh,

00:27:57.880 --> 00:27:58.279
 collapsed,

00:27:58.800 --> 00:28:00.920
 killed 1,134 people

00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:02.539
 and injured 2,500 people.

00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:04.180
 And several reasons

00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:04.660
 were cited

00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:05.820
 for the building's failure

00:28:05.820 --> 00:28:06.880
 and the main reasons

00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:07.820
 were that the building

00:28:07.819 --> 00:28:10.019
 was built on a filled-in pond.

00:28:11.139 --> 00:28:11.939
 It had a cross,

00:28:12.179 --> 00:28:13.839
 it had a compromised foundation.

00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:15.099
 And then secondly,

00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:16.259
 the builders had used

00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:18.339
 substandard construction material

00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:20.500
 compromising the structural integrity

00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:21.159
 of the building.

00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:23.039
 Similarly,

00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:23.939
 Paul says,

00:28:23.939 --> 00:28:25.299
 no foundation

00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:27.419
 can bear the weight

00:28:27.419 --> 00:28:29.039
 of the church

00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:31.559
 except for the person

00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:32.379
 and work

00:28:32.379 --> 00:28:33.759
 of Jesus Christ,

00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:35.579
 which is the gospel,

00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:36.539
 the good news

00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:37.500
 of Jesus Christ.

00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:39.139
 if we build a church

00:28:39.139 --> 00:28:39.899
 on the foundation

00:28:39.899 --> 00:28:42.259
 of a charismatic personality,

00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:43.859
 if we build a church

00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:44.579
 on the foundation

00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:45.399
 of a sleek

00:28:45.399 --> 00:28:46.720
 and snazzy service,

00:28:47.099 --> 00:28:48.059
 if we build a church

00:28:48.059 --> 00:28:48.720
 on the foundation

00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.779
 of marketing

00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:51.559
 and managerial techniques,

00:28:52.119 --> 00:28:53.039
 if we build a church

00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:53.700
 on the foundation

00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:54.859
 of pop psychology,

00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:56.059
 if we build a church

00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:56.779
 on the foundation

00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:58.700
 of denominational traditions,

00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:00.379
 if we build a church

00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:03.200
 on self-righteous legalism,

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.639
 you might build

00:29:04.639 --> 00:29:06.039
 an impressive social club,

00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:09.039
 You might build an impressive nonprofit organization.

00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:11.859
 You might even build an empire,

00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:14.440
 but you will not build a church.

00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:18.980
 And the church built on such foundations

00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:20.740
 will invariably crumble

00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:23.859
 because there can be no other foundation

00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:25.759
 than the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:32.339
 And because this foundation is so precious and worthy,

00:29:32.899 --> 00:29:34.659
 Paul says in verses 12 to 15

00:29:34.660 --> 00:29:38.200
 that we have to take special care to build on it

00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:41.700
 with quality materials that will last.

00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:43.519
 His reasoning is this.

00:29:44.060 --> 00:29:45.940
 The foundation that we're building on

00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:47.840
 is the Lord Jesus Christ,

00:29:48.040 --> 00:29:51.060
 the Son of God who shed His own blood for you.

00:29:51.300 --> 00:29:52.840
 He died to save you,

00:29:52.840 --> 00:29:55.100
 and on that will you build carelessly

00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:57.200
 with materials that will not last.

00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:58.340
 That's the reason.

00:29:58.440 --> 00:29:59.580
 Look at this in verse 12.

00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:02.600
 He specifically lists six building materials

00:30:02.600 --> 00:30:04.120
 in the order of descending value.

00:30:04.119 --> 00:30:06.839
 Now, if anyone builds on the foundation

00:30:06.839 --> 00:30:09.579
 with gold, silver, precious stones,

00:30:09.939 --> 00:30:11.799
 wood, hay, straw,

00:30:12.679 --> 00:30:15.859
 much ink has been spilled throughout church history

00:30:15.859 --> 00:30:18.679
 to explain the meaning of these various materials.

00:30:19.139 --> 00:30:21.359
 Some people have allegorized each of these materials

00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:23.779
 to represent some specific type of ministry.

00:30:24.419 --> 00:30:26.239
 But such speculation is unwarranted

00:30:26.239 --> 00:30:28.119
 because Paul himself never comments

00:30:28.639 --> 00:30:31.179
 on the value of each of these materials,

00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:34.480
 and he doesn't explain what they each mean.

00:30:34.779 --> 00:30:36.160
 Rather, the clue to this meaning

00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:38.019
 is found in the immediate context itself.

00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:39.799
 Look at verses 13 to 15.

00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:43.120
 Each one's work will become manifest

00:30:43.120 --> 00:30:45.259
 for the day will disclose it

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:47.259
 because it will be revealed by fire,

00:30:47.900 --> 00:30:50.259
 and the fire will test what sort of work

00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:50.980
 each one has done.

00:30:51.380 --> 00:30:53.279
 If the work that anyone has built

00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:54.799
 on the foundation survives,

00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:56.240
 he will receive a reward.

00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:58.460
 If anyone's work is burned up,

00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:59.880
 he will suffer loss,

00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:01.660
 though he himself will be saved,

00:31:01.819 --> 00:31:03.960
 but only as through fire.

00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:06.680
 So testing by fire

00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:08.380
 on the day of judgment

00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:10.079
 is what Paul has in mind

00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:12.839
 when he lists these building materials,

00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:14.779
 and that's the decisive contextual clue.

00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:16.400
 So when we keep that in mind

00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:17.599
 as we read verse 12,

00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:18.420
 you notice something.

00:31:18.839 --> 00:31:20.180
 The first three materials,

00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:21.480
 the valuable materials,

00:31:21.859 --> 00:31:23.299
 they are not combustible.

00:31:24.200 --> 00:31:25.519
 They don't burn, right?

00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:27.419
 The last three materials,

00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:28.899
 the cheap materials,

00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:30.379
 they are combustible, right?

00:31:30.419 --> 00:31:32.159
 In fact, they so readily catch fire,

00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:32.799
 they're the materials

00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:35.059
 that are used for kindling, right?

00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:36.379
 It's the wood, right?

00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:37.839
 Hay, the straw, right?

00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:40.240
 And so what Paul is saying is this, right?

00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:41.720
 That's Paul's point,

00:31:41.940 --> 00:31:43.700
 that we should build with materials

00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:44.899
 that will survive

00:31:44.899 --> 00:31:46.659
 the fiery judgment of God.

00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:48.940
 Build with imperishable materials

00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:51.139
 that will survive the test of God.

00:31:51.140 --> 00:31:53.900
 And what kind of church would that be?

00:31:54.380 --> 00:31:56.060
 Paul only tells us one thing,

00:31:56.140 --> 00:31:58.500
 the church that is built in accordance

00:31:58.500 --> 00:32:01.020
 with the character of the foundation

00:32:01.020 --> 00:32:02.620
 of the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:32:03.540 --> 00:32:06.040
 And so gold, the silver, the precious stones,

00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:07.960
 they represent what is compatible

00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:09.060
 with that foundation.

00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:11.480
 And the wood and the hay and the straw

00:32:11.480 --> 00:32:13.160
 represent what is incompatible

00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:14.400
 with that foundation,

00:32:14.520 --> 00:32:16.200
 all forms of worldly wisdom.

00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:18.540
 So that means only the church

00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:21.039
 that reflects the love of Christ,

00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:23.019
 the truth of Christ,

00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:24.759
 the mercy of Christ,

00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:26.579
 the humility of Christ,

00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:28.059
 the courage of Christ,

00:32:28.399 --> 00:32:30.180
 the suffering of Christ,

00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:32.019
 the power of Christ.

00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:34.000
 In short, only the church

00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:35.740
 that is built on the gospel

00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.700
 of Jesus Christ

00:32:36.700 --> 00:32:38.779
 will survive that testing.

00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:42.819
 And let's not forget

00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:45.559
 the emphasis of this passage here, right?

00:32:45.619 --> 00:32:46.940
 Paul is not writing an essay

00:32:46.940 --> 00:32:47.900
 on the different forms

00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:49.299
 of acceptable ministries.

00:32:49.700 --> 00:32:51.380
 He's rather writing a letter

00:32:51.380 --> 00:32:55.120
 to warning the ministers, right?

00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:56.360
 The church leaders, of course,

00:32:56.440 --> 00:32:57.880
 but also all those involved

00:32:57.880 --> 00:32:58.920
 in various forms of ministry

00:32:58.920 --> 00:33:00.820
 in the church in varying degrees.

00:33:00.880 --> 00:33:01.680
 So he's telling them,

00:33:01.840 --> 00:33:02.940
 if you build carefully

00:33:02.940 --> 00:33:04.140
 on the gospel of Jesus Christ,

00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:05.620
 you will receive a reward.

00:33:05.960 --> 00:33:07.420
 But if you build shoddily

00:33:07.420 --> 00:33:08.720
 on worldly wisdom,

00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:11.019
 you will suffer loss.

00:33:11.900 --> 00:33:13.820
 Now, the idea of reward

00:33:13.820 --> 00:33:15.720
 recalls what Paul said earlier, right?

00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:16.860
 Remember, he talked about wages

00:33:16.860 --> 00:33:17.980
 that we'll receive,

00:33:18.160 --> 00:33:18.740
 like Paul's receive.

00:33:19.100 --> 00:33:20.279
 And sometimes Christians

00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:22.559
 have a hard time reconciling

00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:25.000
 this idea of heavenly reward

00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:27.559
 with wages for our labor, right?

00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:30.500
 Because it's, oh, I mean,

00:33:30.640 --> 00:33:32.339
 sorry, those two things are the same.

00:33:32.579 --> 00:33:34.079
 So Christians at times

00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:35.259
 have a hard time reconciling

00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:36.380
 our heavenly labor

00:33:36.380 --> 00:33:37.519
 and the reward for our labor

00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:38.700
 and the wages that we'll receive

00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:41.539
 with the free grace that saves us, right?

00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:42.759
 Salvation by grace alone.

00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:44.119
 Are those two things

00:33:44.119 --> 00:33:45.000
 mutually exclusive?

00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:47.279
 Isn't salvation a gift?

00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:49.660
 Freely given in accordance

00:33:49.660 --> 00:33:50.640
 with God's grace?

00:33:50.859 --> 00:33:52.019
 So what's all this talk

00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:53.240
 about receiving a reward?

00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:56.240
 It's suffering loss, right?

00:33:56.299 --> 00:33:57.779
 So those two ideas

00:33:57.779 --> 00:33:59.200
 are not mutually exclusive.

00:33:59.339 --> 00:33:59.980
 And let me explain it.

00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:01.079
 There's two reasons for that.

00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:02.680
 So first, the reward

00:34:02.680 --> 00:34:04.200
 that Paul is talking about here

00:34:04.200 --> 00:34:06.200
 is not salvation, right?

00:34:06.839 --> 00:34:07.900
 Notice that both

00:34:07.900 --> 00:34:09.639
 he who receives a reward

00:34:09.639 --> 00:34:11.059
 and he who suffers loss

00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:12.960
 are saved, right?

00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:14.839
 Paul says in verses 14 to 15,

00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:16.359
 if the work that anyone

00:34:16.359 --> 00:34:18.500
 has built on the foundation survives,

00:34:18.659 --> 00:34:19.819
 he will receive a reward.

