The Bible Says
1 Corinthians 3:10-17 Meaning

In 1 Corinthians 3:10-17, Paul provides a sobering reality for believers, that all deeds we do in this life will face the judgment of Jesus, and only those deeds built on the foundation that is Christ will remain; in all else we will suffer loss.

In the previous section, Paul shifted from an agricultural metaphor (he planted and Apollos watered) to a building construction metaphor. He now expands, saying, According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it (v. 10).

This metaphor still incorporates Paul and Apollos but expands to include any believer.

• Paul is like a wise master builder. He came to Corinth and laid a foundation of the gospel of Christ. Paul laid the foundation by giving the Corinthians the good news of Jesus Christ. Thus, their foundation is now Jesus Christ.
• • As Jesus told Peter, He is Himself the foundation of the church, and the church is built upon Jesus Christ as the foundation (Matthew 16:18).
  • Each believer does deeds that add to the “building” (using this metaphor) that is the church of Jesus Christ.
• After bringing the Gospel to Corinth, Paul departed after eighteen months or so. This was according to his gifting. His calling was to take the gospel to the Gentiles and to go where the gospel had not been preached (Romans 15:16, 20).
• Apollos came to Corinth to teach and train. Apollos represents another who is building on it, the church of Christ, by investing in the believers who make up His church.

Now, again, Paul elevates the perspective of personal accountability before Christ: But each man must be careful how he builds on it. The pronoun it refers to the foundation. The foundation is the foundation of the church of Jesus. Each believer builds on the foundation by the actions they take and the impact their actions have upon others.

The reason to be careful is because the dealings each believer has with other believers constitutes how that person builds on it, where it is the foundation of Christ. Each interaction, each word, each decision made that affects another is building upon the foundation that is God’s building, which is His church. Each interaction is something about which we should be intentional. As Jesus said,

“But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.”
(Matthew 12:36)

Paul speaks of the assignment God gave him to be an apostle to the Gentiles, referring to it as the grace of God which was given to me. The Greek word translated grace is “charis” which means “favor” as in Luke 2:52 where Jesus is said to have grown in “favor” with God and man. The word “charis” appears ten times in this letter. In addition to referring to the ministry to which Paul was appointed, it also applies to:

• The “grace” (“charis”) God granted the Corinthians in their receipt of the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:4).
• The “thankfulness” (“charis”) Paul partook meat with gratitude and without asking questions about its source or preparation (1 Corinthians 10:30).
• The “grace” God granted Paul in his life and ministry (1 Corinthians 15:10).
• The “thanks” (“charis”) Paul expressed to God “who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
• The “gift” (“charis”) of making a financial donation to saints in need in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:3).

God’s appointment of Paul certainly did not initially feel like he was gaining “favor” from God,

• God struck him blind while on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3, 8).
• He was required to humble himself before Ananias, a believer in Jesus. Paul was traveling to Damascus with an intent to persecute people like Ananias (Acts 9:13-14, 17).
• He was appointed by Jesus to “suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:16).

The perspective Paul chose about this traumatic event was to choose to be grateful. He saw that he was delivered from a life of futility to a life of great purpose, with God’s promise to receive an immense reward for faithfulness (1 Corinthians 15:9, 2 Corinthians 4:17). Therefore, Paul was full of thanks for Jesus intervening and correcting his path. He considered it a privilege to suffer for Christ (Philippians 3:10-11).

Through Christ’s appointment of Paul as an apostle to the Gentiles, he became a wise master builder, exercising his craft in constructing the building that is the church of Christ. The Greek word translated master builder is “architekton.” Jesus’s occupation was as a “tekton” which means “construction worker” or “builder” in Greek (Mark 6:3). The Greek prefix “arch” means “chief,” “principle,” “first,” or “top.”

Paul was the only original apostle we know of with what we might call in modern times a “degree” in theology. As far as we know, the twelve called by Jesus were tradesmen and workers. Paul, on the other hand, was educated in the Jewish law by Gamaliel, a well-known “teacher of the Law, respected by all the people” (Acts 5:34, 22:3). Notably, this “degree” led him to oppose God and persecute the church (1 Corinthians 15:9).

After Jesus gave Paul a literal “knock-down” reorientation to properly focus his knowledge, Paul became wise. And as Paul walked step-by-step in faithfulness to his calling as an apostle to the Gentiles, he first became a builder of the church, then a master builder.

Any master builder knows that a building is only as good as its foundation. Accordingly, Paul continues saying, For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ (v. 11).

