p. 316 | Building Materials by Editor

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 23, 1879

Building Materials.

By Editor

A BROTHER writes as follows:—

"I heard a Lutheran minister discourse on 1 Cor. 3, and on verse 12 he said that gold represented true faith, silver, true charity, and precious stones, true Christian graces. While wood, hay, and stubble represented false faith, false charity, and false graces. He tried to explain verse 15, but not to his own satisfaction, judging from what he said, and much less to that of his attentive hearers.

"1. What do these terms, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, &c., represent?

"2. How can a man himself be saved if his work is lost, and what loss does he suffer if he is saved?"

It is not surprising that the minister could not satisfy himself on 1 Cor. 3:15, with such a fanciful exposition of verse 12. Yet he has noted commentators with him in this exposition. But with such an interpretation of the terms we see no way to evade the conclusion of Universalists; for if they who have false faith and false graces, or who live wrong lives, may yet be saved while their work, that is, their faith and actions, are burned, who will be lost?

The whole difficulty lies in giving wrong meanings to the terms used in verse 12. The builders are ministers of the gospel of Christ, and no others. See verses 5-10. The materials are the converts made to their preaching; the building is the church. "Ye are God's building." See also verses 16, 17; Eph. 2:20-22; Heb. 3:3, 4; 1 Peter 2:5.

It is not true that a man may live an immoral life, and himself be saved while only his immoralities are burned. And it is not true that even a minister will be saved if he builds upon any other foundation than Jesus Christ. Some have self, the world, a name, or a salary, for their foundation, using the name of Christ and his cause as the means to accomplish their selfish and ambitious purposes. We have no idea that they will be saved, even so as by fire. "They have their reward."

The apostle gives a salutary warning. "Let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon." All know that it is truth that there is a marked difference between the converts of different preachers, even if the preachers are truly honest and sincere in their devotion to the cause of Christ. The converts of some are noted for strength and steadfastness, while those of others are more apt to be unstable, and in greater proportion will apostatise. It is not our purpose to inquire particularly into the reason of this, or to point out the difference of methods or of the zeal of the individuals. But the fact is beyond dispute. A zealous preacher is more apt to have zealous converts than a lukewarm one. An intelligent, earnest, persuasive minister will build up a church of better materials than will the mere declaimer, however great his zeal. The one who declares the whole truth in faithfulness, and instructs the believers in all Christian duties as well as doctrines, will build up a stronger church than the one who shuns unpopular points, or attempts to lighten the cross. We know of nothing more profitable for the minister to study than 1 Cor. 3. It is easy to understand that the minister of the gospel, however sincere in his efforts, may not be so highly rewarded if he gathers comparatively unworthy materials for the "spiritual temple," as if he labored more prudently, more in harmony with the design of the divine plan, and so had materials better prepared for the building.