00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:21.799
 If anyone's work is burned up,

00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:22.879
 he will suffer loss,

00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:25.480
 though he himself will be saved,

00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:27.420
 but only as through fire.

00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:28.900
 So both will be saved.

00:34:29.059 --> 00:34:29.739
 So the reward

00:34:29.739 --> 00:34:30.539
 that he's talking about here

00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:31.379
 is not salvation,

00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:33.239
 but only he whose work survives

00:34:33.239 --> 00:34:34.379
 will receive a reward

00:34:34.379 --> 00:34:35.099
 for that work.

00:34:35.099 --> 00:34:38.059
 And he whose work is burned

00:34:38.059 --> 00:34:38.960
 will still be saved,

00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:40.500
 but only as through fire.

00:34:41.179 --> 00:34:42.179
 And so I also have to,

00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:43.519
 should explain this,

00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:44.480
 especially in this neighborhood.

00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:45.860
 So this verse

00:34:45.860 --> 00:34:47.940
 is really kind of the lone verse

00:34:47.940 --> 00:34:49.980
 that is taken out of context

00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:50.679
 in justification

00:34:50.679 --> 00:34:53.099
 for the doctrine of purgatory, right?

00:34:53.139 --> 00:34:54.239
 So the purgatory

00:34:54.239 --> 00:34:56.179
 is what the Catholics believe,

00:34:56.319 --> 00:34:57.559
 a lot of Catholics believe,

00:34:57.819 --> 00:34:59.279
 to be this in-between state

00:34:59.279 --> 00:35:00.639
 where after their death,

00:35:00.759 --> 00:35:01.719
 Christians receive

00:35:01.719 --> 00:35:02.779
 temporary punishment

00:35:02.780 --> 00:35:04.920
 for their yet unpurified sins

00:35:04.920 --> 00:35:06.800
 before entering heaven.

00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:08.460
 However, this passage

00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:10.100
 has nothing like that in view.

00:35:10.420 --> 00:35:12.220
 Because look at verse 15 again carefully.

00:35:12.340 --> 00:35:14.780
 If anyone's work is burned up,

00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:16.280
 he will suffer loss,

00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:18.000
 though he himself will be saved,

00:35:18.040 --> 00:35:19.420
 but only as through fire.

00:35:19.600 --> 00:35:20.480
 What's being burned?

00:35:21.200 --> 00:35:22.200
 It's not the worker.

00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:23.280
 It's the work.

00:35:24.240 --> 00:35:25.660
 There's no mention at all

00:35:25.660 --> 00:35:26.400
 of punishment

00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:28.400
 or purification of the worker.

00:35:28.740 --> 00:35:29.940
 Only the burning

00:35:29.940 --> 00:35:31.820
 and testing of the work itself.

00:35:32.780 --> 00:35:35.000
 Think back to the last time

00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:36.220
 you had to go through a fire drill

00:35:36.220 --> 00:35:38.019
 because we live in a condo.

00:35:38.140 --> 00:35:39.700
 We regularly have fire drills still.

00:35:40.100 --> 00:35:42.220
 And remember when you first received instructions

00:35:42.220 --> 00:35:43.200
 about fire drill,

00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:43.940
 what did they tell you?

00:35:44.420 --> 00:35:46.060
 Don't gather up your belongings.

00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:47.260
 You guys remember hearing that?

00:35:47.560 --> 00:35:48.780
 Leave everything behind.

00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:49.780
 Just take yourselves

00:35:49.780 --> 00:35:50.840
 and get out of the building

00:35:50.840 --> 00:35:51.760
 as soon as possible.

00:35:51.880 --> 00:35:52.640
 Do you guys remember this?

00:35:52.900 --> 00:35:54.120
 Am I the only person that got that?

00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:55.200
 I mean, so why?

00:35:55.700 --> 00:35:56.980
 And I was always wondering

00:35:56.980 --> 00:35:57.560
 as a young man,

00:35:57.700 --> 00:35:58.360
 like, but why?

00:35:58.500 --> 00:36:00.940
 Like, I want to grab my stuff.

00:36:00.940 --> 00:36:01.539
 Like, you know,

00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:02.519
 why did you tell me

00:36:02.519 --> 00:36:04.440
 to leave my belongings and go?

00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:05.320
 And of course,

00:36:05.380 --> 00:36:06.700
 the idea is that the fire

00:36:06.700 --> 00:36:08.639
 is nothing to trifle with, right?

00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:10.780
 It could spread so rapidly

00:36:10.780 --> 00:36:12.860
 that you might not even save yourself

00:36:12.860 --> 00:36:14.039
 if you dilly-dally.

00:36:14.179 --> 00:36:15.920
 So you should not take time

00:36:15.920 --> 00:36:16.800
 even to gather up

00:36:16.800 --> 00:36:17.860
 your most precious belongings.

00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:19.700
 Just get out as soon as you can.

00:36:19.740 --> 00:36:20.639
 That's the idea, right?

00:36:21.119 --> 00:36:23.019
 And that's really what's meant here

00:36:23.019 --> 00:36:23.460
 when he says,

00:36:23.740 --> 00:36:24.720
 you will be saved

00:36:24.720 --> 00:36:27.340
 but only as through fire.

00:36:27.340 --> 00:36:29.240
 A Christian worker

00:36:29.240 --> 00:36:31.400
 who builds with perishable materials

00:36:31.400 --> 00:36:32.500
 will still be saved

00:36:32.500 --> 00:36:34.180
 but only as through fire,

00:36:34.300 --> 00:36:35.160
 just himself

00:36:35.160 --> 00:36:37.660
 with no work to show for it.

00:36:38.840 --> 00:36:40.700
 This verse is not about salvation

00:36:40.700 --> 00:36:41.980
 but about a reward

00:36:41.980 --> 00:36:44.079
 for a loss of our work.

00:36:45.220 --> 00:36:46.440
 So that's the first reason

00:36:46.440 --> 00:36:48.200
 why salvation by grace alone

00:36:48.200 --> 00:36:49.200
 is not incompatible

00:36:49.200 --> 00:36:49.840
 with this idea

00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:50.820
 of receiving a reward.

00:36:51.079 --> 00:36:52.000
 The second reason

00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:53.360
 why this does not contradict

00:36:53.360 --> 00:36:54.440
 the principle of grace

00:36:54.440 --> 00:36:54.920
 is this,

00:36:54.920 --> 00:36:56.760
 because even our labor

00:36:56.760 --> 00:36:59.079
 is a result of God's grace.

00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:00.280
 For example,

00:37:00.420 --> 00:37:01.980
 Paul says later in this book,

00:37:02.119 --> 00:37:02.860
 1510,

00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:03.940
 Paul writes,

00:37:04.079 --> 00:37:05.079
 I worked harder

00:37:05.079 --> 00:37:06.240
 than any of them

00:37:06.240 --> 00:37:08.180
 though it was not I

00:37:08.180 --> 00:37:10.420
 but the grace of God

00:37:10.420 --> 00:37:11.539
 that is within me.

00:37:12.099 --> 00:37:12.220
 Right?

00:37:13.039 --> 00:37:14.440
 Even the wages

00:37:14.440 --> 00:37:15.539
 and rewards

00:37:15.539 --> 00:37:16.180
 that we receive

00:37:16.180 --> 00:37:16.860
 for our labor

00:37:16.860 --> 00:37:17.680
 are predicated

00:37:17.680 --> 00:37:18.840
 on God's grace

00:37:18.840 --> 00:37:20.420
 not our merit.

00:37:20.840 --> 00:37:21.820
 And because of that,

00:37:22.039 --> 00:37:23.159
 even when we receive

00:37:23.159 --> 00:37:24.320
 a reward for the work

00:37:24.320 --> 00:37:25.260
 that we did,

00:37:25.380 --> 00:37:25.900
 ultimately,

00:37:26.160 --> 00:37:27.380
 we don't deserve the credit

00:37:27.380 --> 00:37:28.760
 and we cannot boast about it.

00:37:28.980 --> 00:37:30.420
 God deserves the glory for it.

00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:32.220
 So it's not incompatible

00:37:32.220 --> 00:37:32.840
 with the doctrine

00:37:32.840 --> 00:37:33.640
 of free grace.

00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:35.740
 But what exactly

00:37:35.740 --> 00:37:36.680
 is the reward

00:37:36.680 --> 00:37:37.720
 that we receive

00:37:37.720 --> 00:37:38.380
 for our work?

00:37:40.800 --> 00:37:42.200
 I don't know

00:37:42.200 --> 00:37:43.400
 what that reward is

00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:44.460
 and I'm glad I don't

00:37:44.460 --> 00:37:44.940
 because that means

00:37:44.940 --> 00:37:45.580
 I can look forward

00:37:45.580 --> 00:37:46.220
 to it all the more,

00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:46.519
 you know,

00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:47.080
 like a gift

00:37:47.080 --> 00:37:48.280
 that you don't know

00:37:48.280 --> 00:37:49.900
 what it's going to be.

00:37:50.460 --> 00:37:50.559
 You know,

00:37:50.660 --> 00:37:53.000
 but the question remains,

00:37:53.120 --> 00:37:53.200
 right,

00:37:53.199 --> 00:37:54.339
 wouldn't all Christians

00:37:54.339 --> 00:37:55.559
 be fully satisfied?

00:37:56.059 --> 00:37:56.279
 I mean,

00:37:56.299 --> 00:37:57.199
 they have God

00:37:57.199 --> 00:37:57.599
 and they're going

00:37:57.599 --> 00:37:58.419
 to be united with Him.

00:37:58.500 --> 00:37:59.199
 So what do you mean

00:37:59.199 --> 00:38:00.519
 the additional rewards

00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:01.779
 and loss?

00:38:02.059 --> 00:38:03.199
 And the Bible

00:38:03.199 --> 00:38:04.819
 doesn't give a specific answer

00:38:04.819 --> 00:38:05.619
 except to teach

00:38:05.619 --> 00:38:06.419
 that there will be

00:38:06.419 --> 00:38:07.219
 some differentiation

00:38:07.219 --> 00:38:07.980
 of reward.

00:38:09.059 --> 00:38:09.819
 But I do think

00:38:09.819 --> 00:38:10.719
 I can say one thing

00:38:10.719 --> 00:38:11.339
 about the nature

00:38:11.339 --> 00:38:11.839
 of the reward

00:38:11.839 --> 00:38:12.619
 and that's this.

00:38:13.299 --> 00:38:13.799
 I don't know

00:38:13.799 --> 00:38:14.839
 what the specific reward is

00:38:14.839 --> 00:38:15.579
 but I do know this

00:38:15.579 --> 00:38:16.359
 is that the labor

00:38:16.359 --> 00:38:17.139
 of love

00:38:17.139 --> 00:38:19.519
 is itself a reward.

00:38:19.859 --> 00:38:19.960
 Right?

00:38:19.960 --> 00:38:21.880
 It's that we all

00:38:21.880 --> 00:38:22.720
 like to serve

00:38:22.720 --> 00:38:24.179
 people that we love.

00:38:24.420 --> 00:38:25.639
 We all like to give

00:38:25.639 --> 00:38:26.340
 to people

00:38:26.340 --> 00:38:27.360
 that we love

00:38:27.360 --> 00:38:28.880
 and that is itself

00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:30.119
 a gift to us,

00:38:30.199 --> 00:38:31.280
 a reward to us

00:38:31.280 --> 00:38:32.139
 to be able to do

00:38:32.139 --> 00:38:32.720
 such a thing.