If anyone builds on any other foundation, they are like someone building on sand. Jesus used this metaphor in His teaching. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said,

“Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.”
(Matthew 7:26)

Israel has a very rocky terrain without much sand. The primary place to find sand is in the dry creek beds. These beds are usually dry but can be filled with swelling tides of water after a rain. The people listening to Jesus might have had in mind a person building a house in the middle of a dry creek bed. It might be an easy and convenient place to build, but when the rain comes it will be destroyed and swept downstream.

Paul uses a different metaphor than rock and sand. In this metaphorical application, the foundation has already been laid. Paul laid the foundation of Jesus Christ in Corinth through teaching the gospel or good news about Jesus. The foundation of the Church is not Paul or Apollos. It is not the Law. It is not anything other than the person of Jesus Christ.

Now Paul adds an element to the metaphor. It is not just he and Apollos who have built upon this foundation. Each person in Corinth will build on the foundation. In this metaphor, the deeds done by each believer in Corinth will be like a stack of building materials built upon the foundation.

Paul next presents two basic approaches and consequences to building on the foundation that is Christ: Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work (vs. 12-13).

As is typical, the word translated of each man’s applies to men and women. So, this is intended as a universal statement that applies to all believers. Context makes clear that the phrase the day refers to the day of judgment. Paul speaks of the day of judgment in 2 Corinthians as follows:

“Therefore, we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.”
(2 Corinthians 5:9-11)

In this passage from 2 Corinthians 5, Paul speaks of being “at home” referring to our true home in heaven, and “absent” as remaining here on earth. In each instance, the goal of life should be to aim to live it in such a manner as to please God. And the reason Paul gives is because “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” It will be at Christ’s judgment seat that all we have done will be evaluated by Jesus and rewards will be given or lost.

Paul speaks of the “fear of the Lord.” To “fear” is to focus our efforts based on perceived consequences. For example, we “fear” government authorities because we do not want to be prosecuted and sent to jail. To “fear” the Lord is to focus our efforts to be motivated by the consequences God tells us are the real, true, and lasting results of our decisions and actions.

What Paul desires is to “persuade men” to live their lives for “that day” rather than being mired in the cares of “this day.” His phrase the day is the time when all believers will stand before Jesus to have their lives and deeds evaluated. Returning to the metaphor, Paul likens Jesus’s judgment in the day to a refining fire applied to the building materials.

The judgment fire of Jesus will be directed upon the deeds done by His saints, those who have believed upon Him. There are two categories of deeds: those that burn up, and those that endure. The materials presented that burn up are wood, hay, and straw. These are flammable materials that will burst into flames and be quickly consumed in a fire.

The contrasting materials presented to those that will combust are those that will endure, namely gold, silver, and precious stones. Each of these become more pure and more valuable when exposed to a refining fire. This metaphor of God as a refining fire and/or God using trials of fire to refine and perfect His people runs throughout scripture. Some examples follow:

• In Malachi 3:2, God is said to be “like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap.” Fire on ore and soap on clothes both have a cleansing effect. In Malachi 4:1, “the day” of God’s judgment contrasts the “arrogant and every evildoer” as being like “chaff” that burns quickly in the fire. Malachi 3:3 says, “He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver.”

• In Luke 12:49, Jesus says, “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!” Jesus will judge the world and cleanse it of evil and unrighteousness, and He is eager for that day to arrive. This verse demonstrates that God’s judgment fire will also be applied to the entire earth (Revelation 20:13-14).

• Hebrews 12:29 quotes Deuteronomy 4:24 which says, “our God is a consuming fire.” God’s judgment consumes wickedness and purifies what is righteous and good.

• Although James does not mention fire directly, he refers to a refining process. James refers to “the testing of your faith” that “produces endurance” which leads to a result of being “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:3-4).

• Peter speaks of “the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire” again raising the metaphor of the process of refining to gain purity and value. The result of having a purified faith is to be “found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7).

• It is when Jesus returns that He will execute judgment. He will begin with believers (1 Peter 4:17).

We might ask what sorts of deeds constitute wood, hay, and straw. In the metaphor of judgment as fire, these are materials that would burn up quickly. They would turn to ash and not last. We can refer back to the passage depicting God as a refining fire in Malachi and see that the “chaff” that burns quickly comes from arrogance and evildoing.

Scripture contrasts arrogance or pride as the opposite of faith. We can see this in Habakkuk 2:4. Faith is believing God’s ways are for our best while pride is thinking we know better than God.

Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4 in Romans 1:17. Romans 1:16-17 are typically considered as being the theme for Paul’s letter to the Romans. Paul’s point in these verses is that salvation comes through faith. This applies to both the Gift of being declared righteous in God’s sight as well as deliverance from the power of sin and the resulting fruit of righteousness lived out in daily life through the obedience of faith: “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

All our actions are motivated by something. Paul’s letters tell us that we will be greatly rewarded when we take actions motivated by belief; obedience to God is like building with gold, silver, and precious stones that will result in our greatest possible reward. Interacting with others in a manner that is loving and serving with our gifts is like building with material that will survive Jesus’s judgment fire.

When the fire passes over, the gold, silver and precious stones will be purer, stronger, and more beautiful. They will make a permanent and lasting addition to God’s “building.” They will reflect Jesus’s words from His Sermon on the Mount about seeking eternal rewards that last rather than temporal rewards that will pass away:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.”
(Matthew 6:19-20)

Actions we take because of pride or arrogance, actions done to gain affirmation, acceptance, or approval from people in this life will be like chaff in God’s refiner’s fire. They will be like wood, hay, and straw at Jesus’s judgment. Such actions gain us a brief reward in this life, but the reward does not last. As Jesus also explains in the Sermon on the Mount, in seeking rewards from men we forfeit rewards from God (Matthew 6:1-2).

We can gain from this a picture that our actions are either done from pride or faith. In every moment, each believer has a binary choice to either seek to please men (pride) or seek to please God (faith). In doing so we are either building with wood, hay and straw, materials that will not survive the judgment fire, or we are building with gold, silver and precious stones, materials that will endure.

Hebrews 11:6 makes a similar assertion, saying that in order to please God, one must believe two things:

• “That He is” (who He says He is and will do what He says He will do), and
• “That He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”

So, Hebrews 11:6 tells us that part of pleasing God is having the faith to believe that He will reward “those who diligently seek Him.” This infers the faith in mind is faith to believe that God’s promise is true that His rewards are superior to rewards from the world. This is part of Paul’s point in quoting Habakkuk 2:4 in Romans 1:17, asserting that “The righteous man shall live by faith.” The motive to be righteous stems from believing God’s promises.

This tells us that our motives will always include seeking affirmation. Our basic choice is to choose from whom we will seek affirmation. If we seek affirmation from ourselves or others, we are seeking a reward that will not last; it will be like wood, hay or straw.

We are asked to believe God, that His ways are for our best and that He actually will reward us, far and away beyond anything we could even imagine in this life (as Paul claimed in the previous chapter, 1 Corinthians 2:9). We are asked to believe that God is faithful and will exalt us in due time (1 Peter 5:6).

We can take from this that the primary thing God cares about is intent. Hebrews 4:12 says the word of God judges the “thoughts and intentions of the heart.” In Colossians 3:23-24, Paul asserts that God will reward those who do anything, in any field of endeavor, in order to please Him:

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
(Colossians 3:23-24)

In the previous chapter, Paul asserted something similar. There he quoted from the Old Testament, and asserted that the rewards God has for those who love Him are more wonderful than what we can comprehend:

“but just as it is written,
“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD,
AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
(1 Corinthians 2:9)

Paul reveals the outcome of Jesus’s assessment: If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward (v. 14).

We can connect verse 14 with 1 Corinthians 2:9 and see that deeds done out of love of God are those He will reward. Jesus was explicit about what this looks like. He stated clearly “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Following in the way of Christ is the path to gain great reward. In fact, it is the path to gain rewards that are beyond what can be imagined.

Jesus spoke of this during His earthly ministry. A few examples follow from the Sermon on the Mount:

• In Matthew 6:1, Jesus instructed His followers to do their charitable deeds in secret, without seeking reward from men. In doing this, they will be seeking rewards in heaven.
• • This is shortly after Jesus instructed His followers to not only love their neighbors, but also their enemies (Matthew 5:43-44).
• In Matthew 5:11-12, Jesus tells His disciples that if they are persecuted for His sake they will gain rewards in heaven. This comes shortly after the “beatitudes.”
• In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus tells His disciples to accumulate treasure in heaven that is lasting rather than treasure on earth that will rust and decay. He says “for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

The promise is that after Jesus’s judgment fire, a deed of faithful service remains. What remains will determine the reward that the believer will receive. Thus, our labor in the Lord is never in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Even seemingly insignificant actions can gain great reward. As Jesus said, even a cup of cold water given with a motive of service to Him will be rewarded (Matthew 10:40-42).

