1 & 2 Corinthians| Lecture 5 : BC304-1&2 Cor-20260828

Okay, welcome to lecture five of the course on first Corinthians. Uh want to welcome those of us who are online in person. Hey, all of you can smile. Everyone's full serious. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Good. Good. Okay. Uh so we're in uh 1 Corinthians chapter 3. Um and uh so I want to set the context before we read the chapter. So why was first Corinthians written? Anyone remember? Because there were divisions in the church, right? Some were saying, "I'm of Paul. I'm of Apollos. I'm of Cphus. I'm of Christ." Like literally the church is divided. They have made groups within them within themselves. Right? So now chapter 3 is Paul is going deeper on this issue and what is the effect? what what it has done what what is see they're all divided right they're all we know that it's wrong but what it has produced is what we will see it is okay to say this church is divided but this chapter will tell when a church is divided what happens or what happens to them to their hearts to their minds and it will just give you an understanding that division disunityity is just not from God. Okay. So, are we ready? Yeah. So, there are four sections in this chapter. Uh we will read verse 1 to 4 first. So, maybe uh we will start online. Next section offline. I want someone to read. Then the third section online, fourth section offline. Okay. Is that fine? Okay. So, the first four verses, can someone take the mic in class and read 1 Corinthians 3:1-4? Brother and sister, I could not address you as people who live by the spirit, but as people who are still worldly. Mary infants in Christ, I gave you milk, not uh solid food, for you are not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, you are are you not worldly? Are you not acting like merry merry humans? For when one says I follow Paul and another I follow Apollos, are you not merry human beings? >> Yeah. Okay. So 1 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 1 to4 it is talking about a spiritual believer and a carnal believer. Carnal simply means fleshly fleshly believer. Okay. So uh the first two verses. So can you just go to the previous chapter? Chapter 2 verse 6. Chapter 2 and verse 6. Chapter 2 verse 6. However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature. So who does wisdom belong to? To the mature. To the mature. So then he goes to he tells in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, I could not speak to you like this. I had to speak to you like I'm feeding milk. Milk who requires babies. See this church they were so gifted. They were so filled with the spirit but still they were babies. What does that tell you? You can be very anointed, very gifted, very filled with the Holy Spirit. You can speak in tongues also. You can prophesy but still in the eyes of God you're immature. Still you're not able to receive wisdom. So Paul is saying I could not speak to you in my level in in the wisdom that I have because you will not receive it because you are still immature. You are still babies. So I had to feed you milk. Milk is for babies. Milk is for people who are just starting their faith. But how old is this church? 7 years. Imagine 7 years. And still Paul is telling they are immature. They are they are not growing. They're not maturing in Christ. Little sad. This should not be the state of the church after 7 years. Right? And so in in uh the first two verses, what he's trying to say is I had to communicate to you, I had to preach to you the basics of faith. You are still there basics milk. Milk means very little very uh very simple because they're not able to eat solid food. What is solid food? Word of God, the depth of the word of God. But Paul could only share how much they could receive. Okay. Now verse three and four will tell why are they immature? Why are they not able to grow? Why are they not able to mature? Verse 3 and 4. What is verse three and four? Verse three, it says, "For you are still carnal, worldly, fleshly." Different words in different translation. You are still carnal. You're still worldly. Why? Why are they still worldly? Because they had envy. They had strife. They had divisions. You see what happens when there is division in the church? You become worldly. When you become worldly, you become immature. Are you understanding? Huh? Simple. When you are divided, when you have envy, when you have what is envy? Envy means jealous. Because I am Paul, you are Apollos. I'm jealous of you. Oh, you have Paul, I have Apollos. So, and then what is strife? Strife simply means uh there is uh arguments. They're causing arguments. So, because they had envy, they had strife. Paul is saying, "You are worldly. You're acting like the world." And because you are worldly, you are spiritually immature. That's why you are still babies. Are we understanding? You see the effect of division? You see how division can make us worldly? Because with division comes groups. With groups comes jealousy. With jealousy