00:38:32.920 --> 00:38:33.019
 Right?

00:38:33.380 --> 00:38:34.480
 And so think about it

00:38:34.480 --> 00:38:34.820
 this way.

00:38:34.900 --> 00:38:36.099
 Let's use this analogy

00:38:36.099 --> 00:38:36.860
 and elaborate on it

00:38:36.860 --> 00:38:37.179
 a little bit.

00:38:37.260 --> 00:38:37.380
 Right?

00:38:37.440 --> 00:38:38.400
 There are two builders

00:38:38.400 --> 00:38:40.420
 and each was charged

00:38:40.420 --> 00:38:41.260
 with the responsibility

00:38:41.260 --> 00:38:42.659
 of building a house

00:38:42.659 --> 00:38:44.179
 for his beloved father.

00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:45.900
 Now,

00:38:45.980 --> 00:38:47.019
 each had the same

00:38:47.019 --> 00:38:47.579
 starting point.

00:38:47.579 --> 00:38:48.719
 the father had left them

00:38:48.719 --> 00:38:49.739
 this foundation

00:38:49.739 --> 00:38:51.299
 of inestimable value.

00:38:51.799 --> 00:38:52.659
 Infinite value.

00:38:52.860 --> 00:38:55.380
 It will never corrode.

00:38:55.599 --> 00:38:56.219
 It's beautiful.

00:38:56.400 --> 00:38:56.980
 It's eternal.

00:38:57.199 --> 00:38:57.819
 It's glorious.

00:38:58.519 --> 00:39:00.019
 And then one builder

00:39:00.019 --> 00:39:01.480
 built a house on it

00:39:01.480 --> 00:39:02.539
 for his father

00:39:02.539 --> 00:39:04.819
 and if it could be

00:39:04.819 --> 00:39:05.500
 called a house

00:39:05.500 --> 00:39:06.259
 it's shabby

00:39:06.259 --> 00:39:07.480
 and it's made of

00:39:07.480 --> 00:39:08.739
 cheap perishable materials

00:39:08.739 --> 00:39:09.579
 and he took

00:39:10.119 --> 00:39:11.239
 a lot of shortcuts

00:39:11.239 --> 00:39:12.299
 in the building process

00:39:12.299 --> 00:39:12.960
 and it shows.

00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:15.619
 The other builder

00:39:15.619 --> 00:39:16.440
 he built a house

00:39:16.440 --> 00:39:17.059
 for his father

00:39:17.059 --> 00:39:18.099
 he did so

00:39:18.099 --> 00:39:18.559
 with blood,

00:39:18.679 --> 00:39:19.519
 sweat and tears.

00:39:20.320 --> 00:39:21.000
 Even though

00:39:21.000 --> 00:39:21.619
 it was hard

00:39:21.619 --> 00:39:22.400
 he only used

00:39:22.400 --> 00:39:23.059
 costly,

00:39:23.519 --> 00:39:23.980
 beautiful,

00:39:24.239 --> 00:39:24.679
 sturdy,

00:39:24.960 --> 00:39:26.500
 imperishable materials.

00:39:27.000 --> 00:39:27.480
 Many people

00:39:27.480 --> 00:39:28.059
 told him

00:39:28.059 --> 00:39:28.279
 hey,

00:39:28.360 --> 00:39:28.820
 it would be

00:39:28.820 --> 00:39:29.539
 a lot easier

00:39:29.539 --> 00:39:30.440
 if you built it

00:39:30.440 --> 00:39:30.920
 this way.

00:39:31.840 --> 00:39:32.279
 It would be

00:39:32.279 --> 00:39:33.119
 a lot quicker

00:39:33.119 --> 00:39:34.019
 if you built it

00:39:34.019 --> 00:39:34.639
 this way.

00:39:35.519 --> 00:39:36.659
 But he always

00:39:36.659 --> 00:39:37.960
 responded the same way

00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:38.880
 that would not

00:39:38.880 --> 00:39:39.599
 be fitting

00:39:39.599 --> 00:39:41.119
 for so great

00:39:41.119 --> 00:39:41.799
 a foundation

00:39:41.799 --> 00:39:42.659
 which my father

00:39:42.659 --> 00:39:43.199
 left me.

00:39:43.199 --> 00:39:46.339
 you would not

00:39:46.339 --> 00:39:46.939
 be suitable

00:39:46.939 --> 00:39:47.819
 for my dearly

00:39:47.819 --> 00:39:48.659
 beloved father.

00:39:53.219 --> 00:39:54.179
 So he labored

00:39:54.179 --> 00:39:54.519
 on

00:39:54.519 --> 00:39:57.019
 and the day

00:39:57.019 --> 00:39:57.439
 of reckoning

00:39:57.439 --> 00:39:58.319
 came and a fire

00:39:58.319 --> 00:39:59.219
 swept through the town

00:39:59.219 --> 00:40:00.619
 one builder's house

00:40:00.619 --> 00:40:01.539
 was all burned up

00:40:01.539 --> 00:40:03.079
 but the other house

00:40:03.079 --> 00:40:03.659
 remained

00:40:03.659 --> 00:40:05.079
 so that

00:40:05.079 --> 00:40:06.359
 he could present it

00:40:06.359 --> 00:40:07.079
 to his father.

00:40:07.079 --> 00:40:13.380
 The other builder

00:40:13.380 --> 00:40:14.000
 has nothing

00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:14.940
 to show his father.

00:40:17.819 --> 00:40:18.500
 Isn't that

00:40:18.500 --> 00:40:19.360
 in itself

00:40:19.360 --> 00:40:20.019
 a gift?

00:40:20.739 --> 00:40:21.019
 Yes,

00:40:21.119 --> 00:40:22.179
 by God's grace

00:40:22.179 --> 00:40:22.920
 but that you

00:40:22.920 --> 00:40:23.599
 can present

00:40:23.599 --> 00:40:24.279
 something

00:40:24.279 --> 00:40:25.539
 of work

00:40:25.539 --> 00:40:26.099
 that you did

00:40:26.099 --> 00:40:26.500
 yes,

00:40:27.360 --> 00:40:28.059
 you could give it

00:40:28.059 --> 00:40:28.440
 to him,

00:40:28.860 --> 00:40:29.659
 show it to him.

00:40:30.099 --> 00:40:30.440
 Yes,

00:40:30.480 --> 00:40:31.179
 it's all a result

00:40:31.179 --> 00:40:31.559
 of grace

00:40:31.559 --> 00:40:32.299
 but isn't that

00:40:32.299 --> 00:40:32.960
 a reward

00:40:32.960 --> 00:40:34.000
 in itself

00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:34.619
 and don't you

00:40:34.619 --> 00:40:36.119
 desire that reward

00:40:36.119 --> 00:40:37.099
 more than anything

00:40:37.099 --> 00:40:38.059
 else in this world

00:40:38.059 --> 00:40:39.900
 to be able

00:40:39.900 --> 00:40:40.799
 to serve God,

00:40:41.059 --> 00:40:41.960
 to love him,

00:40:42.699 --> 00:40:43.579
 labor for him.

00:40:45.799 --> 00:40:46.319
 Similarly,

00:40:46.480 --> 00:40:47.339
 when our union

00:40:47.339 --> 00:40:47.940
 with God

00:40:47.940 --> 00:40:48.900
 is finally

00:40:48.900 --> 00:40:49.539
 consummated

00:40:49.539 --> 00:40:49.900
 in heaven

00:40:49.900 --> 00:40:50.679
 we will all

00:40:50.679 --> 00:40:51.440
 be fully

00:40:51.440 --> 00:40:52.599
 satisfied in him

00:40:52.599 --> 00:40:53.779
 and we will

00:40:53.779 --> 00:40:54.900
 experience his joy

00:40:54.900 --> 00:40:55.900
 but while some

00:40:55.900 --> 00:40:56.559
 will have nothing

00:40:56.559 --> 00:40:57.400
 to show for their

00:40:57.400 --> 00:40:58.440
 life here on earth

00:40:58.440 --> 00:40:59.460
 others will have

00:40:59.460 --> 00:41:00.420
 the joy and privilege

00:41:00.420 --> 00:41:01.000
 of presenting

00:41:01.000 --> 00:41:01.859
 the fruit

00:41:01.859 --> 00:41:02.859
 of their labor

00:41:02.859 --> 00:41:03.779
 of love to God.

00:41:03.780 --> 00:41:09.940
 some will have

00:41:09.940 --> 00:41:10.660
 because of that

00:41:10.660 --> 00:41:11.680
 the greater capacity

00:41:11.680 --> 00:41:13.240
 to appreciate

00:41:13.240 --> 00:41:14.100
 the love of God

00:41:14.100 --> 00:41:15.100
 and to express

00:41:15.100 --> 00:41:15.900
 his own love

00:41:15.900 --> 00:41:16.460
 for God.

00:41:17.080 --> 00:41:17.800
 That's what we

00:41:17.800 --> 00:41:18.460
 strive for.

00:41:18.760 --> 00:41:19.200
 That's what we

00:41:19.200 --> 00:41:19.900
 labor for.

00:41:25.040 --> 00:41:25.560
 Sorry.

00:41:27.140 --> 00:41:29.220
 And note the

00:41:29.220 --> 00:41:31.720
 timing of this test

00:41:31.719 --> 00:41:34.000
 when all

00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:34.599
 will be revealed

00:41:34.599 --> 00:41:35.359
 is in the future

00:41:35.359 --> 00:41:36.159
 and that's helpful

00:41:36.159 --> 00:41:36.639
 for us

00:41:36.639 --> 00:41:37.639
 because that tells

00:41:37.639 --> 00:41:38.059
 us that we

00:41:38.059 --> 00:41:38.919
 can't be an

00:41:38.919 --> 00:41:39.359
 accurate

00:41:39.359 --> 00:41:41.059
 ultimate judge

00:41:41.059 --> 00:41:42.000
 of all the work

00:41:42.000 --> 00:41:42.739
 that we are doing

00:41:42.739 --> 00:41:43.359
 or even that

00:41:43.359 --> 00:41:44.019
 others are doing

00:41:44.019 --> 00:41:45.159
 until that day.

00:41:45.639 --> 00:41:46.199
 The day

00:41:46.199 --> 00:41:47.199
 that Paul is

00:41:47.199 --> 00:41:47.619
 talking about

00:41:47.619 --> 00:41:48.279
 is shorthand

00:41:48.279 --> 00:41:48.939
 for the judgment

00:41:48.939 --> 00:41:49.159
 day,

00:41:49.219 --> 00:41:50.079
 the day of judgment

00:41:50.079 --> 00:41:51.659
 and that's when

00:41:51.659 --> 00:41:52.279
 the Lord Jesus

00:41:52.279 --> 00:41:52.939
 will be revealed

00:41:52.939 --> 00:41:53.739
 second coming

00:41:53.739 --> 00:41:55.779
 and all the work

00:41:55.779 --> 00:41:56.199
 that we do

00:41:56.199 --> 00:41:56.759
 will be revealed

00:41:56.759 --> 00:41:57.819
 for what it is.