As Paul asserts in Colossians 3:23-24, everything we do should have a motive to please God, for the reason that it is He who will grant the reward of the inheritance.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
(Colossians 3:23-24)

The inheritance reward spoken of in Colossians is likely the same Paul speaks of in Romans 8:17-18. There Paul asserts that all believers have God as an inheritance, since believers are all permanently placed into God’s family through faith in Jesus and his atoning death on the cross. But Paul also says that His children who suffer the sufferings of Christ will share in His inheritance as sons.

Jesus was rewarded for His faithful service by being named “Son” and desires to share His glory by naming many sons to serve with Him (see also Hebrews 2:9-10, Revelation 2:26-27, 3:21). This reward or prize of becoming a “son” and sharing in Christ’s administration over the earth can be viewed as salvation from the futility of the Fall (Hebrews 2:3).

Humans were designed to reign in the earth as servant leaders, in harmony with God. Believers are promised this great reward to share in Christ’s inheritance to return to our original design if we overcome the power of sin in this world through a walk of faith (Revelation 3:21).

This reward of sharing in Christ’s inheritance is a “salvation” from the Fall. This “salvation” is referenced by scriptures such as Philippians 2:12 which exhorts believers to “work out your salvation with trembling and fear.” This refers to salvation or deliverance from the power of sin, sin which twists our design to be servant leaders. This is something that requires daily effort (“work”).

It requires determination to “overcome” the temptation to lord over and exploit others. It requires work to walk in obedience to Jesus rather than succumb to the empty promises of the world. But if we overcome as Jesus overcame, He promises to reward us as He was rewarded, and share in His inheritance (Revelation 3:21).

Salvation from the Fall through having our design fulfilled is a different salvation than being saved from spiritual death. Being born into God’s family is not a prize to be won through “work” and effort. It is a gift that is received. Believers become children of God simply by believing in Jesus on the cross (John 3:14-15). All who believe are born again and have a new, spiritual life in Christ (John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17). This is an essential step in winning the prize, as only those who believe and are born again are granted resurrection power to live in faith.

The English word “save” is similar to “sozo” in Greek in that context determines what is being delivered from what. The Greek word “sozo” that is often translated “save” is also translated to words of healing when context indicates someone was delivered from disease. An example of this is Matthew 9:21 where “sozo” is translated “I will get well.” Paul now speaks of being saved, yet so as through fire.

Even though all we do on earth might burn in the fire of Christ’s judgment, we ourselves will still be saved. This is because being born into God’s family through faith in Jesus is a gift of God, and the gifts of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Since all believers are a new creation in Christ, if Christ rejected anyone who believed in Him then He would be rejecting Himself (2 Timothy 2:13).

Paul issues a sober reminder together with a comforting assurance, If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire (v. 15).

The believer’s salvation from spiritual death is secure in Christ. This is because Jesus paid the price for our sins, so spiritual birth is independent from any action we might take (Colossians 2:14, Ephesians 2:8-9).

As Paul asserts in 2 Timothy, “It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him” (2 Timothy 2:11). This is an unconditional statement; if we die with Jesus through faith in His death on the cross then we will live with Him through the promised resurrection. In that same passage Paul also asserts, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:13). Since believers are placed into Christ’s body upon belief, for Jesus to deny one of His children to be in eternity with Him would be to deny Himself-and that will never happen.

Believers have security of our position in Jesus-nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). However, although each believer will be saved from being consumed by judgment fire, the works of the believer will only be saved from judgment fire if they are deeds done in faith.

Any deed not done in faith will combust. Deeds done in faith will be refined and endure; it is those deeds that will be rewarded.

As Paul also asserts in 2 Timothy:

“If we endure, we will also reign with Him;
If we deny Him, He also will deny us.”
(2 Timothy 2:12)

2 Timothy 2:12 is the middle verse of a poem. This verse speaks of the prize or reward of salvation; that is being delivered from separation from our original design to participate as servant leaders reigning in the earth, in service to God and others. 2 Timothy 2:11, 13 speak of the gift of salvation, being delivered from spiritual separation from God through new birth in Christ.

Those who “endure” by continuing in faithful obedience and who overcome as Jesus overcame will share the inheritance of reigning with Jesus (Romans 8:17b, Revelation 3:21). But believers who “deny” Jesus by seeking rewards from the world rather than from Him will be denied sharing in Christ’s inheritance to reign with Him.