comes strife stages. And Paul is saying he's giving a report card to all of them. And they're all babies. Right. Very, very sad. This should never be the state of a growing church. A growing church should always be maturing. I'm not saying a growing church is never is always perfect. Yes, you have things to deal with. You will have here and there uh you know disagreements and all of that. That's normal. Even in fact among the apostles, they had disagreements. Peter had a disagreement with Paul in certain issues. That's okay. But this division, this disagreement is so bad that they carried envy, jealousy, strife, arguments. And Paul is saying because of that you have become like the world. This is how the world operates. And because you are like the world, you are immature. You are still babies. Okay? So this just goes to show how the the progression of what division can do to a church when it is not addressed when you start to create groups. Yeah. Uh did someone raise their hand? Sorry. >> Uh yes, pastor. I I did. Uh >> oh, sorry. Sorry. Any I'm not able to hear you. Sorry. Just give me a minute. Uh why am I not able to hear you? >> I think last time external >> I'm not able to hear the hear the online audience. Sorry Reita just give me a minute. Um >> yeah yeah yeah >> uh Rena can you try speaking? >> Yeah can you hear me now? >> Okay I'm not able to hear you. >> She's speaking but um Okay. Uh Reita, would it be possible for you to uh put it on the chat, please, for now? I don't know what seems to be the issue. Yeah. Okay. So, first four verses, what have we learned? Paul is addressing the Corinthian church as babies. He's able to only speak, you know, the the the basics of faith. They're not able to understand the deep things of God, the wisdom of God, the richness of God, the depth of God's word. Why? Because they are divided. They in their heart they had envy. They had strife. And because of that, they are worldly. They are carnal. They are fleshly. It does not belong to the kingdom of God. And because of that, they are not able to receive. This is why it's very important whenever we want to receive God's word, we need to have the right heart, not to be like the world, not to carry hurt, not to carry uh jealousy, not to carry envy because then everything will fly above our head because we remain babies, right? But a sign of a good believer, a a a sign of a good growing believer is that they keep maturing and their heart is pure. Their heart is able to receive the wisdom of God. Amen. Okay. So Reanita has put in the chat even in a mature church you have new believers coming and are not able to sorry and are not able to receive. How do you handle this? Yeah. So this is very normal. So uh you know all of us start when we you know put our faith in Jesus all of us start as babies and that's okay. So this is the natural progression just like how we experience it naturally in the world. All of us are born as babies, right? We can't neglect that stage. So even in Christ, you start like that. You start as a believer. You just start believing. But point is you need to keep maturing. The point is that Paul is writing to a church that is 7 years old and people whether they you know in in these seven years yeah new believers would have come maybe in the sixth year there would have been a new believer but he's writing to the majority of the church that is still a mature meaning nobody has grown up majority of the church has not grown up because of division so to answer your point Reita yes correct there will be new believers coming in a church. That is the normal normal thing that happens in church. But the point is they need to keep growing. We need to communicate in a language that they can keep growing. Encourage them in a way that they can keep growing at the stage of faith that they are they are in. Right? So what have we learned in the first four verses? Are we following? Yeah. The effect of division what it does. Division causes immaturity. If you want to be immature, be like this. Want to be mature, have a pure heart to receive from God. Amen. Shall we go next section? Next section. Okay. Next section is one of my favorite sections. Um, can someone online read please? So, next section is verse 5 to 10. 5 to 10. Verse 5 to 10. What after all is up close and what >> to hear people online I'm so sorry I'm so sorry. Okay, let me just read it. 5 to 10. There seems to see there seems to be some problem. We'll try and fix it in the break. Uh we're so sorry online audience. Uh if you have any questions, just put it on the chat. I'll try and uh fix this in the break. Okay. Shall we read verse 5 to 10? Yeah. Who then is Paul? Who is Apollos? But ministers through whom you believed as the Lord gave to each one. Verse six. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Verse 8. Now he who plants and he who waters are one. And each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. Verse 9 and 10. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field. You are God's building according to the grace of God which was given to me as a wise master builder. I have laid the foundation and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on the foundation on it. Okay. So verse 5 to 10 if we were to title this this whole section it is how as ministers of God we are actually co-workers and how we can minister together. Are we understanding how ministers of God can work together and minister together right now? Paul clarifies several things in these verses about ministers of God. And all of us are ministers. All of us have a ministry. We will all have a ministry. So this is very important for all of us to understand especially for those of us who want to who want to do say church or whatn not. But everyone in the body of Christ is a minister. So this is very important. Right? So let's let's try and understand what Paul is trying to communicate. Okay. So verse five, who then is Paul? Who then is Apollos? But ministers through whom you believed as the Lord gave to each one. Verse five, what does it what does it say? All of us are ministers of God. And God has given each one of us an assignment. There is no minister of God without an assignment. God has chosen them. God has appointed them. God has anointed them and he has given him and her a ministry. So when you call yourself I'm a minister of Christ, know that you are called by God first. He has given you this. You belong to him. Right? So all of us are ministers of God and each one have their own assignment. Okay. Verse six. Verse six. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. Now, this is very, very important. As ministers of God, Paul, what did he do? He planted. He swed. He swed the seed. Apollos, what did he do? He watered. He put the water. So, when you put water to seed, what happens? It grows. But who gave the growth? God. Paul didn't give the growth. Apollos didn't give the growth. They are just instruments. So please remember this in ministry. We are not responsible for people's growth. We are responsible to do our assignment. God will give the increase. He will grow. The Holy Spirit in them will enable them to grow and bring increase. You are only a channel. You are an instrument. You are a minister. Do it faithfully. Are we understanding? So Paul is saying what he what his role was. He came to Corinth. He established the church. He planted the seed, right? He got a few believers. So the church started started growing. He planted the seed. What happened after that? Apollos came from Ephesus. And Apollos came. He continued, he continued to teach and they start and and they started to grow. But who brought the growth? God brings the growth. God brings the growth. God brings the increase. Okay. Verse seven. Verse 7. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God gives the Sorry. Verse 7. So neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters but God gives the increase. So what is he trying to say in verse 8? We don't exalt ourselves. Paul is saying I I I planted but I'm nothing. Apollos also watered. He is nothing. Who gets the glory? God gets the glory. He is the one who supposed to be exalted. He is the one who supposed to be praised. So we do not praise a minister. We praise God. So this is very important ministry as you minister as you preach as you as you lead worship or whatever role or or you know whether you're doing administration you're serving you're doing whatever treat you know you should treat yourself as nothing Lord I'm here to serve you and you only you deserve all the glory you deserve to be exalted you deserve to be lifted up are we understanding right so we exalt god in our ministry, not ourselves. Don't lift your own name, your own brand, your own organization. Don't do that. Lift the name of Jesus. It's his kingdom. It's his church. Lift the name of Jesus. Right? Point everything back to Jesus. He's the one that has given me this, given us the assignment. We just need to be faithful in doing it. And we will read that going forward. He will keep repeating this. Okay. So verse seven. Now verse eight. Now he who plants and he who waters are one. Very important. And each one will receive his own reward according to his labor. Okay. Very another very important principle. What's the first principle we saw in ministry? One is we exalt Jesus. We don't exalt ourselves. Right? Second principle is we are one. So what is the church doing? They're dividing. I am of Paul. I'm of Apollos. But what Paul is saying is actually me and Apollos are one. We are together. Why are you dividing among Jazel? When we are together. This is very important in ministry. Especially as ministers. When we minister together, another pastor and other evangelist, another worship leader and other whatever, we are all one. We are all supposed to be united. We need to have the same mind. But what is very sad is this is sometimes not the reality even in our world today, right? Where people are trying to lift their own name. They are trying to bring glory