00:41:57.820 --> 00:42:00.500
 But until that

00:42:00.500 --> 00:42:01.039
 day we can't

00:42:01.039 --> 00:42:01.140
 know.

00:42:01.200 --> 00:42:01.780
 It's so easy

00:42:01.780 --> 00:42:02.360
 as Christians

00:42:02.360 --> 00:42:03.920
 to seat ourselves

00:42:03.920 --> 00:42:04.680
 on the judge's

00:42:04.680 --> 00:42:05.960
 bench and then

00:42:05.960 --> 00:42:06.880
 to judge people's

00:42:06.880 --> 00:42:07.900
 ministries and works

00:42:07.900 --> 00:42:08.300
 and say,

00:42:08.559 --> 00:42:08.840
 you know,

00:42:08.920 --> 00:42:09.140
 oh,

00:42:09.280 --> 00:42:10.400
 and then we

00:42:10.400 --> 00:42:11.300
 elevate some

00:42:11.300 --> 00:42:12.539
 Christians and

00:42:12.539 --> 00:42:13.140
 put them on a

00:42:13.140 --> 00:42:13.820
 pedestal and say,

00:42:13.900 --> 00:42:13.980
 oh,

00:42:14.039 --> 00:42:14.200
 wow,

00:42:14.280 --> 00:42:15.140
 that person is

00:42:15.140 --> 00:42:15.600
 doing great

00:42:15.600 --> 00:42:15.940
 ministry.

00:42:16.300 --> 00:42:16.840
 And then other

00:42:16.840 --> 00:42:17.780
 people we relegate

00:42:17.780 --> 00:42:18.519
 to the doghouse

00:42:18.519 --> 00:42:18.840
 and say,

00:42:18.920 --> 00:42:19.160
 oh,

00:42:19.720 --> 00:42:20.820
 that person's

00:42:20.820 --> 00:42:21.260
 ministry is

00:42:21.260 --> 00:42:21.620
 nothing,

00:42:21.740 --> 00:42:21.920
 right?

00:42:22.260 --> 00:42:22.980
 There's nothing

00:42:22.980 --> 00:42:23.820
 valuable there.

00:42:24.320 --> 00:42:25.700
 But because of

00:42:25.700 --> 00:42:25.900
 this,

00:42:25.900 --> 00:42:26.460
 the fact that

00:42:26.460 --> 00:42:27.440
 until that

00:42:27.440 --> 00:42:27.920
 day,

00:42:28.160 --> 00:42:28.800
 the final,

00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.820
 the real nature

00:42:29.820 --> 00:42:30.380
 of the work

00:42:30.380 --> 00:42:30.820
 will not

00:42:30.820 --> 00:42:31.559
 ultimately be

00:42:31.559 --> 00:42:31.980
 revealed.

00:42:32.260 --> 00:42:33.039
 So we need

00:42:33.039 --> 00:42:33.860
 to reserve

00:42:33.860 --> 00:42:34.519
 and withhold

00:42:34.519 --> 00:42:35.480
 final judgment,

00:42:35.639 --> 00:42:36.280
 ultimate judgment

00:42:36.280 --> 00:42:37.460
 until that day.

00:42:37.599 --> 00:42:38.280
 And we should be

00:42:38.280 --> 00:42:39.220
 slow to judge

00:42:39.220 --> 00:42:40.220
 the works of

00:42:40.220 --> 00:42:40.500
 others.

00:42:40.599 --> 00:42:40.960
 We should be

00:42:40.960 --> 00:42:41.579
 slow to judge

00:42:41.579 --> 00:42:42.119
 even our own

00:42:42.119 --> 00:42:42.440
 work.

00:42:43.660 --> 00:42:44.400
 And that doesn't

00:42:44.400 --> 00:42:44.900
 mean that we

00:42:44.900 --> 00:42:45.519
 don't exercise

00:42:45.519 --> 00:42:46.099
 discernment.

00:42:46.200 --> 00:42:46.660
 We do need to

00:42:46.660 --> 00:42:47.079
 make some

00:42:47.079 --> 00:42:47.720
 judgments and

00:42:47.720 --> 00:42:48.539
 we do need

00:42:48.539 --> 00:42:49.180
 to discern,

00:42:49.440 --> 00:42:49.920
 right?

00:42:50.160 --> 00:42:50.619
 However,

00:42:50.880 --> 00:42:51.920
 we should reserve

00:42:51.920 --> 00:42:52.800
 that final judgment

00:42:52.800 --> 00:42:53.220
 and we should be

00:42:53.220 --> 00:42:54.079
 slow to judge

00:42:54.079 --> 00:42:54.760
 other people's

00:42:54.760 --> 00:42:55.000
 work.

00:42:55.900 --> 00:42:57.039
 So then having

00:42:57.039 --> 00:42:57.639
 warned about

00:42:57.639 --> 00:42:58.119
 the day of

00:42:58.119 --> 00:42:58.579
 judgment and

00:42:58.579 --> 00:42:59.260
 having solemnly

00:42:59.260 --> 00:42:59.960
 exhorted people

00:42:59.960 --> 00:43:01.019
 to build well

00:43:01.019 --> 00:43:01.760
 on the foundation

00:43:01.760 --> 00:43:02.559
 of Jesus Christ,

00:43:03.160 --> 00:43:04.059
 Paul takes it

00:43:04.059 --> 00:43:04.579
 up a notch

00:43:04.579 --> 00:43:05.099
 again,

00:43:05.260 --> 00:43:06.139
 verses 16

00:43:06.139 --> 00:43:06.860
 to 17,

00:43:07.000 --> 00:43:07.960
 and intensifies

00:43:07.960 --> 00:43:08.539
 his warning

00:43:08.539 --> 00:43:10.000
 by reiterating

00:43:10.000 --> 00:43:11.099
 just how important

00:43:11.099 --> 00:43:11.740
 this building

00:43:11.740 --> 00:43:12.559
 project is.

00:43:13.280 --> 00:43:14.079
 Do you not

00:43:14.079 --> 00:43:16.139
 know that you

00:43:16.139 --> 00:43:16.720
 are God's

00:43:16.720 --> 00:43:18.260
 temple and

00:43:18.260 --> 00:43:18.940
 that God's

00:43:18.940 --> 00:43:19.880
 spirit dwells

00:43:19.880 --> 00:43:20.180
 in you?

00:43:20.720 --> 00:43:21.579
 If anyone

00:43:21.579 --> 00:43:22.780
 destroys God's

00:43:22.780 --> 00:43:23.039
 temple,

00:43:23.220 --> 00:43:23.740
 God will

00:43:23.740 --> 00:43:24.619
 destroy him.

00:43:24.619 --> 00:43:25.619
 For God's

00:43:25.619 --> 00:43:26.099
 temple is

00:43:26.099 --> 00:43:26.960
 holy and

00:43:26.960 --> 00:43:27.779
 you are

00:43:27.779 --> 00:43:28.759
 the temple.

00:43:29.239 --> 00:43:29.900
 So here he

00:43:29.900 --> 00:43:30.839
 tells us exactly

00:43:30.839 --> 00:43:31.539
 what building

00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:32.199
 project we're

00:43:32.199 --> 00:43:32.699
 involved in.

00:43:32.759 --> 00:43:33.159
 It's not just

00:43:33.159 --> 00:43:33.699
 some random

00:43:33.699 --> 00:43:34.139
 building,

00:43:34.239 --> 00:43:34.599
 it's the

00:43:34.599 --> 00:43:35.219
 temple of

00:43:35.219 --> 00:43:35.559
 God.

00:43:36.599 --> 00:43:37.380
 And he

00:43:37.380 --> 00:43:38.079
 says that's

00:43:38.079 --> 00:43:38.420
 the reason

00:43:38.420 --> 00:43:38.819
 why we need

00:43:38.819 --> 00:43:39.179
 to build

00:43:39.179 --> 00:43:39.839
 with imperishable

00:43:39.839 --> 00:43:40.359
 materials like

00:43:40.359 --> 00:43:40.599
 gold,

00:43:40.719 --> 00:43:40.859
 silver,

00:43:40.940 --> 00:43:41.199
 and precious

00:43:41.199 --> 00:43:41.679
 stones.

00:43:42.079 --> 00:43:42.299
 Gold,

00:43:42.460 --> 00:43:42.599
 silver,

00:43:42.679 --> 00:43:42.920
 and precious

00:43:42.920 --> 00:43:43.639
 stones are

00:43:43.639 --> 00:43:44.219
 the materials

00:43:44.219 --> 00:43:44.559
 that are

00:43:44.559 --> 00:43:45.460
 regularly used

00:43:45.460 --> 00:43:46.000
 throughout the

00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:46.539
 Old Testament

00:43:46.539 --> 00:43:47.460
 to build

00:43:47.460 --> 00:43:47.960
 the temple

00:43:47.960 --> 00:43:48.380
 of God.

00:43:48.460 --> 00:43:48.819
 So again,

00:43:49.000 --> 00:43:49.659
 that's another

00:43:49.659 --> 00:43:50.159
 reason why

00:43:50.159 --> 00:43:51.359
 those specific

00:43:51.359 --> 00:43:51.940
 materials are

00:43:51.940 --> 00:43:52.440
 mentioned here

00:43:52.440 --> 00:43:52.900
 by Paul.

00:43:53.720 --> 00:43:54.460
 And what

00:43:54.460 --> 00:43:54.960
 is this

00:43:54.960 --> 00:43:55.260
 temple?

00:43:55.679 --> 00:43:55.940
 Rather,

00:43:56.039 --> 00:43:56.700
 who is this

00:43:56.700 --> 00:43:56.980
 temple?

00:43:57.099 --> 00:43:57.440
 It's the

00:43:57.440 --> 00:43:57.840
 church.

00:43:58.019 --> 00:43:58.679
 It's you.

00:43:59.119 --> 00:43:59.579
 It's all

00:43:59.579 --> 00:44:00.179
 of us.

00:44:01.139 --> 00:44:01.320
 He said,

00:44:01.380 --> 00:44:01.880
 do you not

00:44:01.880 --> 00:44:02.179
 know?

00:44:02.260 --> 00:44:02.780
 He's basically,

00:44:02.900 --> 00:44:03.320
 this is what

00:44:03.320 --> 00:44:03.720
 God's saying,

00:44:03.780 --> 00:44:04.340
 do you not

00:44:04.340 --> 00:44:05.019
 know how

00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.920
 precious you

00:44:05.920 --> 00:44:06.420
 are?

00:44:06.980 --> 00:44:07.820
 Do you not

00:44:07.820 --> 00:44:08.500
 know that you

00:44:08.500 --> 00:44:09.260
 are God's

00:44:09.260 --> 00:44:09.679
 temple,

00:44:10.019 --> 00:44:10.880
 that God's

00:44:10.880 --> 00:44:11.940
 spirit dwells

00:44:11.940 --> 00:44:12.380
 in you?

00:44:12.619 --> 00:44:13.360
 If anyone

00:44:13.360 --> 00:44:14.559
 destroys God's

00:44:14.559 --> 00:44:14.800
 temple,

00:44:14.940 --> 00:44:15.440
 God will

00:44:15.440 --> 00:44:16.360
 destroy him.

