Poems and songs about 1 Corinthians 3

1st Corinthians 3
We the Blessed of Re-creation
melody

We the blessed of re-creation,
Yet betray our carnal tent,
That by strife will rend relations,
Where the Spirit strives to mend
By the word we should be sharing,
For the growth of God's design.

We as one in truth are welling,
For Thy field and Cornerstone;
Joined as one in root and dwelling,
Yet rewards receive alone.
So, with holy fear and caring,
May our gifts exalt the Vine.

When we stand before the Corner
Will His voice as fire appraise
Work our hands pursued as dross or
Gold and jewels to be displayed
For His glory, ever bearing
Works unending and divine.

May on earth we habitations
Of Thy Spirit and His tools
Build in truth on Thy Foundation
Gain for Thy eternal use
That Thy flame reveals us wearing
Crowns the fi-re will refine.

Ways of men will vaunt then vanish
To their place of thorns and dust
But in Christ, where pride is banished,
Grace is gaining as we trust,
Not in words of self-comparing,
But in Whom our souls reside.

Words © 2015 by Stephen Popovich
Music: Regent Square 1867 by Henry T. Smart

1st Corinthians 3
Pearls in the World

Summary:
One day soon in heaven, the Lord will inspect God's dwelling place that he has been preparing on earth, living stone by living stone.

Stone dead, entombed in black muck at the bottom of the sea of destruction is man's dire place from which Jesus came from heaven to save. His word penetrates the dark waters and his victory at Calvary cracks the shell wide open --- his blood washing clean and white the stone we were; his breath breathing new life... Behold! a living stone of the Lord. (Matt.13:45-46)

Living stones in the flesh
(1)And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. (2)I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able {to receive it.} Indeed, even now you are not yet able, (3)for you are still fleshly. for whereas [there is] among you envying and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (4)For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

Paul begins his rebuke of the Corinthians by addressing divisions within the church because it was their most pervasive and deep-seated manifestation of their fleshiness. Where strife, envy and pride are active, there can be little testimony of unity.

We the blessed of re-creation,
Yet betray our carnal tent.
That by strife will rend relations
Where the Spirit strives to mend
(2Cor.5:17, Jas. 3:14-16, 4:1, Gal.5:16, 22-24)

Paul was used primarily as the Lord's seed dispenser; he distributed the seed of the gospel into the ground of unconverted hearts so that they might believe and receive eternal life. Apollos was like a watering can, feeding and washing with God's word, those who had already sprouted new life. Like babies, the Corinthians were more fascinated by the tools in God's toolbox than with God's great design. (1Pet.1:23, Eph.5:26)

Working vessels of God
(5)What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave {opportunity} to each one. (6)I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. (7)So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.

By the word we should be sharing
For the growth of God's design
(1Cor.12:7, Rom.12:6-8, Eph.4:11-12)

God's construction site
(8)Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. (9)For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. (10)According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master- builder, 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.

We as one in truth are welling,
For Thy field and Cornerstone;
Joined as one in root and dwelling,
But rewards receive alone.
So with holy fear and caring,
May our gifts exalt the Vine
(1Pet.1:18, Jn.15:15-16, Rev.22:12)

The foundation of Jesus is received the moment we place our trust in his gospel. It consists of his blood, his word (from the Father) and the Holy Spirit he 'breathes' into us. He then uses us to burnish and guild the living stones of his quarry by the word we keep by ministering it through our gifts. (1Jn.5:8,)

Note: There are two fountains of words---one which flows from the heart of God, also known as "truth", and another that comes from below (Jas.3:11). In advance of the Judgment Seat of Christ, we can get a hint of the quality construction on our foundation by what wells up from our heart through our mouth. (Ps.119:127, 2Tim.2:14-16, Jas.3:14, 17)

The house inspection
(12)Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, (13)each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is {to be} revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. (14)If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. (15)If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

When we stand before the Corner
Will His voice as fire appraise
Work our hands pursued as dross or
Gold and jewels to be displayed
For His glory, ever bearing
Works unending and divine
(2Pet.1:11-12, 2Tim.2:20,Rev.4:10-11)

At the Judgment Seat of Christ the words of evaluation Jesus speaks to each of us will cut to our spiritual bone (2Cor.5:10). Paul rejoiced in anticipation of the day when the work he did on earth would pass through God's inspection. His crown was sure to reflect the gold and jewels he helped to cultivate in other believers. (1Thess.2:19). Jesus' testing fire will reveal the precious metal of God’s word both in the heart of teachers and hearts of those ministered to. The contents of the heart of the teacher flow into the heart of his students---they are judged together (Ps.12:6).

Warning to the builder and building blocks
(16) Do you not know that you are a temple of God and {that} the Spirit of God dwells in you? (17) If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

May on earth we habitations
Of Thy Spirit and his tools
Build in truth on Thy Foundation
Gain for Thy eternal use
That The flame reveals us wearing
Crowns the fi-re will refine
(Rom.12:4-6, Eph.4:7, 11-13, 2Pet.1:10-12))

If a workman among God's people is pouring wood, hay and stubble in the hearts and minds of God' people, he is in effect destroying that portion of God's house to which he is "ministering". He then will be laid waste for the wood, hay and stubble in his own heart as recompense for the loss he is responsible for in the hearts of others. This warning is similar to other warnings given by God to his people where He says that certain of their action will boomerang back on to them (2Chron.24:20, 2Tim.2:12, Matt.6:15).

The fall of fools
(18)Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. (19) For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "{He is} THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS"; (20)and again, "THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS." (21)So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.

Ways of men will vaunt then vanish
To their place of thorns and dust
But in Christ, where pride is banished,
Grace is gaining as we trust'
Not in words of self comparing'
But in Whom our souls reside
(Ps..94:4, 11, Is.5:21, Job 4:17, 5:13, Phil.2:3-5)

The worldly wise is a fellowship of darkness that pines after God's creation but the Creator is their antagonist (Job 5:12). God loves his children and is willing to take the time to chastise us so that we might let go of the worthless fluff and pick up his precious words (Psalm 94:10,12). Christians who attain the highest heavenly rewards will be those, like Paul, in whom things of the world lose their appeal (Phil.3:8).