Building on the Foundation
Stephen emphasizes that as believers, we are God's building, with Jesus Christ as the only foundation. Our lives are likened to a field and a building, both requiring life—God's life—to grow and be constructed. The building work is organic and purposeful, requiring materials of eternal value: gold, silver, and precious stones, which symbolize God's nature, redemption through Christ, and the Holy Spirit's work in us. In contrast, materials like wood, grass, and straw represent man’s natural flesh, fleeting glory, and human effort, which are temporary and of no lasting value. Stephen stresses that all believers are involved in this building process, not individually but collectively, forming one spiritual house. Our responsibility is to ensure that what we put into this building aligns with God's divine pattern—building with Christ, the Holy Spirit, and God's nature—rather than with human flesh or worldly pursuits. He warns that building with inferior materials leads to corruption and destruction, especially since the house of God is holy. The ultimate judgment, the judgment seat of Christ, will reveal the true quality of our work through fire, testing whether it is of God or of man. Even if our work is burned, our salvation remains because of the foundation—Christ—but rewards and glory depend on the quality of our building. Stephen urges believers to live daily under God's light, ensuring their lives and works are of eternal value, living for God's approval and not man's success.
Outline of Main Points
- Believers are God's building, with Jesus Christ as the foundation
- The building process is organic, requiring life—gold, silver, precious stones
- Materials of man—wood, grass, straw—are temporary and of no lasting value
- Collective responsibility: we build together on one foundation
- Building must align with God's pattern—Christ, the Holy Spirit, and divine nature
- Building with inferior materials leads to corruption and destruction
- The judgment seat of Christ will test the quality of our work by fire
- Salvation is secure, but rewards depend on the quality of our building
- Believers should live daily in light of this judgment, seeking God's approval
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.
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; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
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.
