So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 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. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
In today's quote Paul explained again how neither the planter nor the caretaker has anything to do with whether or not a plant lives or dies because whether or not that plant grows is totally in the hands of God. That same rule applies to eternal salvation. Nothing beyond that mankind can do, beyond teaching, will affect it one way or another.
Paul said in essence that salvation only comes when it is underpinned by absolute faith in Jesus Christ alone, and that those who try and make themselves a part of that underpinning, or distort and try to add or take from that underpinning will be judged by fire.
The point of this lesson appears to be that we who take on the responsibility of teaching the word of God should be careful to teach it as Jesus Christ, and Paul, taught it. We should neither embellish the gospel with our own ideas, nor should we take away any part of it.~
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