00:44:16.619 --> 00:44:17.320
 For God's

00:44:17.320 --> 00:44:17.720
 temple is

00:44:17.720 --> 00:44:18.480
 holy and you

00:44:18.480 --> 00:44:19.559
 are that

00:44:19.559 --> 00:44:20.000
 temple.

00:44:20.000 --> 00:44:20.739
 Paul is

00:44:20.739 --> 00:44:21.280
 taking things

00:44:21.280 --> 00:44:21.820
 one step

00:44:21.820 --> 00:44:22.420
 further here.

00:44:22.519 --> 00:44:22.780
 Earlier,

00:44:22.880 --> 00:44:23.199
 he talked

00:44:23.199 --> 00:44:24.119
 about builders

00:44:24.119 --> 00:44:24.420
 who are

00:44:24.420 --> 00:44:25.159
 building with

00:44:25.159 --> 00:44:27.019
 cheap materials,

00:44:27.159 --> 00:44:28.159
 perishable materials,

00:44:28.739 --> 00:44:30.179
 but their work

00:44:30.179 --> 00:44:30.780
 will not last,

00:44:30.840 --> 00:44:31.260
 but they're still

00:44:31.260 --> 00:44:31.539
 going to be

00:44:31.539 --> 00:44:31.739
 saved.

00:44:31.940 --> 00:44:32.260
 He's not

00:44:32.260 --> 00:44:32.719
 talking about

00:44:32.719 --> 00:44:33.199
 here people

00:44:33.199 --> 00:44:33.519
 who are

00:44:33.519 --> 00:44:34.420
 building poorly.

00:44:34.699 --> 00:44:35.320
 He's talking

00:44:35.320 --> 00:44:35.880
 here now about

00:44:35.880 --> 00:44:36.480
 people who are

00:44:36.480 --> 00:44:37.719
 destroying the

00:44:37.719 --> 00:44:38.119
 building,

00:44:38.559 --> 00:44:39.260
 destroying the

00:44:39.260 --> 00:44:39.440
 church.

00:44:39.500 --> 00:44:39.860
 He's taking

00:44:39.860 --> 00:44:40.579
 it up a notch.

00:44:41.019 --> 00:44:41.340
 And he's

00:44:41.340 --> 00:44:42.460
 warning the

00:44:42.460 --> 00:44:42.719
 Corinthian

00:44:42.719 --> 00:44:42.860
 business,

00:44:42.940 --> 00:44:43.440
 if you keep

00:44:43.440 --> 00:44:44.000
 doing what

00:44:44.000 --> 00:44:44.559
 you're doing,

00:44:44.800 --> 00:44:45.519
 building on

00:44:45.519 --> 00:44:46.380
 worldly wisdom

00:44:46.380 --> 00:44:47.440
 and leading the

00:44:47.440 --> 00:44:47.780
 church to

00:44:47.780 --> 00:44:48.199
 division,

00:44:48.519 --> 00:44:49.460
 you're destroying

00:44:49.460 --> 00:44:50.079
 the church.

00:44:50.340 --> 00:44:50.920
 And here's a

00:44:50.920 --> 00:44:51.340
 warning for

00:44:51.340 --> 00:44:51.760
 people who

00:44:51.760 --> 00:44:52.360
 destroy the

00:44:52.360 --> 00:44:52.599
 church.

00:44:52.960 --> 00:44:53.619
 God will

00:44:53.619 --> 00:44:55.260
 himself destroy

00:44:55.260 --> 00:44:56.179
 you.

00:44:56.500 --> 00:44:56.940
 Do you notice

00:44:56.940 --> 00:44:57.960
 that eye for

00:44:57.960 --> 00:44:58.760
 eye, tooth for

00:44:58.760 --> 00:44:58.960
 tooth?

00:44:59.159 --> 00:45:00.780
 The punishment

00:45:00.780 --> 00:45:02.139
 fits the crime

00:45:02.139 --> 00:45:02.380
 here.

00:45:02.760 --> 00:45:03.599
 They destroy

00:45:03.599 --> 00:45:04.500
 God's church

00:45:04.500 --> 00:45:05.320
 and God will

00:45:05.320 --> 00:45:06.740
 himself destroy

00:45:06.740 --> 00:45:07.579
 them.

00:45:08.539 --> 00:45:09.519
 This passage

00:45:09.519 --> 00:45:10.260
 does apply

00:45:10.260 --> 00:45:10.800
 generally to

00:45:10.800 --> 00:45:11.440
 all Christians

00:45:11.440 --> 00:45:12.220
 since we all

00:45:12.220 --> 00:45:12.720
 minister in

00:45:12.720 --> 00:45:13.199
 some form,

00:45:13.260 --> 00:45:13.559
 but I do

00:45:13.559 --> 00:45:13.960
 think there's

00:45:13.960 --> 00:45:14.320
 a special

00:45:14.320 --> 00:45:15.039
 relevance here

00:45:15.039 --> 00:45:15.940
 for the

00:45:15.940 --> 00:45:16.480
 leaders of

00:45:16.480 --> 00:45:16.880
 the church

00:45:16.880 --> 00:45:17.159
 that are

00:45:17.159 --> 00:45:17.720
 entrusted

00:45:17.719 --> 00:45:18.719
 with

00:45:18.719 --> 00:45:19.500
 shepherding

00:45:19.500 --> 00:45:19.859
 the flock

00:45:19.859 --> 00:45:20.299
 of God.

00:45:21.579 --> 00:45:22.179
 And this

00:45:22.179 --> 00:45:23.239
 means that

00:45:23.239 --> 00:45:23.899
 ministers of

00:45:23.899 --> 00:45:24.419
 the church

00:45:24.419 --> 00:45:24.699
 of God

00:45:24.699 --> 00:45:25.219
 should serve

00:45:25.219 --> 00:45:25.759
 with fear

00:45:25.759 --> 00:45:26.359
 and trembling,

00:45:27.319 --> 00:45:27.579
 right?

00:45:27.639 --> 00:45:28.439
 Because the

00:45:28.439 --> 00:45:28.799
 church that

00:45:28.799 --> 00:45:29.179
 they serve

00:45:29.179 --> 00:45:29.980
 is God's

00:45:29.980 --> 00:45:30.519
 temple,

00:45:30.980 --> 00:45:31.259
 indwelled

00:45:31.259 --> 00:45:32.059
 by God's

00:45:32.059 --> 00:45:32.639
 spirit.

00:45:32.719 --> 00:45:33.039
 And that's

00:45:33.039 --> 00:45:33.599
 why in

00:45:33.599 --> 00:45:34.179
 James 3,

00:45:34.259 --> 00:45:34.480
 1,

00:45:34.559 --> 00:45:34.959
 the apostle

00:45:34.959 --> 00:45:35.779
 warns us,

00:45:36.099 --> 00:45:36.659
 not many

00:45:36.659 --> 00:45:37.079
 of you

00:45:37.079 --> 00:45:37.779
 should become

00:45:37.779 --> 00:45:38.339
 teachers,

00:45:38.480 --> 00:45:38.959
 my brothers,

00:45:39.439 --> 00:45:39.839
 for you

00:45:39.839 --> 00:45:40.559
 know that

00:45:40.559 --> 00:45:41.119
 we who

00:45:41.119 --> 00:45:41.959
 teach will

00:45:41.959 --> 00:45:42.559
 be judged

00:45:42.559 --> 00:45:43.379
 with greater

00:45:43.379 --> 00:45:44.279
 strictness.

00:45:45.279 --> 00:45:45.399
 Right?

00:45:45.919 --> 00:45:46.500
 There's a

00:45:46.500 --> 00:45:47.139
 saying among

00:45:47.139 --> 00:45:47.639
 pastors,

00:45:47.940 --> 00:45:50.440
 don't complain

00:45:50.440 --> 00:45:51.019
 that your

00:45:51.019 --> 00:45:51.719
 church is

00:45:51.719 --> 00:45:52.299
 too small

00:45:52.299 --> 00:45:53.599
 because when

00:45:53.599 --> 00:45:54.099
 you stand

00:45:54.099 --> 00:45:55.099
 before God's

00:45:55.099 --> 00:45:55.779
 judgment seat

00:45:55.779 --> 00:45:56.279
 and you have

00:45:56.279 --> 00:45:56.679
 to give an

00:45:56.679 --> 00:45:57.279
 account for

00:45:57.279 --> 00:45:58.000
 each of the

00:45:58.000 --> 00:45:58.519
 members of

00:45:58.519 --> 00:45:59.000
 the church,

00:45:59.460 --> 00:46:00.159
 it will seem

00:46:00.159 --> 00:46:00.559
 to you that

00:46:00.559 --> 00:46:00.980
 your church

00:46:00.980 --> 00:46:01.599
 was plenty

00:46:01.599 --> 00:46:02.179
 big enough.

00:46:04.440 --> 00:46:04.920
 Right?

00:46:07.980 --> 00:46:08.639
 And for

00:46:08.639 --> 00:46:09.299
 those of you

00:46:09.299 --> 00:46:09.920
 who are not

00:46:09.920 --> 00:46:10.460
 vocational

00:46:10.460 --> 00:46:10.859
 ministers,

00:46:11.199 --> 00:46:11.659
 I hope you

00:46:11.659 --> 00:46:12.500
 feel the

00:46:12.500 --> 00:46:13.319
 depth of

00:46:13.319 --> 00:46:14.319
 God's love

00:46:14.319 --> 00:46:14.900
 for you in

00:46:14.900 --> 00:46:15.480
 this passage.

00:46:16.039 --> 00:46:16.139
 Right?

00:46:16.139 --> 00:46:17.699
 notice how

00:46:17.699 --> 00:46:18.440
 repeatedly

00:46:18.440 --> 00:46:20.279
 and persistently

00:46:20.279 --> 00:46:22.000
 God insists

00:46:22.000 --> 00:46:22.559
 that you

00:46:22.559 --> 00:46:23.659
 belong to

00:46:23.659 --> 00:46:24.339
 him

00:46:24.339 --> 00:46:25.079
 and to

00:46:25.079 --> 00:46:25.599
 no one

00:46:25.599 --> 00:46:26.119
 else.

00:46:27.659 --> 00:46:28.219
 Paul,

00:46:28.339 --> 00:46:28.819
 even Paul,

00:46:28.940 --> 00:46:29.579
 arguably the

00:46:29.579 --> 00:46:30.359
 greatest apostle

00:46:30.359 --> 00:46:30.900
 and minister

00:46:30.900 --> 00:46:31.420
 to ever

00:46:31.420 --> 00:46:31.900
 live,

00:46:32.739 --> 00:46:33.539
 God tells him

00:46:33.539 --> 00:46:34.359
 church is not

00:46:34.359 --> 00:46:35.019
 yours,

00:46:35.259 --> 00:46:36.019
 it's mine.

00:46:36.900 --> 00:46:37.539
 Apollos,

00:46:37.639 --> 00:46:38.119
 God says it's

00:46:38.119 --> 00:46:38.859
 not your

00:46:38.859 --> 00:46:39.319
 church,

00:46:39.400 --> 00:46:39.859
 it's my

00:46:39.859 --> 00:46:40.339
 church.

00:46:40.340 --> 00:46:42.360
 you are

00:46:42.360 --> 00:46:43.079
 God's

00:46:43.079 --> 00:46:43.559
 field,

00:46:43.900 --> 00:46:44.200
 you are

00:46:44.200 --> 00:46:44.900
 God's

00:46:44.900 --> 00:46:45.280
 temple.

00:46:45.700 --> 00:46:46.200
 Verse 17

00:46:46.200 --> 00:46:46.400
 says,

00:46:46.480 --> 00:46:46.940
 if anyone

00:46:46.940 --> 00:46:47.880
 destroys God's

00:46:47.880 --> 00:46:48.100
 temple,

00:46:48.240 --> 00:46:48.720
 God will

00:46:48.720 --> 00:46:49.380
 destroy him,

00:46:49.579 --> 00:46:50.079
 for God's

00:46:50.079 --> 00:46:50.700
 temple is

00:46:50.700 --> 00:46:51.220
 holy,

00:46:51.559 --> 00:46:52.059
 and you

00:46:52.059 --> 00:46:52.519
 are that

00:46:52.519 --> 00:46:52.920
 temple,

00:46:53.100 --> 00:46:54.240
 holy meaning

00:46:54.240 --> 00:46:55.360
 set apart

00:46:55.360 --> 00:46:56.559
 for God,

00:46:56.860 --> 00:46:57.740
 consecrated

00:46:57.740 --> 00:46:59.000
 to him.

00:46:59.400 --> 00:46:59.500
 Right?

00:46:59.640 --> 00:47:00.320
 Through this

00:47:00.320 --> 00:47:00.960
 passage over

00:47:00.960 --> 00:47:01.480
 and over again,

00:47:01.519 --> 00:47:02.079
 God says,

00:47:02.280 --> 00:47:02.640
 mine,

00:47:02.900 --> 00:47:03.600
 mine,

00:47:03.800 --> 00:47:04.440
 mine,

00:47:04.539 --> 00:47:05.300
 my church,

00:47:05.420 --> 00:47:06.100
 you belong

00:47:06.100 --> 00:47:06.800
 to me.

00:47:07.560 --> 00:47:07.920
 Do you

00:47:07.920 --> 00:47:08.880
 feel God's

00:47:08.880 --> 00:47:09.519
 zeal for

00:47:09.519 --> 00:47:09.660
 you,

00:47:09.720 --> 00:47:10.280
 his love

00:47:10.280 --> 00:47:10.860
 for you,

00:47:11.180 --> 00:47:12.019
 his jealousy

00:47:12.019 --> 00:47:12.580
 for you?

00:47:14.060 --> 00:47:14.940
 If only we

00:47:14.940 --> 00:47:15.600
 knew that

00:47:15.600 --> 00:47:16.080
 love,

00:47:16.400 --> 00:47:16.660
 it would

00:47:16.660 --> 00:47:17.420
 totally change

00:47:17.420 --> 00:47:17.860
 the way we

00:47:17.860 --> 00:47:18.280
 think about

00:47:18.280 --> 00:47:18.680
 church and

00:47:18.680 --> 00:47:18.940
 the way we

00:47:18.940 --> 00:47:19.280
 live.

00:47:21.220 --> 00:47:21.880
 And after

00:47:21.880 --> 00:47:22.519
 teaching that

00:47:22.519 --> 00:47:23.019
 the church is

00:47:23.019 --> 00:47:23.860
 really God's

00:47:23.860 --> 00:47:24.300
 field and

00:47:24.300 --> 00:47:25.140
 God's temple,

00:47:25.280 --> 00:47:25.840
 Apostle Paul

00:47:25.840 --> 00:47:26.580
 wraps everything

00:47:26.580 --> 00:47:27.280
 up nicely in

00:47:27.280 --> 00:47:28.039
 verses 18 to

00:47:28.039 --> 00:47:28.480
 23.

00:47:29.120 --> 00:47:29.600
 So remember

00:47:29.600 --> 00:47:30.620
 there were two

00:47:30.620 --> 00:47:31.300
 main problems

00:47:31.300 --> 00:47:31.580
 with the

00:47:31.580 --> 00:47:32.180
 Corinthian church.

00:47:32.500 --> 00:47:32.720
 They were

00:47:32.720 --> 00:47:33.539
 pursuing worldly

00:47:33.539 --> 00:47:34.080
 wisdom instead

00:47:34.080 --> 00:47:34.620
 of the gospel,

00:47:34.840 --> 00:47:35.120
 that was the

00:47:35.120 --> 00:47:35.640
 first problem,

00:47:35.860 --> 00:47:36.280
 and the second

00:47:36.280 --> 00:47:36.780
 problem is that

00:47:36.780 --> 00:47:37.640
 as a result

00:47:37.640 --> 00:47:38.080
 of that,

00:47:38.160 --> 00:47:38.420
 they were

00:47:38.420 --> 00:47:39.360
 producing

00:47:39.360 --> 00:47:40.180
 divisions and

00:47:40.180 --> 00:47:40.760
 factions in

00:47:40.760 --> 00:47:41.100
 the church.

00:47:41.420 --> 00:47:41.980
 So he addresses

00:47:41.980 --> 00:47:42.640
 both of those

00:47:42.640 --> 00:47:43.519
 two things in

00:47:43.519 --> 00:47:43.800
 turn.

00:47:44.320 --> 00:47:45.700
 In two parallel

00:47:45.700 --> 00:47:46.080
 phrases,

00:47:46.220 --> 00:47:46.940
 in verse 18,

00:47:47.060 --> 00:47:47.280
 it says,

00:47:47.500 --> 00:47:48.000
 let no one

00:47:48.000 --> 00:47:48.860
 deceive himself,

00:47:48.960 --> 00:47:49.220
 and then he

00:47:49.220 --> 00:47:49.580
 talks about

00:47:49.580 --> 00:47:50.220
 worldly wisdom.

00:47:50.680 --> 00:47:51.200
 And then in

00:47:51.200 --> 00:47:51.900
 verse 21,

00:47:52.019 --> 00:47:52.200
 he said,

00:47:52.280 --> 00:47:52.760
 let no one

00:47:52.760 --> 00:47:53.660
 boast in men.

00:47:53.720 --> 00:47:54.160
 So he's kind

00:47:54.160 --> 00:47:54.840
 of summarizing

00:47:54.840 --> 00:47:55.720
 all his arguments

00:47:55.720 --> 00:47:56.720
 over the last

00:47:56.720 --> 00:47:57.460
 few chapters

00:47:57.460 --> 00:47:58.940
 by rebuking

00:47:58.940 --> 00:47:59.800
 their pursuit

00:47:59.800 --> 00:48:00.180
 of worldly

00:48:00.180 --> 00:48:00.720
 wisdom and

00:48:00.720 --> 00:48:01.060
 divisions.

00:48:01.540 --> 00:48:02.060
 So first,

00:48:02.160 --> 00:48:02.600
 he rebukes

00:48:02.600 --> 00:48:03.019
 their pursuit

00:48:03.019 --> 00:48:03.400
 of worldly

00:48:03.400 --> 00:48:03.940
 wisdom in

00:48:03.940 --> 00:48:04.800
 verses 18 to

00:48:04.800 --> 00:48:05.140
 20.

00:48:05.560 --> 00:48:06.180
 Let no one

00:48:06.179 --> 00:48:07.000
 deceive himself.

00:48:07.259 --> 00:48:07.819
 If anyone

00:48:07.819 --> 00:48:08.359
 among you

00:48:08.359 --> 00:48:08.879
 thinks that he

00:48:08.879 --> 00:48:09.639
 is wise in

00:48:09.639 --> 00:48:10.059
 this age,

00:48:10.139 --> 00:48:10.699
 let him become

00:48:10.699 --> 00:48:11.379
 a fool that

00:48:11.379 --> 00:48:12.039
 he may become

00:48:12.039 --> 00:48:12.440
 wise,

00:48:12.559 --> 00:48:13.239
 for the wisdom

00:48:13.239 --> 00:48:14.079
 of this world

00:48:14.079 --> 00:48:16.119
 is folly with

00:48:16.119 --> 00:48:16.399
 God.

00:48:16.519 --> 00:48:17.059
 For it is written,

00:48:17.159 --> 00:48:17.899
 he catches the

00:48:17.899 --> 00:48:18.440
 wise in their

00:48:18.440 --> 00:48:18.980
 craftiness.

00:48:19.099 --> 00:48:19.419
 And again,

00:48:19.500 --> 00:48:20.259
 the Lord knows

00:48:20.259 --> 00:48:20.919
 the thoughts of

00:48:20.919 --> 00:48:21.359
 the wise,

00:48:21.419 --> 00:48:21.799
 that they are

00:48:21.799 --> 00:48:22.419
 futile.

00:48:23.199 --> 00:48:23.919
 Paul's citing

00:48:23.919 --> 00:48:24.519
 two different

00:48:24.519 --> 00:48:25.079
 Old Testament

00:48:25.079 --> 00:48:25.559
 verses,

00:48:26.000 --> 00:48:27.239
 Job 5.13 and

00:48:27.239 --> 00:48:28.379
 Psalm 94.11,

00:48:28.500 --> 00:48:29.279
 both of which

00:48:29.279 --> 00:48:29.899
 mention the

00:48:29.899 --> 00:48:30.739
 wisdom of God.

00:48:31.339 --> 00:48:32.159
 And so he's

00:48:32.159 --> 00:48:32.699
 saying this,

00:48:32.699 --> 00:48:33.379
 God catches

00:48:33.379 --> 00:48:34.079
 the wise in

00:48:34.079 --> 00:48:34.739
 their craftiness.

00:48:35.159 --> 00:48:35.679
 So if you

00:48:35.679 --> 00:48:36.279
 think that you

00:48:36.279 --> 00:48:36.960
 have life

00:48:36.960 --> 00:48:37.699
 figured out

00:48:37.699 --> 00:48:38.799
 apart from

00:48:38.799 --> 00:48:39.919
 Christ,

00:48:40.039 --> 00:48:40.719
 think again.

00:48:41.279 --> 00:48:41.939
 If you think

00:48:41.939 --> 00:48:42.419
 that you have

00:48:42.419 --> 00:48:42.980
 the way this

00:48:42.980 --> 00:48:43.819
 world operates

00:48:43.819 --> 00:48:44.379
 figured out

00:48:44.379 --> 00:48:45.179
 apart from

00:48:45.179 --> 00:48:45.719
 Christ,

00:48:45.919 --> 00:48:46.539
 then think

00:48:46.539 --> 00:48:47.279
 again because

00:48:47.279 --> 00:48:48.379
 the wisdom

00:48:48.379 --> 00:48:49.079
 of this world

00:48:49.079 --> 00:48:49.879
 is folly

00:48:49.879 --> 00:48:50.980
 with God.

00:48:51.659 --> 00:48:52.159
 And if you're

00:48:52.159 --> 00:48:53.199
 not a follower

00:48:53.199 --> 00:48:53.980
 of Jesus,

00:48:54.279 --> 00:48:54.759
 yet then I

00:48:54.759 --> 00:48:55.359
 may appeal

00:48:55.359 --> 00:48:55.899
 to you to

00:48:55.899 --> 00:48:56.500
 consider the

00:48:56.500 --> 00:48:57.239
 foolishness of

00:48:57.239 --> 00:48:58.319
 Christ crucified

00:48:58.319 --> 00:48:59.000
 this morning.

