DECEMBER 22, 2019
THE MINISTER’S OFFICE AND RESPONSIBILITY (cont.)
INTRODUCTION:
1. In this chapter, Paul returns to his opening subject, that of divisions in the church. He saw this as evidence that they were yet immature in their faith. (Verses 1-4)
2. That they had formed these factions around their God-given ministers was, to say the least, absurd when we see the ministerial office set forth in its true light.
3. Previously we considered a number of reasons why forming rival factions around their minsters was not only absurd, but dishonoring to both God and His ministers.
a) They were God’s servants and therefore only instruments of His grace. (Verse 5)
b) Their particular labors were each necessary to the other, and were only effectual as God made them so. (Verses 6, 7)
c) They were fellow-workers on the same farm; fellow-builders on the same building. (Verse 8)
d) They were all co-laborers with God in the work of the ministry. (Verse 9ff)
4. Of the two figures, God’s husbandry and God’s building, the Apostle continues with the latter in order to show the heavy responsibility and strict accountability incurred by Gospel minsters as they are building God’s house, His true temple, the Church. (Verses 10-15)
I. IT IS PRECISELY BECAUSE THE CHURCH IS THE TEMPLE OF GOD THAT MINISTERS MUST BE CAREFUL HOW THEY BUILD. (VERSES 16, 17)
A. THE APOSTLE JUSTIFIES HIS STERN LANGUAGE TO BUILDERS WITH THIS QUESTION. (VERSE 16) “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and the spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
1. He is speaking to the church, that spiritual house in which God swells. (See Eph. 2:21, 22; I Tim. 3:15)
2. Ministers of the Gospel are not building a house for themselves, to be constructed of what material they please, or according to whatever plan they please.
3. The Corinthians seem to have forgotten this, for they (some of them) wanted the minister to preach “wisdom of words,” as if it were for them to choose.
4. It has already been established (Chapter 2) that it is by the Gospel, which is God’s wisdom, and that mystery of which He alone must give understanding, that his house is built.
5. It is in such a temple that the Spirit of God dwells. This indwelling of the Spirit constitutes each believer, every separate church, and the church collectively, the temple of God. (See Ch. 6:29; II Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:21)
B. GOD WILL NOT ALLOW HIS TEMPLE TO BE DEFILED. (VERSE 17)
1. The same word that is translated defile in the first clause is rendered destroy in the second clause. It means to bring into a worse state. It means to mar.
2. The verse may be rendered “If any man injure the temple of God, him will God injure.” The church cannot be injured with impunity.
3. Under the old dispensation the penalty for defiling the temple was either death or being cut off from the people. (Lev. 15:31; Num. 19:20) God is not less jealous for His spiritual temple than He was the typical material one.
4. Men injure the souls of men and injure the church when they preach false doctrine, and will therefore be punished.
5. Notice the reason: “For the temple of God is holy, which (temple) ye are.” The word temple is supplied the second time. It may mean either ye are God’s temple or ye are holy. Either way, the church is God’s holy temple, which must not be defiled.
II. EVERY MINISTER MUST RENOUNCE WORLDLY WISDOM IN FAVOR OF THE WISDOM OF GOD. (VERSES 18-20)
A. GOD’S MINISTERS MUST NOT DOUBT WHAT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT HUMAN WISDOM. (VERSE 18)
1. If any man think himself to be wise after a worldly sort, he must determine not to rely on his own wisdom. He must see it as worthless and even dangerous, if turned to in the ministry of the Gospel.
2. He must be like Paul, willing to be seen as a fool in the world’s eyes, in order to have the true wisdom of God.
B. WORLDLY WISDOM MUST BE RENOUNCED AS FOOLISHNESS. (VERSE 19, 20)
1. First, even truth or true knowledge becomes folly if employed to accomplish that for which it is not adapted. It is utter foolishness to imagine that men can be made holy or happy by mathematics or metaphysics or moral philosophy. He who attempts to do so is foolish, and his wisdom, as a means to such ends, is folly.
2. Second, much that passes for wisdom among men is foolishness, not merely as a means to an end, but is itself foolishness. The speculations of men about the deep things of God are just so much foolishness. It is often painful to listen to worldly wise men opine about God and things eternal.
III. THE CHURCH MUST UNDERSTAND THAT GOD’S MINISTERS BELONG TO THE CHURCH AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. (VERSES 21-23)
A. MEN ARE NOT THE GROUND OF THE BELIEVER’S CONFIDENCE. (VERSE 21)
1. This is the inference drawn by the Apostle from the fact that ministers are nothing in themselves, only servants. Plus, the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, so let none glory in men at all.
2. The Corinthians did glory in men when they said, “I am of Paul; I am of Apollos…” They made masters of those who were their servants.
3. How foolish were they, seeing that not only ministers, but all things were theirs.
a) This means, first, that all things are designed to promote the interest of the church. The consummation of the work of redemption is the great end to which all things are directed, and to be made subservient.
b) This means, secondly, that all things are given to Christ as the Head of the Church, and to the Church in Him. (Rom. 8:17; John 17:22)
c) The people of God should be mindful of their high destiny, so as not to act unworthily of it.
B. BY AMPLIFICATION,THE APOSTLE TELLS WHAT THE “ALL THINGS” HERE MENTIONED INCLUDES. (VERSE 22)
1. The ministry, which belongs to the church, is designed for its edification. (See Eph. 4:11, 12)
2. The world (kosmos) is to be understood in the widest sense. The present order of things is maintained and directed to the promotion of the great work of redemption.
3. Life and death.
a) First, whether the people of God live or die is determined with reference to their own good.
b) Second, life and death are administered so as best to fulfill the designs of God in reference to the church.
c) Third, the greatest men of the world; kings, statesmen, heroes, ministers, individual believers and unbelievers, live or die just as best serves the interests of Christ and His kingdom.
C. ALL THINGS BELONG TO THE CHURCH, BECAUSE THE CHURCH BELONGS TO CHRIST, GOD’S SON. (VERSE 23)
1. As all things belong to the church and are subject to it, the church itself belongs to, and is therefore subject to Christ alone. In Him and Him alone must the church glory; not in Paul, Apollos, or any of its ministers.
2. As the church is subject only to Christ, He is subject only to God. The Scriptures speak of a threefold subordination of Christ to the Father.
a) There is a subordination of the second person of the Trinity to the first with respect to mode of subsistence and operation. This is perfectly consistent with their equality in power and glory.
b) There is a voluntary subordination of the Son in that He humbled Himself to be found in fashion as a man, and therefore subject to the limitations and infirmities of our nature. (Phil. 2:5-8)
c) There was the official subjection of the incarnate Son of God in the work of redemption and as the Head of the church. He that is by nature equal with God officially becomes subject to Him. (Ch. 11:3; 15:28; Phil. 2:6-11; Heb. 1:3)
3. Let us rejoice and take heart in this grand and glorious truth. May we never forget that all things are ours, for we are Christ’s and Christ is God’s.
a) All earthly powers are subject to Him, and therefore, to us in Him. Let the heathen rage, if they please, they can only do as God has ordained to His own ends respecting His church.
b) All ministers of God are ours, given to the church for its edification. (Eph. 4:11)
c) Even life and death are so administered as best to fulfill God’s plan for His church. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
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