to themselves causing this hole. But what's the principle? The principle is when you serve God, whether you are a pastor, minister, whatever, or you're in the body of Christ, we are one. All ministries are one. Youth ministry is not something great. Worship ministry is not something great. We are all one. In the eyes of God, all are equal. All are important. All deserve his honor. Are we understanding? Right? So, we are all working together. We are never in competition. We should never be like, "Oh, he did that. I should do this." No, he did that. So, pray for him. Pray. Praise. Praise God for what God is doing because we are all in the same team, right? We're all in the same team. So, we need to encourage. So what I would actually encourage is um especially for those of us who are young ministers, be an encourager in God's kingdom. When you meet another pastor, encourage them. When you meet another worship leader, encourage them. Tell them you're doing a great job. Tell them you're, you know, God is using you mightily. God is going to use you. Support them. Amen. We are one. We should act like we are one. So verse uh verse 8 verse 8 verse 9 verse 9 verse 9 for we are God's fellow workers so he's kind of continuing the same thought we are one and then he says we are God's fellow workers meaning we are working together right everyone has a different gift a different ministry a different skill a different grace but we are working together. So we need to we need to treat ourselves as fellow workers not go in the opposite direction. The worst thing you can do to another minister is to discourage them because you're taking them away from their destiny. You're supposed to push them forward. That does not mean we agree with everything or accept everything. If there is something wrong we call it out. But we need to push them to their destiny. Amen. For we are God's fellow workers. And now very interesting in verse 9, he says, so two pictures. You are God's field. You are God's building. Okay? Underline that. Okay? You are God's field. You are God's building. Two pictures. So God's people people are God's field. What is field? field is where farmers come to sew and reap. And he's saying you are God's field. Meaning always be in a place where God can increase, where God can bring the growth. Are you understanding? Only when the seed is in the field is when it can grow. So we should always encourage people be plugged into church, be plugged into fellowship, keep reading God's word, keep communing with the Holy Spirit because you are God's field. Only in the field you will be able to grow. Can you grow anywhere else? In the rock or in the plane? No. Plain, sorry, mountain where it's rocky. No, you can only grow when you're in the field. And every believer including ministers, including pastors, we should be in God's field. You are God's field. And then he says, you are God's building. Meaning God is building something. He wants to take you from here to there. He doesn't want you to be on the ground floor all the time. He wants you to keep growing. You are God's building. Verse 10. You are God's building. Now look at how he continues the flow of thought. Verse 10. According to the grace of God which was given to me as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation and another builds on it. So Paul is recognizing that God has given him grace to be a builder to be a master builder. He calls himself that means that was a calling on his life to be a master builder. He came to Corinth to establish a church. What is church? It's God's building. So he's God has put an assignment in Paul to be a master builder. And what has Paul done by planting? He has laid the foundation. Apollos has come to build the building. But he's saying I have laid the foundation. Then he says, he says this, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation and another build builds on it, but let each one take heed how he builds on it. So it's not enough to just have a foundation. It is very important on how you build that building. Are we understanding so far? Right. We are God's field. We are God's building. The building has a foundation. Christ is the found. We'll read that. Christ is always a found. We'll read that in the next section. But how you build on top of that also matters. Very important. You can have a good foundation but a very weak building. You can have a great foundation but have a very bad set of materials and we'll see that. Okay. So in this section, what have we learned? We're all ministers. We are God's fellow workers. We don't exalt ourselves. We don't put ourselves above. God gets the glory. He gives each one of us an assignment. And sorry, one of the verses I missed is based on the work we do, we will receive a reward. So there's a reward for our work. I think I I [clears throat] missed that. It's in um verse Verse 8. Verse 8. Now he who plants and he who waters are one and each one will receive his own reward. So as ministers, as believers, each one of us have given a call and assignment and the way we do that assignment, the work we do, God is watching and he will reward. Amen. So one thing very clear, God is always watching. Are we faithful? Yeah. So, we need to And then he says, "We are fellow workers. You are God's field. You're God's building." And then he says, "It is very important how you build this building." Paul has come to lay the foundation. But how you build, why is he writing this? Again, everything context. Why is he writing this? Because so far they have built a little weak. There's division, there's envy, there's strife. So, he's trying to correct them. How you build is very important. Don't build on envy. Don't build on strife. Don't build on division. Okay. Are we okay with this section? Yeah. We'll go to the next section. If anyone has any questions, just please post it online or even offline uh in person. If you have any questions, feel free to stop me anytime. Okay. Part third third section verse 11 to 15. Verse 11 to 15. Can someone read it? Yeah. >> For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Christ Jesus. If anyone build on the this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, and wood, and hay and stro, their work will be shown for what it is. Because the day will bring it it to light. It will be revealed with fire and and the fire will test the quality of each person works. If what has been built survives the builders will receive a re reward. If it is burned up the builders will suffer loss but yet will be saved. Even through only has one escaping through the flames. >> Yeah. So 1 Corinthians chapter 3 11-15 it is talking about how we build. So what did we just leave the previous verse? Previous was Paul is the master builder. He has laid the foundation but he's saying how you build on it. This passage is how you build on it. What matters right the materials you use. So think about this. Paul says I have laid the foundation. But what is the foundation? Verse 11. What's the foundation? Jesus. Everything in God's kingdom, the foundation is always Christ. Always. Any ministry, any call, any appointment, any anointing. It is the foundation always has to be on Jesus Christ. Nothing else. Are we understanding? Very very important point. For any work in God's kingdom, Jesus has to be the foundation. Nothing else. Not your own work, your own accolades, your own grace, your own gift. No, you build on top of that. You want a good foundation, always build it on Jesus. Any work in God's kingdom, the Lord Jesus is the only foundation. That's why church when Peter writes that you are a living stone and Christ is a cornerstone. Are we understanding? So even when when um in Matthew 16 when the first time the word church is said Jesus says on this rock that rock is the revelation revelation of Christ. The church is not built on Peter. Church is built on Jesus the revelation of Christ because Peter revealed that you are Christ son of the living God. Jesus said flesh and blood has not revealed this but my father in heaven. So it was a revelation. So the church is built on Christ. So in the same way our own lives salvation confess with our mouth believe in our heart Jesus he becomes our foundation. Salvation is on Jesus. Ministry is on Jesus. Assignment is on Jesus. Anointing is on Jesus. Anything in God's kingdom, any ministry should be built with the foundation with Christ. Okay, that's verse 11. But then he says, now if anyone builds on this foundation, so any ministry is building on top of the foundation. So he's saying, yes, you need to build on top of this foundation because you're a building. You need to keep growing. You're a field. You're God's field. You keep growing. So, you will build on top of this foundation. But look at that. If anyone builds on this foundation, he gives six materials. Shall we read it together? Six materials. First, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw. Okay. So, he's giving different materials. Okay. So, how do we understand this? You can have right foundation Jesus but the way you build your building with materials it determines the structure of the building. Three materials gold, gold, silver, precious stones is one set. Second set wood, hay, straw. So what is why is he putting this next verse? Why is he um why is he talking about you know these materials gold silver precious stones wood hay straw why is he talking about this next verse verse 13 each one's work will become clear so see when you are building a building it's your work right your your your your relationship with Jesus your ministry the words you speak, your character, your posture, your motives, your building on top. Now what happens? Each one's work will become clear. For the day will what? Declare it. So there is coming a day when all our work, our building will be tested. Are we understanding? There will come a day where it will become clear for the day will declare it because it will be revealed by fire. Okay, let's go to to understand this. Let's go to 1 Corinthians 4:5. 