Believers are Vessels for Honorable Use

The Church universal, referred to in the Scriptures as the “body of Christ,” is manifested in the local church. It is comprised of people who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ and have been born again. However there are also those who associate themselves with the church but are not true believers.

In these verses Paul illustrates his point using the picture of a large house that would have had both valuable (honorable) vessels and worthless (dishonorable) vessels. The valuable vessels represent the believers in the church (house) and the worthless vessels represent the unbelievers who associate themselves with the local church. The valuable vessels are used for honorable use – as believers are. The cheap vessels are for dishonorable use – as unbelievers are. Honorable use is made by the Lord in doing the work of the ministry that brings glory and honor to Him. Dishonorable use describes the life & lifestyle of the unbeliever who is trying to be a part of the ministry of the church, yet nothing they do is acceptable to the Lord until they are first cleansed and sanctified by the Spirit.

The good work the honorable vessels are used for are an evidence and result of genuine salvation. The good work does not make the vessel “honorable.”

Likewise the “dishonorable vessel” (unbeliever) is unable to change their “status” by trying to do the “good work” the” honorable vessel” is used to do. The character and conduct of “dishonorable vessels,” may have the outward appearance of the “honorable vessel,” but they are still defiled on the inside.