As Jesus asserted, each believer has a binary choice whether to serve God, seeking His reward, or to serve what some translations call “mammon,” which the NASV95 renders as “wealth”-each translation refers to that which is trusted in or sought after in the world (Luke 16:13). If believers seek and gain the rewards of the world, they will lose the rewards of Jesus’s kingdom.

The picture Paul is painting is that immense reward awaits those who faithfully serve Jesus and follow His ways, and a corresponding loss awaits those who do not. Although unfaithful believers will be saved, though as through fire in the judgment fire of Jesus, there is a terrible loss they will suffer if their lives lived on earth are not lived in obedience to Jesus.

This is what Jesus spoke of in the Sermon on the Mount when He said that few find life. He asserted that the gate is narrow and the path that leads to life is difficult, and few find it (Matthew 7:13-14). “Life” in this verse translates the Greek word “zoe” which refers to the fullest experience of life. The fullest experience of life is only available through walking in obedience to Christ, in the power of His Spirit.

The picture is that continuing to walk in obedience in spite of rejection and loss in the world (the difficult path) is what leads us to a restoration and fulfillment of our design. The fulfillment of our design is to reign in harmony with Jesus and others as servant leaders. The loss in this world is vastly more-than-offset by immense gain in the next.

Conversely, if we pursue the rewards of this world, then whatever we gained in this life will be lost and will combust. These deeds will be consumed in Jesus’s judgment fire in the next life. The result for these believers will be to suffer loss of life experience. Those who do not overcome will not be fully restored to our design and reign alongside Christ (Revelation 3:21). The notion of being saved yet so as through fire evokes an image of one escaping flames with only singed clothes on his back.

Now Paul pivots to another building metaphor. In the metaphor that follows, he is not speaking of the deeds of believers adding to the construction of God’s church. In this case the metaphor makes a profound claim about the true identity of any believer: Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (v. 16).

It is clear here that the Corinthian recipients of this letter are all believers because the Spirit of God dwells in them. Paul does not question whether they have believed. He does not question whether they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. He is simply attempting to get his audience to shift their focus from following men (Apollos or Paul?) and instead determine to follow Christ (1 Corinthians 3:4). Rather than seeking to be approved by a person, Paul wants them to focus their attention on pleasing Christ. And rather than just living for now, he wants them to live for the day of judgment.

The Spirit of God comes to dwell within each believer upon their initial belief. As Paul asserts in Romans 8:9, anyone who does not have the Spirit is not God’s. It is the Holy Spirit that bears inner witness to us that we are His children (Romans 8:16).

Paul repeats this assertion of believers being the temple of God later in this letter when he tells them they should remain sexually pure.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul makes the argument that when a believer joins himself with a prostitute, he is becoming one with her and therefore joining her to the Holy Spirit, since all believers are indwelt by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:15-17).

So, not only is every deed we do being recorded, and subject to judgment at Christ’s judgment seat, we also have a “house guest” watching all we do. This is the Holy Spirit, who is God Himself. This is all the more reason to live faithfully, following the leading of the Spirit. To live as though God does not see all we do is to live in extreme folly (Hebrews 4:12).

Believers are a temple of God because God dwells within us through the person of the Holy Spirit. Each believer is one of God’s “houses,” so to speak. And because God is God, He dwells in all houses simultaneously. Now Paul makes a bold assertion about God’s “house,” that is, the body of each believer in Corinth: If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are (v.17).

Each believer is accountable to God. Each believer will experience the fire of Christ’s judgment. Each believer will either lose or gain rewards based on that judgment. But this verse makes clear that each believer is still God’s possession. Each is His “house,” meaning His possession. The word that in the phrase that is what you are refers to the temple of God. Each believer is a temple of God.

We know from archeology and history that Corinth was a wealthy city with impressive buildings, including temples. The Corinthians would have in constant view the temples of various gods. Paul uses the metaphor that each of their bodies is a temple of God. So, anyone who destroys his own temple or the temple of another will be held accountable: God will destroy him.

If someone breaks into our house and destroys it, we will likely file charges to see that person brought to justice. In the context of this passage, justice will occur at the judgment of Christ. The “God will destroy him”-destruction brought upon anyone who damages the temples of God (other believers in the church) could include their deeds being burned up. If their deeds are burned up they will suffer loss. This loss can include them losing their opportunity to share in the inheritance of Christ to reign. This is a tragic choice Paul warns all in Corinth to avoid.

The Greek word “naos” translated temple is also used to apply to Herod’s temple in Jerusalem, which was still standing at the time of Jesus. Jesus made the statement “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). This upset the Jews, who replied to Him “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” (John 2:20).

