Part eleven should deal with the mystery known as the calling out of the mystical body of Christ as found in 1Corinthians 15 but first I will look into that mystery of 1Corinthians 3:16-17, 18-4:3, 4-5, 6-7; and then chapters 13 and 14 before we get to chapter 15. Because the Holy Spirit had a sound reason and purpose for this arrangement when He had Paul wrote this letter. Now for 1Corinthians 3:16-4:7. Which states this, beginning and building on verses 9, 10-15 and then my targeted passages; "For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? (John 17 declares and establishes this and Acts 2 and after reveal this prophecy of Jesus the prophet of Deuteronomy 18:16-19 who introduces Christ again in the world) If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly (foolishness) with God. For it is written (by Job 5:13), "He catches the wise in their craftiness," and again (in Psalm 94:11), "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of GOD. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the LORD God who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, Who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive His commendation from GOD.
I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?"
Much of the mysteries spoken of within the context of this passage of chapter 4 verse 1, have been covered elsewhere. Therefore I will look into a subtopic called, "of human limitations and man's limited resources." Then how these are brought about by mans walking in darkness.
Human Limitations:
Man Subject to Limitations;
Way hedged up, in Job 3:23 of 20-26.
Feet in stocks, in Job 13:27 of 20-28 and 19:8 of 7-12.
Time limited, in Psalm 90:10 of 7-12 and Ecclesiastes 8:8 of 1.9.
Boundaries of life, in Psalm 139:5 of 1-6 and Lamentations 3:7 of 1-18.
No power to change a hair, in Matthew 5:36 of 33-37.
No power to add to stature, in Matthew 6:27 of 25-33
Mans Limited Resources;
A little bread and a bottle of water, in Genesis 21:14 of 8-14.
A handful of meal and a cruse of oil, in 1Kings 17:12 of 8-16.
A pot of oil, in 2Kings 4:2 of 1-7.
Five barley loaves and two small fish, in Matthew 15:33-34 of 32-38.
An empty larder, in Luke 11:6 of 5-8.
GOD condescends to meet the limited resources and conditions of man,
Small offerings accepted from the poor, in Leviticus 14:21-22 of 21-32.
Two mites from the widow, in Mark 10:42 of 41-45.
A cup of cold water, not despised, in Matthew 10:42 of 40-42.
Faith, even as a grain of mustard seed, is mighty, in Matthew 17:20 of 19-21.
Two or three assembled in Christ's name have His promise of the divine presence, in Matthew 18:20 of 19-20.
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