It is a truism to say that every building is built by someone. Buildings are neither hatched nor dropped from the sky. They are the result of a cooperative effort by a team of architects, construction workers and foremen, decorators and other craftsmen.
The Church as God’s building is fitly framed together by many workers. What began with Jesus and the apostles has continued across these many centuries. While the Church is God’s building, He uses human instruments to accomplish the work. This divine-human partnership has been going on since God’s outpouring of His Spirit following Christ’s ascension. Neither the Church nor its local congregations has ever belonged to the human partners in the building process.
Firm foundation
As with any building, the foundation is the decisive part and determines the size and weight that can be supported.
The foundation of the Church was laid at its inception, as implied in 1 Corinthians 3:11: “No other foundation can anyone lay than that which I laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
While human workers, in cooperation with God, build on the foundation, they work under a caution flag that reads, “Let each one take heed how he builds on it” (1 Cor. 3:10). As we choose to be involved in the work of our local church, we do well to hold in mind that we are “workers together with God” (1 Cor. 3:9).
The work of all human partners in building the Church will be tested at a future date when their workmanship will be disclosed. The imagery about the testing centers upon fire and its effect on wood, hay and straw in contrast to gold, silver and precious stones.
The work that passes this testing will be rewarded. That which fails will be burned up. Though the workers may suffer loss they “will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Cor. 3:12–14). The declaration of Deuteronomy 4:24 and Hebrews 12:29 that God is a consuming fire will have dramatic meaning when God tests our workmanship.
As we choose to be involved in the work of a local church, we do well to remember we are workers together with God. He is the architect and construction foreman; we are simply His workers. As such we must always seek to know God’s direction and stay in step with Him.
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