00:48:59.299 --> 00:48:59.739
 Because if you

00:48:59.739 --> 00:49:00.579
 don't face up

00:49:00.579 --> 00:49:01.059
 to Christ

00:49:01.059 --> 00:49:01.519
 and his

00:49:01.519 --> 00:49:02.819
 claim that

00:49:02.819 --> 00:49:03.400
 he is the

00:49:03.400 --> 00:49:03.980
 king who

00:49:03.980 --> 00:49:04.519
 came to

00:49:04.519 --> 00:49:05.179
 save us,

00:49:05.440 --> 00:49:05.940
 who ascended

00:49:05.940 --> 00:49:06.759
 the cross,

00:49:07.019 --> 00:49:07.480
 which is the

00:49:07.480 --> 00:49:08.119
 ancient equivalent

00:49:08.119 --> 00:49:09.059
 of an executioner's

00:49:09.059 --> 00:49:09.299
 chair,

00:49:09.380 --> 00:49:10.179
 as his own

00:49:10.179 --> 00:49:10.679
 throne,

00:49:10.960 --> 00:49:11.639
 and for his

00:49:11.639 --> 00:49:12.279
 crown were

00:49:12.279 --> 00:49:12.779
 the crown of

00:49:12.779 --> 00:49:13.159
 thorns,

00:49:13.420 --> 00:49:13.819
 so he could

00:49:13.819 --> 00:49:14.679
 die a sinner's

00:49:14.679 --> 00:49:15.340
 death in your

00:49:15.340 --> 00:49:16.539
 place to save

00:49:16.539 --> 00:49:17.039
 you if you

00:49:17.039 --> 00:49:18.159
 ignore this

00:49:18.159 --> 00:49:18.980
 Christ in your

00:49:18.980 --> 00:49:19.440
 life,

00:49:19.579 --> 00:49:20.239
 it doesn't

00:49:20.239 --> 00:49:21.920
 matter how

00:49:21.920 --> 00:49:22.779
 successful you

00:49:22.779 --> 00:49:23.139
 are,

00:49:23.980 --> 00:49:25.380
 how wealthy

00:49:25.380 --> 00:49:25.920
 you get,

00:49:26.259 --> 00:49:26.880
 or how well

00:49:26.880 --> 00:49:27.659
 regarded and

00:49:27.659 --> 00:49:28.539
 wise you seem

00:49:28.539 --> 00:49:29.400
 to appear in

00:49:29.400 --> 00:49:29.900
 the eyes of

00:49:29.900 --> 00:49:30.480
 this world.

00:49:30.579 --> 00:49:32.500
 God catches

00:49:32.500 --> 00:49:33.380
 the wise in

00:49:33.380 --> 00:49:34.219
 their craftiness,

00:49:34.559 --> 00:49:35.159
 your own

00:49:35.159 --> 00:49:36.119
 resourcefulness,

00:49:36.679 --> 00:49:37.259
 intelligence,

00:49:37.779 --> 00:49:38.380
 accomplishments,

00:49:38.719 --> 00:49:39.340
 and diligence

00:49:39.340 --> 00:49:39.960
 will be your

00:49:39.960 --> 00:49:40.739
 own undoing.

00:49:42.099 --> 00:49:42.900
 You need the

00:49:42.900 --> 00:49:43.400
 Lord Jesus

00:49:43.400 --> 00:49:43.920
 Christ.

00:49:44.420 --> 00:49:45.259
 It's only in

00:49:45.259 --> 00:49:45.980
 the kingdom of

00:49:45.980 --> 00:49:46.519
 God where

00:49:46.519 --> 00:49:47.219
 wisdom of the

00:49:47.219 --> 00:49:47.619
 world is

00:49:47.619 --> 00:49:48.039
 folly,

00:49:48.079 --> 00:49:48.279
 and the

00:49:48.279 --> 00:49:48.599
 folly of

00:49:48.599 --> 00:49:48.960
 the cross

00:49:48.960 --> 00:49:49.539
 is wisdom,

00:49:49.860 --> 00:49:50.460
 only in the

00:49:50.460 --> 00:49:50.840
 kingdom of

00:49:50.840 --> 00:49:51.259
 God where

00:49:51.259 --> 00:49:52.059
 weakness and

00:49:52.059 --> 00:49:53.059
 humility are

00:49:53.059 --> 00:49:53.559
 power,

00:49:53.960 --> 00:49:54.360
 only in the

00:49:54.360 --> 00:49:54.719
 kingdom of

00:49:54.719 --> 00:49:55.380
 God where

00:49:55.380 --> 00:49:56.400
 children of

00:49:56.400 --> 00:49:57.000
 God who are

00:49:57.000 --> 00:49:57.900
 nobodies possess

00:49:57.900 --> 00:49:58.639
 everything.

00:49:58.639 --> 00:50:02.379
 only in

00:50:02.379 --> 00:50:02.879
 that upside

00:50:02.879 --> 00:50:03.659
 down kingdom

00:50:03.659 --> 00:50:04.079
 can you

00:50:04.079 --> 00:50:04.859
 truly find

00:50:04.859 --> 00:50:05.420
 the power

00:50:05.420 --> 00:50:05.900
 and wisdom

00:50:05.900 --> 00:50:06.480
 you seek.

00:50:07.920 --> 00:50:08.619
 And if you

00:50:08.619 --> 00:50:09.159
 are already a

00:50:09.159 --> 00:50:09.519
 follower of

00:50:09.519 --> 00:50:10.099
 Jesus Christ,

00:50:10.199 --> 00:50:10.739
 be reminded

00:50:10.739 --> 00:50:11.219
 this morning

00:50:11.219 --> 00:50:11.639
 that the

00:50:11.639 --> 00:50:12.440
 church that

00:50:12.440 --> 00:50:13.179
 belongs to

00:50:13.179 --> 00:50:13.779
 God should

00:50:13.779 --> 00:50:14.440
 not boast

00:50:14.440 --> 00:50:14.920
 in men.

00:50:15.980 --> 00:50:16.879
 Verses 21

00:50:16.879 --> 00:50:17.339
 to 23,

00:50:17.340 --> 00:50:17.740
 so let

00:50:17.740 --> 00:50:18.240
 no one

00:50:18.240 --> 00:50:18.740
 boast in

00:50:18.740 --> 00:50:18.900
 men,

00:50:18.980 --> 00:50:19.579
 for all

00:50:19.579 --> 00:50:20.360
 things are

00:50:20.360 --> 00:50:20.880
 yours,

00:50:21.079 --> 00:50:22.019
 whether Paul

00:50:22.019 --> 00:50:22.720
 or Apollos

00:50:22.720 --> 00:50:23.340
 or Cephas

00:50:23.340 --> 00:50:23.680
 or the

00:50:23.680 --> 00:50:24.300
 world or

00:50:24.300 --> 00:50:25.240
 life or

00:50:25.240 --> 00:50:26.240
 death or

00:50:26.240 --> 00:50:26.780
 death or

00:50:26.780 --> 00:50:27.220
 the present

00:50:27.220 --> 00:50:27.519
 or the

00:50:27.519 --> 00:50:27.820
 future,

00:50:28.019 --> 00:50:28.660
 all are

00:50:28.660 --> 00:50:29.220
 yours and

00:50:29.220 --> 00:50:29.600
 you are

00:50:29.600 --> 00:50:30.320
 Christ's and

00:50:30.320 --> 00:50:31.559
 Christ is

00:50:31.559 --> 00:50:32.519
 God's.

00:50:33.140 --> 00:50:33.760
 The five

00:50:33.760 --> 00:50:34.200
 things that

00:50:34.200 --> 00:50:34.760
 Paul lists

00:50:34.760 --> 00:50:34.920
 there,

00:50:35.079 --> 00:50:35.760
 what we

00:50:35.760 --> 00:50:36.160
 might call

00:50:36.160 --> 00:50:36.620
 the five

00:50:36.620 --> 00:50:37.740
 tyrannies of

00:50:37.740 --> 00:50:38.320
 this world,

00:50:38.860 --> 00:50:39.019
 right?

00:50:39.140 --> 00:50:39.440
 Life,

00:50:39.620 --> 00:50:39.940
 death,

00:50:40.260 --> 00:50:40.539
 present,

00:50:40.740 --> 00:50:41.059
 future,

00:50:41.240 --> 00:50:41.620
 the world,

00:50:41.960 --> 00:50:42.440
 they're things

00:50:42.440 --> 00:50:42.920
 that we are

00:50:42.920 --> 00:50:44.100
 all tied to,

00:50:44.240 --> 00:50:44.700
 bound to,

00:50:44.780 --> 00:50:45.360
 but things that

00:50:45.360 --> 00:50:45.740
 we cannot

00:50:45.740 --> 00:50:46.320
 control.

00:50:46.320 --> 00:50:47.680
 Yet in

00:50:47.680 --> 00:50:48.220
 Christ,

00:50:48.420 --> 00:50:49.059
 like all of

00:50:49.059 --> 00:50:49.760
 those things

00:50:49.760 --> 00:50:50.460
 are ours,

00:50:50.559 --> 00:50:51.100
 the key to

00:50:51.100 --> 00:50:51.620
 life and

00:50:51.620 --> 00:50:51.940
 death,

00:50:52.500 --> 00:50:53.240
 the rule over

00:50:53.240 --> 00:50:54.019
 this world,

00:50:54.300 --> 00:50:54.440
 right?

00:50:55.760 --> 00:50:56.580
 God's sovereignty

00:50:56.580 --> 00:50:57.019
 over our

00:50:57.019 --> 00:50:57.460
 present and

00:50:57.460 --> 00:50:57.940
 the future,

00:50:58.280 --> 00:50:58.900
 all of this

00:50:58.900 --> 00:50:59.539
 comes to us

00:50:59.539 --> 00:51:00.019
 in Christ.

00:51:02.200 --> 00:51:03.320
 And that's

00:51:03.320 --> 00:51:03.680
 Paul's

00:51:03.680 --> 00:51:04.420
 conclusion here.

00:51:04.519 --> 00:51:04.800
 He says,

00:51:05.380 --> 00:51:06.100
 you think that

00:51:06.100 --> 00:51:06.620
 you say,

00:51:06.900 --> 00:51:07.680
 I follow Paul,

00:51:07.920 --> 00:51:08.539
 that literally

00:51:08.539 --> 00:51:09.300
 means I am

00:51:09.300 --> 00:51:09.960
 of Paul,

00:51:10.019 --> 00:51:10.280
 and you're

00:51:10.280 --> 00:51:10.900
 saying I am

00:51:10.900 --> 00:51:11.820
 of Apollos,

00:51:12.080 --> 00:51:12.460
 guess what,

00:51:12.480 --> 00:51:12.840
 you have it

00:51:12.840 --> 00:51:13.620
 all backwards,

00:51:14.100 --> 00:51:14.940
 you are not

00:51:14.940 --> 00:51:15.580
 of them,

00:51:15.680 --> 00:51:16.240
 they are

00:51:16.239 --> 00:51:16.979
 of you,

00:51:17.819 --> 00:51:18.759
 Paul belongs

00:51:18.759 --> 00:51:19.299
 to you,

00:51:20.819 --> 00:51:21.679
 Apollos belongs

00:51:21.679 --> 00:51:22.239
 to you,

00:51:23.319 --> 00:51:24.079
 and the whole

00:51:24.079 --> 00:51:24.779
 church belongs

00:51:24.779 --> 00:51:25.419
 to Christ,

00:51:25.859 --> 00:51:26.559
 and Christ

00:51:26.559 --> 00:51:27.500
 belongs to

00:51:27.500 --> 00:51:27.879
 God.