But to this objection John explains “But He was speaking of the temple of His body” (John 2:21). In each case, “temple” translates “naos.” Jesus called His body a “naos.” It was destroyed then raised after three days. Those who destroy believers will pay a price. We see something of this in Revelation, when those martyred for their faith are in heaven, under His altar, and petition God:

“and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’”
(Revelation 6:10)

This indicates that while justice is certain, there is a substantial time lag. Part of this is because of God’s mercy; He desires all to come to repentance (1 Peter 3:9). Since Jesus took on the sins of the world, justice can be served by people receiving the forgiveness that comes through Christ.

But the point remains, God is just, and if anyone harms a believer (destroys the temple of God) then God will destroy him. This is because the temple of God, that is the “house”/body of each believer, is God’s temple. Paul emphasizes: that is what you are. Each person is a new creation in Christ in whom the Holy Spirit dwells (2 Corinthians 5:17).

That makes each believer a dwelling or temple of God. Because it is a dwelling of God then it is holy, which means “set apart.” Each believer is set apart for His service, to do the things He planned for us (Ephesians 2:10). God is the “Lord of Hosts” which can also be translated “Lord of Armies.” At the end of this era, Jesus will invade earth and vanquish His enemies (Revelation 19:11-16, 19-21).

We might ask, “What if we are the agent of our own destruction?” We see in scripture that God chastises His own children (Hebrews 12:5-6). There is sin that leads to physical death (1 Corinthians 11:29-32). But all sin leads to some sort of death. Death is separation; physical death is the human spirit separating from the body (James 2:26). As Paul says in Romans 6:23, the consequence or “wages” for any sin is death.

This is largely logical-if we walk apart from God’s design we are separated from the blessings He built into His design. And as we see in Romans 1:24, 26, 28, there is a progression of sin; it begins with lust, then progresses to addiction then ultimately ends in a loss of mental health. This describes the “wages” or results of sin. Romans 1:18 calls this the “wrath of God,” which is where God allows anyone who desires the wages of sin to have them.

James 1:14-15 also describes a progression of sin. It begins with lust then progresses to sin and then to death. We can review Paul’s list of the fruit that stems from the lust of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21 and imagine what kinds of separation (death) each would lead to:

• We would expect “enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions” to result in social division, as well as separation in and perhaps termination of relationships.
• We would expect “drunkenness, carousing” to lead to addiction, separating us from ourselves as well as our potential.
• We would expect “idolatry, sorcery” to separate us from fellowship with God.

As Paul asserts in Galatians 5:21, those who practice these sorts of behaviors cannot inherit the kingdom of God. To inherit the kingdom of God is to live according to His commands and suffer the sufferings of Christ. Only believers who suffer the sufferings of Christ and endure rejection and loss in this world with share in Christ’s inheritance. As we saw in Romans 8:17b, sharing with Christ as “fellow heirs” is conditional upon “if indeed we suffer with Him.”

The picture we get from all of this is that we can destroy our own lives, but there will always be something that remains, since each of us is a temple of God. Since each believer is His temple, we can be assured that He will protect it. That is why even though all a believer might do in their life be counted as loss and burn in Christ’s judgment fire, they will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Thus, each believer is completely secure in their relationship with Christ; each believer is His child and will dwell with Him forever in the new earth (Revelation 21:1, 3). But it will be only those believers who set aside our “self” which is the flesh, with all its pride, who will gain the reward of sonship and enter into the “joy” of our Master, serving with Him in His administration (Matthew 25:21, Hebrews 12:2, Revelation 3:21).

Paul makes clear in his writings that it is more than reasonable to endure any sufferings to gain this blessing. He says this outright in 2 Corinthians 4:17. He calls the severe trials and difficulties he has endured “momentary” and “light” as compared to the “eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” awaiting those who are faithful, those who build on the foundation with gold, silver and precious stones.

From a human standpoint, we can review the difficulties Paul endured for the sake of Christ listed in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 and readily conclude “There is nothing momentary or light about any of that.” But Paul is not saying they are “momentary” and “light” in this life. He is saying they are “momentary” and “light” in comparison to the “eternal weight of glory” Jesus has awaiting all who serve Him as faithful witnesses. This is what drives Paul, and this is the perspective he is exhorting the Corinthian believers to take, to help them grow from “infants in Christ” to become mature in Christ. Paul wants them to join him in viewing all earthly rewards as being like trash compared to what is to be gained through faithful service to Christ (Philippians 3:8).