1 Corinthians 4:5 and 2 Corinthians 5:10 just to talk about what is that day? That day we'll declare it. 1 Corinthians chapter 4:5. Therefore, judge nothing before the appointed time. Wait until the Lord's come. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the hearts. At the time each will receive their praise from God. >> Yeah. 2 Corinthians 5:10, please. Very quickly. 2 Corinthians 5:10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that each one of us may receive what is due as uh for the things done while in the body whether good or bad. >> Yeah. Okay. Are we understanding? So what have we just learned? There is a foundation. Jesus is our foundation. We are building on top of it. How we build, what materials we use is very important. the motives of our heart, the work of our hands. These are how we are building. Then he says there will come a day when all of our work will be exposed, will be tested. And then so when we read 2 Corinthians 5:10, it says we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. And then in that passage, it says because it will be revealed. verse verse 13 because it will be revealed by fire. See I'll tell you one thing in this whole passage what is happening is see in this earth our work matters. How we build our life matters. How we build our ministry matters because there is coming a day where we will face Christ and we will be tested by fire. Fire means judgment. Christ will judge our heart. Christ will judge our works. How have you built? Gold, silver, precious stones will always be refined. It becomes more precious. Wood, a straw will burn away. Wood takes time to burn. Straw and hay burns quickly. Meaning when you build your life with the wrong motives, it will be burnt away. Your works will be burnt away. It'll be tested by fire. See, this is the other side of eternity. That's why we don't talk about it much, but we should talk about it because there is coming a day, the judgment seat of Christ, where all believers in Christ, all people who put their faith in Jesus, all our works will be revealed. So, you can you can hide here, nobody can see, whatever. But God is saying, and one day it'll be revealed. where you will stand before Christ, everything will be seen. Our works. So how you build your building matters. How you build your ministry matters. How you build your life matters. Are we understanding? This is not to condemn. This is to encourage us to live a life worthy to to build a life with the right materials. Build a life with a pure heart with the right motives, genuine faith in your heart. That is like building with gold, silver, precious stones. Because when they are tested by fire, it is actually useful. When gold is tested by fire, it produces something. Silver, same thing. Precious stone, same thing. It lasts the fire. wood a straw will be immediately burnt. Then let's read that passage. And the fire will test each one's work, that's judgment, will test each one's work of what sort it is. If anyone's work, now look at that verse 14. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. When you build your life with gold, silver, precious stones with the right heart, right motives, genuine faith, you will receive a reward. So please understand your labor on the earth, your labor for Christ, there is coming a day where you will receive your reward. You might think, "Oh man, is this all worth it?" We might think, man, I'm toiling day and night. Sometimes we have to travel far and wide for God's work. Sometimes we have to sacrifice a lot. Sometimes we'll be sweating. Lord, it's too much. You have to run a lot in God's for God's assignment. It's a race, but there is a reward. But do it with the right motive. And then he says if anyone's work is burned what will happen? He will suffer loss. Meaning the reward won't be there but he himself will be saved. So this is not a salvation issue. Why? Because the foundation is always Christ. So you are saved but you'll not the reward will be burned away. Are we understanding? Are you getting it? Yes. Little serious. Yeah, it is. Sometimes God's word is like that little serious. It just to give us an eternal perspective, right? So what am I trying to say? Our lives are built on Jesus. He's our foundation. How you build on it, our character, our motives, our work matters. Build with gold, silver, precious stones. Pure. These are pure things. wood, hay, straw will get burnt away. Amen. Yeah. Are we okay so far? Able to understand? Yeah. These are some some passages where you need to really go a little deep to understand the context. And because he's using gold, silver, precious or what does this mean? This is what it means. Because when it's tested by fire, it produces, it refineses to something more precious. It's already precious, but when it goes to fire, it's more precious. That's why Jesus says there is a That's why Paul says there's a reward for your work. Wood, hay, straw will be burnt away. Nothing is there. Only ashes, no reward. Your work for