New Testament Temple Living

1 Corinthians 3:10-17

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Not a Proof Text for Purgatory

One of the first things to bring to bear on this passage relates to how Roman Catholics typically view it from verse 10 onward as a proof text for the doctrine of purgatory. Purgatory is the idea in Roman Catholicism that if a person dies not thoroughly sanctified, still having venial sins that do not cause them to lose salvation, they must go to a place called purgatory after death to suffer and work off those sins for a specified period before entering heaven. This gave rise to indulgences, where the living could pay money to reduce time in purgatory for themselves or loved ones—a practice still observed today.

This is the only real biblical attempt to back up this heretical doctrine, which dismantles the sufficiency of Christ's work. They refer to "if anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire," claiming it describes suffering in purgatory. But the context is pre-death works being tested, not post-death suffering. This contradicts New Testament teaching on Christ's sacrifice. It's not about purgatory.

The Context of Division in Corinth

The Corinthian church was dividing into factions: "I am of Paul," "I am of Apollos," "I am of Cephas," "I am of Christ." This stemmed from pride, jealousy, and strife, as Paul said, "you are still acting like fleshly people... where there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh?" They engaged in rivalries and popularity contests, living merely in a human way.

Paul teaches a transcendent, mature, spiritual lifestyle beyond mere human living. Unbelievers cannot understand kingdom things because they are spiritually discerned. Spiritual living produces lasting works; human living produces deeds like wood, hay, and straw that burn up in the fire of testing.

This goes beyond salvation alone. It's not living as infants in Christ but progressing in sanctification to live as mature, spiritual people, contributing to the temple of God. Paul instructs us to work hard as Christians, with rewards beyond salvation awaiting diligence in building up the body of Christ.

Work and Reward Beyond Salvation

Paul entices us into mature Christian living with the promise of reward—not salvation, which is by grace alone and already secured. Verse 15 confirms: though worthless deeds burn up, "he himself will be saved, but only as through fire." Salvation does not depend on works, but reward does.

The emphasis is on mature Christian living that contributes to building God's temple, both individually and collectively. This counters the view that Christianity is just "get saved and soul-win," neglecting maturity and reward. There is work to be done, diligence to be had, as fellow workers with God. "He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive wages according to his labor."

According to the Grace of God

Everything is "according to the grace of God given to me." Paul, as a wise master builder, laid the foundation of Jesus Christ by God's grace. Nothing significant happens in a believer's life apart from God's grace. Even diligence and reward depend on God's enabling power.

Paul worked harder than all yet credited the Lord: "yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me." He laid the foundation not by boasting in himself but by preaching Christ crucified. Imagine what God's grace can do in our lives beyond salvation—to build maturely and receive reward.

The Correct Foundation: Jesus Christ

No one can lay a foundation other than Jesus Christ. "Let each one take care how he builds upon it." Churches, youth groups, and local bodies must build on Christ alone, not social justice, causes, or other identities. Building on sand fails when storms come; only the rock of Christ withstands.

Paul planted, Apollos watered, God gave growth. The foundation is laid; we build upon it with gold, silver, precious stones—lasting works tested by fire on the Day.

Unity in Building the Temple

What are you doing to positively contribute to building God's temple? Everyone must do their part in unity. Divisions from rivalries, jealousy, and immaturity prevent building the true temple. Focus on the gospel: deal with your sin and help others with theirs.

Church discipline targets unrepentant sin (Matthew 18), not every sinner. Repentant believers confess, seek help, and grow—no discipline needed. Unrepentant refusal to apply the gospel tears down the temple. Grace comes to those who recognize their need.

The Reward and the Loss

"If the work... survives, he will receive a reward." Wages match labor. Revelation mentions crowns, authority, sitting on Christ's throne. Here, the reward is mysterious, tied to obedience. The work itself enriches life now and eternally.

On the Day, pointless works burn up, causing loss though saved. Rewards are proportioned to diligence—no equal pay for unequal effort. Focus on contributing now, knowing the reward fits the labor.

You Are God's Temple

"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple." We are God's fellow workers, field, building—now His holy temple where He dwells.

This fulfills Old Testament promises: God dwells among His people. We are a holy priesthood. Live as temple living demands: holiness matching God's presence. Study Old Testament temples not for legalism but to see lifestyles fitting God's dwelling—dedication to God, eradication of sin.

Sin should grow more repulsive. Collectively, we are the temple: draw closer, build qualitatively. Do not fill the temple with idols—imaginations of the heart. Like Josiah, clean out idols; apply the gospel diligently. Build upon Christ's foundation for God's glory. ```