00:51:28.399 --> 00:51:28.739
 Right here,

00:51:28.919 --> 00:51:29.599
 so he's not

00:51:29.599 --> 00:51:30.500
 saying here that

00:51:30.500 --> 00:51:31.359
 Christ is not

00:51:31.359 --> 00:51:32.139
 equally God

00:51:32.139 --> 00:51:33.139
 as the second

00:51:33.139 --> 00:51:33.719
 person of the

00:51:33.719 --> 00:51:33.979
 Trinity,

00:51:34.259 --> 00:51:34.959
 that's not what

00:51:34.959 --> 00:51:35.299
 he's mentioning,

00:51:35.339 --> 00:51:35.959
 he's talking about

00:51:35.959 --> 00:51:36.519
 the functional

00:51:36.519 --> 00:51:37.479
 order within

00:51:37.479 --> 00:51:37.979
 the Trinity,

00:51:38.419 --> 00:51:40.219
 and because there

00:51:40.219 --> 00:51:40.879
 is an order

00:51:40.879 --> 00:51:41.339
 within the

00:51:41.339 --> 00:51:41.839
 Trinity in the

00:51:41.839 --> 00:51:42.259
 way God

00:51:42.259 --> 00:51:42.799
 operates,

00:51:42.899 --> 00:51:43.000
 right?

00:51:43.059 --> 00:51:43.419
 The Father

00:51:43.419 --> 00:51:44.059
 sends and

00:51:44.059 --> 00:51:44.559
 then the Son

00:51:44.559 --> 00:51:45.139
 sends the

00:51:45.139 --> 00:51:45.479
 Spirit,

00:51:45.480 --> 00:51:45.940
 the Father

00:51:45.940 --> 00:51:46.320
 sends the

00:51:46.320 --> 00:51:46.480
 Son,

00:51:46.559 --> 00:51:46.780
 the Son

00:51:46.780 --> 00:51:47.199
 sends the

00:51:47.199 --> 00:51:47.440
 Spirit,

00:51:47.559 --> 00:51:47.679
 right?

00:51:47.719 --> 00:51:47.900
 And the

00:51:47.900 --> 00:51:48.179
 Father,

00:51:48.619 --> 00:51:48.820
 right?

00:51:50.420 --> 00:51:51.240
 It's the

00:51:51.240 --> 00:51:51.599
 Father,

00:51:51.840 --> 00:51:52.460
 the Spirit

00:51:52.460 --> 00:51:53.320
 then glorifies

00:51:53.320 --> 00:51:53.699
 the Son,

00:51:53.740 --> 00:51:54.079
 and then the

00:51:54.079 --> 00:51:55.059
 Son's glory

00:51:55.059 --> 00:51:55.679
 then redounds

00:51:55.679 --> 00:51:56.039
 to the

00:51:56.039 --> 00:51:56.360
 Father.

00:51:57.320 --> 00:51:57.940
 Philippians 2,

00:51:58.019 --> 00:51:58.760
 10-11 talks

00:51:58.760 --> 00:51:59.119
 about how

00:51:59.119 --> 00:51:59.780
 at the name

00:51:59.780 --> 00:52:00.219
 of Jesus,

00:52:00.340 --> 00:52:00.659
 every knee

00:52:00.659 --> 00:52:00.980
 should bow

00:52:00.980 --> 00:52:01.280
 in heaven

00:52:01.280 --> 00:52:01.699
 and on earth

00:52:01.699 --> 00:52:02.079
 and under

00:52:02.079 --> 00:52:02.519
 the earth,

00:52:02.579 --> 00:52:02.840
 and every

00:52:02.840 --> 00:52:03.039
 tongue

00:52:03.039 --> 00:52:03.659
 confess Jesus

00:52:03.659 --> 00:52:04.619
 Christ is

00:52:04.619 --> 00:52:04.860
 Lord,

00:52:05.099 --> 00:52:05.940
 to the glory

00:52:05.940 --> 00:52:06.360
 of God

00:52:06.360 --> 00:52:06.800
 the Father.

00:52:06.900 --> 00:52:07.440
 So in

00:52:07.440 --> 00:52:08.360
 the end,

00:52:08.440 --> 00:52:09.159
 all things

00:52:09.159 --> 00:52:09.880
 turn to

00:52:09.880 --> 00:52:10.219
 him,

00:52:10.420 --> 00:52:10.760
 and that's

00:52:10.760 --> 00:52:11.440
 what Paul's

00:52:11.440 --> 00:52:12.240
 referring to.

00:52:12.239 --> 00:52:13.059
 This whole

00:52:13.059 --> 00:52:13.859
 passage has

00:52:13.859 --> 00:52:14.319
 been about

00:52:14.319 --> 00:52:15.079
 God's

00:52:15.079 --> 00:52:15.619
 possession,

00:52:16.119 --> 00:52:16.479
 God's

00:52:16.479 --> 00:52:17.119
 ownership,

00:52:17.399 --> 00:52:17.719
 that the

00:52:17.719 --> 00:52:18.099
 church is

00:52:18.099 --> 00:52:18.539
 God's

00:52:18.539 --> 00:52:18.939
 field and

00:52:18.939 --> 00:52:19.099
 it's

00:52:19.099 --> 00:52:19.539
 God's

00:52:19.539 --> 00:52:19.799
 temple,

00:52:19.899 --> 00:52:20.299
 and that's

00:52:20.299 --> 00:52:20.759
 in a

00:52:20.759 --> 00:52:21.319
 triumphant

00:52:21.319 --> 00:52:21.679
 note,

00:52:22.019 --> 00:52:23.299
 he concludes

00:52:23.299 --> 00:52:23.559
 this,

00:52:23.699 --> 00:52:24.500
 all belongs

00:52:24.500 --> 00:52:24.959
 to you,

00:52:25.079 --> 00:52:25.500
 and you

00:52:25.500 --> 00:52:26.219
 all belong

00:52:26.219 --> 00:52:26.739
 to God,

00:52:26.799 --> 00:52:27.319
 and that's

00:52:27.319 --> 00:52:27.819
 why the

00:52:27.819 --> 00:52:28.279
 church that

00:52:28.279 --> 00:52:28.819
 belongs to

00:52:28.819 --> 00:52:29.539
 God should

00:52:29.539 --> 00:52:30.319
 not boast

00:52:30.319 --> 00:52:31.139
 in men.

00:52:31.879 --> 00:52:32.159
 Let me

00:52:32.159 --> 00:52:32.699
 conclude with

00:52:32.699 --> 00:52:33.839
 this from

00:52:33.839 --> 00:52:34.659
 Romans 11,

00:52:34.819 --> 00:52:36.059
 33-36.

00:52:36.059 --> 00:53:01.960
 The

00:53:01.960 --> 00:53:04.779
 source of

00:53:04.779 --> 00:53:04.980
 this

00:53:04.980 --> 00:53:05.340
 church's

00:53:05.340 --> 00:53:05.880
 life is

00:53:05.880 --> 00:53:06.260
 God,

00:53:06.480 --> 00:53:06.880
 the

00:53:06.880 --> 00:53:07.500
 medium of

00:53:07.500 --> 00:53:07.619
 the

00:53:07.619 --> 00:53:08.000
 church's

00:53:08.000 --> 00:53:08.460
 salvation

00:53:08.460 --> 00:53:08.840
 is

00:53:08.840 --> 00:53:09.199
 God,

00:53:09.340 --> 00:53:09.740
 and the

00:53:09.740 --> 00:53:10.340
 goal of

00:53:10.340 --> 00:53:10.619
 church

00:53:10.619 --> 00:53:11.079
 history,

00:53:11.199 --> 00:53:11.740
 the reason

00:53:11.740 --> 00:53:12.219
 for our

00:53:12.219 --> 00:53:12.820
 existence

00:53:12.820 --> 00:53:14.039
 is God.

00:53:14.340 --> 00:53:14.780
 So as we

00:53:14.780 --> 00:53:15.340
 conclude

00:53:15.340 --> 00:53:16.599
 year 2017

00:53:16.599 --> 00:53:17.780
 and usher

00:53:17.780 --> 00:53:18.179
 in year

00:53:18.179 --> 00:53:18.920
 2018,

00:53:19.519 --> 00:53:19.800
 let's

00:53:19.800 --> 00:53:20.420
 remember not

00:53:20.420 --> 00:53:20.880
 to boast

00:53:20.880 --> 00:53:21.500
 in anything

00:53:21.500 --> 00:53:22.099
 except for

00:53:22.099 --> 00:53:23.079
 God and

00:53:23.079 --> 00:53:24.019
 his Christ

00:53:24.019 --> 00:53:24.500
 crucified.

00:53:24.960 --> 00:53:25.300
 Let's pray

00:53:25.300 --> 00:53:25.599
 together.

00:53:29.360 --> 00:53:30.039
 God,

00:53:30.099 --> 00:53:30.500
 we thank

00:53:30.500 --> 00:53:32.920
 you that

00:53:32.920 --> 00:53:34.199
 you hold

00:53:34.199 --> 00:53:34.960
 us in

00:53:34.960 --> 00:53:35.780
 your grip

00:53:35.780 --> 00:53:37.480
 and no

00:53:37.480 --> 00:53:38.019
 one can

00:53:38.019 --> 00:53:38.800
 snatch us

00:53:38.800 --> 00:53:39.119
 out of

00:53:39.119 --> 00:53:39.639
 your hand.

00:53:40.280 --> 00:53:41.019
 We belong

00:53:41.019 --> 00:53:41.579
 to you.

00:53:42.800 --> 00:53:43.619
 We thank

00:53:43.619 --> 00:53:43.900
 you that

00:53:43.900 --> 00:53:44.380
 you love

00:53:44.380 --> 00:53:44.880
 us so

00:53:44.880 --> 00:53:45.440
 zealously.

00:53:49.440 --> 00:53:50.440
 Help us,

00:53:50.740 --> 00:53:50.940
 Lord,

00:53:52.340 --> 00:53:53.599
 to internalize

00:53:53.599 --> 00:53:54.199
 that love

00:53:54.199 --> 00:53:55.320
 and to

00:53:55.320 --> 00:53:56.039
 live as

00:53:56.039 --> 00:53:56.340
 those who

00:53:56.340 --> 00:53:56.880
 belong to

00:53:56.880 --> 00:53:57.139
 you,

00:53:57.380 --> 00:53:57.699
 boasting

00:53:57.699 --> 00:53:58.220
 in nothing

00:53:58.220 --> 00:53:59.000
 else but

00:53:59.000 --> 00:54:00.000
 you and

00:54:00.000 --> 00:54:00.380
 your son,

00:54:00.460 --> 00:54:01.059
 Jesus Christ,

00:54:01.179 --> 00:54:01.579
 crucified.

00:54:02.280 --> 00:54:02.720
 In Jesus'

00:54:02.860 --> 00:54:03.139
 name we

00:54:03.139 --> 00:54:03.340
 pray.

00:54:03.639 --> 00:54:03.900
 Amen.

00:54:04.960 --> 00:54:22.280
 Thank you.