New Jerusalem is Built with Three Kinds of Materials
New Jerusalem is a city of resurrection life. It was brought forth by God’s eternal life entering into and growing within all His believers, and it is eternally maintained by the flowing of this life.
In 1 Corinthians 3 Paul first speaks of nourishing, watering, and growth. Then he continues with laying a foundation and building upon it. Verse 9 is the transition, “we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s cultivated land, God’s building.” The cultivated land is for growing materials for the building of the Body of Christ, the forerunner of New Jerusalem.
For the building, 1 Corinthians 3 has gold, silver, and precious stones. At the beginning of the Bible, Genesis 2 has gold, bdellium, and onyx stone. And at the end of the Bible New Jerusalem is built with gold, pearl, and precious stones.
In the last two chapters of the Bible, Revelation 21 and 22, we see a city built with gold, pearls, and precious stone….In 1 Corinthians 3:12 Paul refers to the building up of the church. For the proper building up of the church Paul mentions three kinds of materials—gold, silver, and precious stones. Instead of bdellium or pearl, Paul mentions silver in 1 Corinthians 3. In Genesis 2, in 1 Corinthians 3, and in Revelation 21 we see the materials for God’s building. In these three portions of the Scriptures the first item is gold, and the last item is precious stone. The second items in these three portions are all somewhat different.*
The changes in the second material will be illuminated in following posts. At present we are in the New Testament building process on our way to New Jerusalem.
* From chapter 29, Witness Lee, God’s New Testament Economy, published by Living Stream Ministry, © Witness Lee, 1986.
Posted by Don on December 26, 2022
