DEFILING THE TEMPLE
1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1 Corinthians 3:11 ¶ For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
The Apostle Paul is setting forth the work of the gospel ministry as that of the building of a physical structure. And an apostle is as a “masterbuilder.” Therefore he and the other apostles, along with the Old Testament prophets, lay the foundation. Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Then he faithfully instructs those who come afterward in succession into this ministry to be very careful as how we build thereupon. And this includes not just pastors and teachers, but every one who proclaims himself to be a believer in Christ. For all in the gospel kingdom are said to be “the light of the world.” 1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Therefore it need not be said that this is not literally speaking, in any manner, of the building of a physical structure! For it refers to the organism of the spiritual church; the body of Christ, and not to the organization of carnal religion. John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
For this is a spiritual building which grows for God to inhabit. Ephesians 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
We must then take careful notice of those ‘building materials’ which the apostle lists in verse twelve of our text. Just what is the spiritual significance of wood, hay, and stubble? These are those fleshly and emotionally provided matters which, sad to say, are mostly all that is found to be set forth in today’s religious services. For today’s religion is primarily a combination of the influence of the angel of light (Satan), and the supply of inordinate affections of the human membership. Colossians 3:5 Mortify (make dead) therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, (affections beyond the normal limits) evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
For “hay” is the same word, “grass,” which we see as the fading and withering glory of man! 1 Peter 1:24 ¶ For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: And the Lord has said that no flesh shall glory in his presence. 1 Corinthians 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
Yet so very much emotional expression is accepted as true worship in our land today. So many are absolutely convinced that their “hay supply” is to be, without question, accepted as a proper ‘building material’ for the construction of today’s church. But setting forth of one’s own glory is always for the praise of man. And these are not those sought of the Father! John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
And of “wood” we read that it refers to that which is more of financial and worldly value. Revelation 18:12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
For even the giving of weekly, routine offerings cause these to desire to blow silent, emotional trumpets of self-praise as if they had done God a service. Matthew 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, (he imagined himself to be God), I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And “stubble” is always seen in the scriptures as the dry, dead remains of yesterday’s crop. It is always associated with the fire to devour and remove it from yesterday’s crop and to provide a place for tomorrow’s planting. So those who were once associated with true fruit-bearing believers, and now are but imitators with no true spiritual life are but attempting to build with stubble. James 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. Jude 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
In short, anything which will not abide the fiery eyes of the Holy God, shall be burned up. Yet any of these who may actually be recipients of the new birth, shall lose all reward, but themselves saved by Christ’s work which shall endure God’s holy wrath! 1 Corinthians 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Jude 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
But we still have the awesome judgment of verse seventeen in our text to face! And one would be foolish to comfortably remain in “wood, hay and stubble” worship, thinking themselves to be truly regenerate. For this is also the deportment of the unregenerate defilers of the temple! 1 Corinthians 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; Be careful, dear Reader concerning the identity of your manner of worship! 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Both Peter and Judas denied Christ! Peter was granted repentance and became an apostle. But Judas went out and hanged himself, with his bowels bursting forth! For Jesus prayed for Peter. Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
But he proclaimed that Judas was a devil! John 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
Yet while they were among the other disciples, none could tell which one was a deceiver! John 13:21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
One can be well accepted by all the other ‘church members’ and not be known as a defiler of the temple! Let us therefore not depend upon emotional acceptance of fellow members, but seek to find if we indeed deal in gold-worship, which speaks of a gift worthy of God’s Deity, (Matthew 2:11), or of silver-worship, which relates to the price of the atonement, (Matthew 26:15), and precious stone-worship, which refers to the adorning of the walls of salvation (Revelation 21:19) .
There is a vast, unalterable result afforded to the religious one as seen in verse fifteen compared to that of the one of verse seventeen. Yet both imagine themselves to be acceptable by God, until he pronounces judgment upon them in that final hour. Psalm 50:21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
“Sad, sad that bitter wail, Almost, but lost!”
May God have mercy.
Pastor Gene Breed
September 15, 2023
