Lessons From the Early Church

I Corinthians 3:1-15

GOLDEN TEXT: “For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”—I Corinthians 2:11

OUR lesson for today covers two principal features. First, the privileges and responsibilities of serving among the Lord’s people, the church, which the apostle speaks of as God’s field, or God’s house. The second feature is that each Christian is also engaged in building a character-structure, and that his work in this respect will determine his individual destiny.

The apostle calls attention to the fact that some in the Corinthian church spoke of themselves as of Paul and some as of Apollos, and some as of Cephas, and reproves them for so doing, reminding them that these brethren were only servants or messengers of Christ, of God. When we keep in mind that there was at that time no New Testament, it is easy to understand how some of the brethren at Corinth were specially impressed with the Gospel message as presented by Paul, or by Apollos, etc. Hence, they developed a special appreciation and loyalty to the particular brother from whom they had received the Gospel.

But this is the same idea as that of a special channel and a disposition to limit the receipt of God’s Word to that which a certain channel can give. This is a very ancient and injurious deception, and one which has continued, even down to our day.

Both here and in other epistles St. Paul voices his own attitude in the matter as a recognition that he could accomplish nothing except with the Lord’s blessing upon his labors—that he was merely an instrument to plant or to water, to evangelize or to continue the instruction of the brethren later, as the Lord might direct, but that God alone could give the blessing or power to his labors. It is interesting to note particularly the apostle’s remarks along this line in I Corinthians 15:10, and Colossians 1:28,29.

It is just as important for the Lord’s people today who desire to serve the truth and the brethren to recognize this great fact, that is, that of themselves they are and can accomplish nothing. How blessed it would be if all of those who undertake to serve the truth would keep in mind the apostle’s statement in II Corinthians 2:17, where he says that his speech is not of his own wisdom, “but as of God.”

The Apostle Paul suggests a very similar thought in I Peter 4:10,11, saying, “As every man [in the church] hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ; to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever.”

The second part of our lesson refers to the development of character in the individual Christian and compares this to a building which he is engaged in erecting during his lifetime. The apostle emphasizes the thought that none can engage in this building for eternity, except those who are on the proper foundation, namely Christ Jesus. How impressive is this thought that no matter how good a man or woman may be, nor how much devoted to good works, philanthropy, etc., he or she cannot engage in this building, or erect a superstructure which would be acceptable to God, unless they have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.

This emphasizes to our minds the great importance of the recognition of inherent sin, and of Jesus as the propitiation for sin. This recognition produces a proper humble disposition which is evidently the necessary foundation or requirement for the development of an acceptable character. On this foundation the Lord’s people are enabled to build character, always along the lines illustrated by Jesus in His life here in the flesh, translating the experiences of their life and their studies of the Lord’s Word into a character that conforms to His image.

Generally speaking, we may think of the work of the Christian as first, Studying God’s Word, second, Practicing the teachings of that Word, and third, Preaching the Word. It will not do for us to take one of these three activities and devote all of our time to it, but to be a rounded character we must make use of all of them.

QUESTIONS:

What may have been one reason, why in the early church it was natural to lean upon the individual from whom one first learned the truth? Is the tendency towards human channelism still prevalent in the church?

What is one of the very important qualifications of all teachers in the church with respect to the source of their information?

What is the only foundation upon which a true Christian character can be erected?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |