The Church as the House of God

1 Cor. 3 takes up the Church as a building, the house of God.
“For we are laborers 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 master builder, 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." 1 Cor. 3:9-15.
This chapter instructs us as to our responsibility in God's building. The foundation has been laid by Paul as the wise master builder. Every man builds on that foundation. The results of his labors are varied; some, when tested, receive the approval and reward of the Architect and some do not, the laborer suffering loss.
In Matt. 16, Christ said, "Upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." He is that rock! When He finished His work, He returned to the glory and sent down the Holy Spirit. Since then ministry by the Spirit has been carried on in the building. All that is of the Spirit is of Christ and is perfect.
Paul speaks of himself as a wise master builder. How did Paul build? By his doctrine and teaching, with Christ using him to complete, as to doctrine, the Word of God. The foundation is laid; it is the apostles and prophets; it's the New Testament epistles; it is Jesus Christ.
With the foundation laid and the mind of Christ made known through the Bible, we are responsible builders in the house of God. We are exhorted, "Let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”
How are we building? Are we building with those truths that come down from the apostles and prophets? That is the only construction we can do that will pass the test of fire. It has to be according to God's Book!
We have failed much by not understanding that judgment is in the house of God, not in the body of Christ. Peter, addressing believers, establishes this fact when he says, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God." 1 Peter 4:17.
Simply put, believers in the house of God come under the administration of that house. My own father's house illustrates the point. In my father's family were nine children, so eleven of us sat at the same breakfast, dinner and supper table for many years. I thank God for that. There I learned that if I displeased my father or mother, I would be sent away from the table and not be permitted back until I met their approval. My father and mother had discipline in their house and at their table. God does too.