(1Co 3:19) “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” The world’s outlook of both this life and eternity is boasted of daily by man. Yet, it is simply the foolishness of the imagination displayed for the children of God to see.

(1Co 3:18) “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” The question should be, “How can I practice this?” Answer: turn your heart to God’s Word; dedicate yourself to it; read it; study it; ask the Holy Spirit to help you practice it.

(1Co 3:18) “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” Since sin in man has corrupted his thinking, “every” individual is to some level insane. It is only to the degree we seek before God to bring our thinking in line with God’s that we become “wise” – sane.

(1Co 3:17) “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” One can tell how far true Believers have come from the purity of the faith by the lack of deaths – destruction of the temples. At the height of its purity we had Ananias and Sapphira, yet today we hear of no one. This doesn’t mean it is not happening. Beware less you be the example of this truth.

(1Co 3:17) “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” We are so prone to hold forth our “right” do so as we please, make our own decisions. Truth: “If” you are saved, you gave no right to sin, but to keep self clean for your Holy Occupant.

(1 Co 3:16) “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”  The offering of the body of Jesus was of such magnitude that once we were able to enter the Holy of Holies through His blood (Heb 10:19), our very bodies became the temple upon earth instead of the physical temple! Praise His Name!

(1Co 3:15) “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”  When I read “as by fire”, I cannot help but think “as one saved and sealed by the Holy Spirit”: (Mat_3:11) “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”

(1Co 3:15) “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”  But, regardless, he shall be saved. The judgment is not for salvation, but for reward. Wonder of wonders! The Lord in grace (unmerited) saves the sinners and then rewards him for using the very gifts He gave (1 Cor. 12:11).

(1Co 3:14) “If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.” Normally, when believers think of a reward some day from God, they think of crowns (2 Tim 4:8). Yet, we know from Revelation Chapters 2 and 3 that they rewards can be varied and unique.

(1Co 3:13) “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.” The text is specifically speaking of the works of the saved.  How can one be reasonably sure their actions are “gold, silver, and precious stones”? Answer: when self is lost to others, to the Lord’s glorification, and one’s actions do not go against God’s revealed truth – the Bible.