AMAZING GRACE

      "According to the GRACE of God which was given to me, AS A WISE MASTER BUILDER I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it," I Cor 3:10.

      In what kind of building activities would "a wise master builder" be engaged? As an apostle and missionary, Paul would be making disciples, baptizing them, establishing churches, training men as preachers and deacons, leading in ordaining them, and teaching them to observe the "all things" of the Great Commission, which includes a great host of christian activities. And for the most part, not only apostles, pastors, and deacons, but every other church member should be building up the church on the foundation of Christ by all the GRACE WORKS of the Great Commission.

      "According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another is building upon it. But let EACH ONE be taking heed how he is building upon it," I Cor 3:10.

      Every church member (every covenant person) is a builder, and we are building whether we know it or not. In I Pet 2:5 each living stone in the building is also a priest who is actively offering up spiritual sacrifices within that same spiritual house. In the same way every church member is a part of the building and is also a builder of the building.
      The way we build is by living a godly personal life, living a godly family life, living a godly church life, aiding each other in making new disciples, loving one another with a godly love, forgiving each other, and performing all other christian activities as prescribed in the New Covenant.

      "According to the GRACE of God which was GIVEN TO ME, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each one be taking heed how he is building upon it," I Cor 3:10.

      Here is one of the many passages which speaks of grace being GIVEN to covenant people to serve God in various ways prescribed in the New Covenant: see the following scriptures, Rom 1:5; 5:15; 12:3,6; I Cor 1:4; 3:10; 15:10; II Cor 6:1; 9:8; 12:9; Gal 2:9; Eph 3:2,7,8; 4:7-8 (I Cor 1:4-7); Heb 4:16; 12:28; Jam 4:6; I Pet 4:10; 5:5.
      As stated before, such words as "Grace be to you" (meaning may God give you sufficient grace) are used over thirty times in the epistles as a salutation or otherwise. This also makes it necessary for us to understand that the New Covenant is a GRACE covenant.

      "According to the GRACE of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION, and another is building upon it. But let each one be taking heed how he is building upon it," I Cor 3:10.
      But this means "works." And it means this kind of "works" works together with grace. This kind of "works" requires grace. These "works" are grace works and are opposed to man's works, our works, Law works, and flesh works.
      We must understand there are TWO KINDS OF WORKS. One kind of works is man's works, and the other kind is God's works. And these two kinds of works are opposite to each other, opposed to each other, contrary to each other, and as light and darkness they cannot exist together.
      These works are either God's works or man's works. There is no "in-between." If we do not build by grace works, the works must be flesh works, and God will in no way accept them.