God should show it. Amen. Okay, let's uh let's take let me just conclude with this and then we'll read the last the fourth section. So or let me just say this before we go to the next section. If you feel if there is any area of your life in your heart that something is not right, whether it's your words, your thoughts, your motives, ask God for forgiveness, ask God to take it away. If there's any hurt, if there's any division, if there's any um whatever, because 1 John 1:9, it says, "If you confess your sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us." God will forgive. See, anytime we fall short, first thing we need to ask is forgiveness. Because if you don't ask for forgiveness and you keep building, we become like this wood, hay, straw. When you ask for forgiveness, we are washed. We are cleansed. Amen. That's why when Jesus taught us to pray, he says before you ask me for forgiveness, you first ask your brother and sister to forgive you. Meaning there should not be any hurt in your heart. You know I can tell you I'll tell you one thing. You can actually do ministry with hurt in your heart. Do you know that? That's how these guys were. They had envy, they had jealousy. So they are building their life like that. Paul laid the foundation. Gospel has been preached. But they had every jealousy in their heart. And Paul is saying, "Hey, build with the right heart. Build your life, your ministry, your church with the right heart." Amen. Okay. Are we okay? Shall we go to the next section? Yeah. Okay. Next section. Verse 16 to 23. 16- 23. Anyone wants to read that uh in class, please? Yeah. Go ahead. 16-23. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which the which temple you are. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, he catches the voice in their own craftiness. And again, the Lord knows the thoughts of the voice that they are fertile, futile. Therefore, let no one boast in man, for all things are yours. Whatever Paul or Apollos or Cipus or the world of or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and you are Christ and Christ is God >> God. Amen. Okay. So verse 16-23 it's talking about that each one of us are the temple of God and we should not defile this temple. Okay. So let's read verse 16. It says do you not know? He's like he's like kind of reminding when he says when Paul says do you not know? You should know this. You should know that you are a temple of God. What does that mean? The Holy Spirit is your dwelling place. Now, he's writing to a church. Usually, when we use this verse, 1 Corinthians 3:16, we always say, "I am a temple of God." Yes, that is correct. But he's actually writing to a church. So, the church is the temple of God. He's writing to a group of believers. That's the context actually. But yes, we can apply this personally also. We are the temple of God because Jesus says you will receive the Holy Spirit. He will indwell in you, right? You will receive power from heaven. So yes, individually we are the temple of God. But the church is also the dwelling place of God. The church is supposed to be the temple of God. Right? It simply means the inner sanctuary of our spirit. It simply means the sacred place where God dwells. That is what temple of God means. The presence of God. So verse 16 he says you are the temple of God. The church is the temple of God. Verse 17 he says what not to do. Verse 17. Verse 17 it says sorry let me just read that. If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. Why? For the temple of God is holy. Which temple you are? See, the temple of God is supposed to be a holy place. And so that's why it needs to be a pure place. And so don't defile, don't corrupt the temple of God. So what he's trying to say is the church is corrupted. Envy, strife, division. You are defiling the temple of God because in your heart you have created groups, you have created clicks, you have created division, you have defiled the temple of God. And so he's correcting them. He's warning them that you are the temple of God. And in the temple of God, it's supposed to be pure. It's supposed to be holy. There should be no envy. There should be no strife. There should be no division. Are we understanding? Right? Always read this in the context. What is the context? Context is a church that is divided. Why is he writing this? Why is he writing do not defile? Because they were divided. Amen. >> Okay. So don't defile the temple. Then verse 18. Verse 18, it's talking about wisdom. So now he's going from division to wisdom. He is basically saying just because you think you belong to Paulus, don't think you're too wise. Right? Sometimes we think that no, oh, if I have these kind of friends, I'm wise. That's what he says. Are we out of time? Okay. Yeah, we are out of time. Okay. We'll shall we continue next lecture? Yeah, we'll take a 10-minut break. I'll try and sort out the audio as well. And uh yeah, we'll take a break and come back and read read from the next passage. Thank you. See you in 10 minutes.