What, then, is the rest of the foundation? Christ is deity, eternal and immortal. The church in Antioch sent a collection to the poor in Jerusalem (Acts 11:29,30), and later we find Paul taking up another collection for them (2 Corinthians 8,9). In this verse there are three words to which we should give careful heed:- Paul says in Ephesians 2:20 that Jesus is actually “the cornerstone.” Jesus is called the foundation because He is the linchpin, as it were, for the entire foundation. - Being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Now he refers to it as a temple. Also, John the Baptist said this of Jesus Christ in John 3:29-30, “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. However, a closer look at the wording will show that this is not, and cannot be true. Sproul was founder of Ligonier Ministries, founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., and first president of Reformation Bible College. No less important than the building is the foundation of the church. He had just left Magdala, which was on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, where he had just debated with the Pharisees and Sadducees who wanted him to produce a sign from heaven to verify To any casual observer, it seemed like the sanctuary was stable. Matthew 7:24 - Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: Jesus is the foundation of the church (cf. As it advances, it teaches the nations how to live. So he says, in verses 27–29, that God chose the individuals who would make up the church in Christ. Fix that problem! He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matt. Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one … 28:18). Verse 3. It is the Apostolic tradition that the church has received. Read completely out of context, the verse could be taken that way: “If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). 7:24-27). It’s important to note that the Church is built upon a divine rather than a human foundation. Paul's work under God was to point to this foundation, to induce them to believe, and thus to build them upon it. God put you in Christ. Matt. What then is the foundation of the church? The word foundation in 1 Corinthians 3 is the Greek word themelios , which refers to a substructure—something put down as … The future of the church was established on the mission statement in Matthew 28:19: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations . If the foundation of the church is shaken, can the church survive? Death, decay and depreciation cannot harm the church. The Apostles spoke with a transferred authority from Christ to deliver His teachings. 1Co 3:11 Other foundation can no man lay, etc. The church must disciple the nations. Historically, the Christian church is, in its very essence, Apostolic. The foundation is the most fundamental part of a building, upon which all else is built (Cf. Although there was no visible damage of any significance, a later inspection revealed that the foundation of the church had shifted to such a degree that they had to close the church and rebuild the sanctuary because it was no longer safe. For Christ who is its builder, head and foundation shall live forever. Paul says in Ephesians 2:20 that Jesus is actually “the cornerstone.” Jesus is called the foundation because He is the linchpin, as it were, for the entire foundation. Ezra 3:11 - And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because [he is] good, for his mercy [endureth] for ever toward Israel. This foundation is absolutely secure; it cannot be moved, and on either side of it there is a seal or inscription. Some people have mistakenly taught that John the Baptist built the church. And he says in verse 30 that it is by God's doing that they are put in Christ. Read completely out of context, the verse could be taken that way: “If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). The word foundation in 1 Corinthians 3 is the Greek word themelios , which refers to a substructure—something put down as an undergirding for what would be built. But there are other stones in this foundation. The answer is simple: “Somebody has been building churches when they had no right to do so!” Many religious organizations owe their existence to common men and women, not to the Son of God. In I Cor. The church of Christ is correctly called the church of Christ for several reasons. Elsewhere he is termed the foundation itself, #1Cor 3:11|. Paul will again refer to the "apostles and prophets" in Ephesians 3:5, as important leaders in the foundation of the church. Many religious organizations teach doctrines that are often foreign and contradictory to the gospel of Christ. See the very similar example in 1 Peter 2:4-8. The earthquake affected his church, and he later told me that at first everything seemed to be fine with the sanctuary building. 21:42 Jesus applies this prophecy to Himself: “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the … The Roman Catholic Church is obviously not the pillar and foundation of the truth. In Isaiah’s prophecy, chapter 28 and verse 16 it reads, “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundatiou a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” In Matt. Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. . But this cannot be true for several reasons. 2:18-21). And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins” (1 Cor. Because of this, great honor is paid to Peter to this day by these same professed believers. He must increase, but I must decrease.” Jesus, the bridegroom, is married to the church, and He must increase. If the church belongs to Christ, then why do we have so many different religious bodies in the world? The word translated" foundations" is a rare one, only occurring here and in Isaiah 19:10.The meaning of "foundations," first given to it by Aquila, is now generally adopted. This foundation-stone was laid by God (Isa 28:16). There is a great need today to understand the essential nature of the church from what Scripture teaches and not firstly from the role some claim she ought to play in society. By submitting to the Apostolic tradition. What we have here in the concept of Apostolic authority is of vital importance to the Christian faith. John, the friend of the bridegroom, was to decrease. We cannot continue to define the church existentially, that is, by the way she interacts with the world and the resultant changes she undergoes. Isaiah 28:16 - Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Paul said, “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, and your faith also is vain…. Isaiah 28:16 ESV / 244 helpful votes. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth. For permissions, view our Copyright Policy. In John 1:1, the apostle tells us of Christ: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Therefore, as the foundation of the Church, Christ will endure forever. 2:20, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone:” The “chief corner stone” is the basic, essential, and most important part of a building…it’s the foundation. Your gift enables our worldwide outreach. He was author of more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God. It is possible to build wrongly on a good foundation, but if the foundation is wrong, nothing else can be truly right. The glorious, unshakable, objective foundation of your being a Christian is that God chose you to be one. In Revelation 21, we read of the magnificent vision of the New Jerusalem, the heavenly city that comes down from above. English Standard Version if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. We can apply this idea to the church. It is clear from the text that Christ planned to build His church upon the truth of Peter’s confession: “Thou art the Christ; the Son of the living God.”. I’ve often pointed out that while the author of the line, “The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ our Lord,” had his heart in the right place when he was writing his hymn, the line itself is a conduit of misinformation. A new figure, the third here introduced to denote the change - that of a temple, of which Christians are stones. But he wasn’t just a page. Bible verses related to Foundation from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance - Sort By Book Order . And in the final analysis, to reject the authority of Jesus is to reject the authority of God. The same was in the beginning with God.” The apostle Paul says this of Christ in Philippians 2:6, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.”. We get the fullest picture of what it is to be an Apostle by looking at what He says in the New Testament about this role of His. So what Paul does now is to warn pastors, Sunday Schoolteachers, counselors, parents, and disciplers of all kinds, thatthere are three dangerous consequences of building the church withmaterials that are not in keeping with the greatness of Christ thefoundation.1. Please note that the name “the Baptist” given to John is a surname, because he baptized or immersed people in water. The term Apostle comes from the Greek word apostolos, which means “one who is sent.” In the ancient Greek culture, an apostolos was first of all a messenger, an ambassador, or an emissary. Berean Study Bible Christ told His disciples, “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak” (12:49). However, there may be apostles in a secondary sense. But what is the foundation of the church? If Christ is not the builder of the church, then the church is not the one you find in the Bible. Paul wanted them to refocus on the foundation that had been laid for the church, and then to build a ministry that was consistent with that foundation. But when Jesus said, “upon this rock, Jesus used the Greek word, petra, meaning a huge mass or ledge of rock. When asked why they believe this, many will quote Matthew 16:18-19 as the answer, explaining that Jesus said Peter was the rock on which the church would be built. In 1 Corinthians 15:3 Paul tells us, “I delivered to you, first of all, that which I also received,” and he uses the term paradosis, which is the Greek term we translate as “tradition.” Paradosis literally means “a giving over, a transfer,” and that’s what the New Testament is. Along with the prophets, they built the foundation of the church (Eph 2:20) by writing the New Testament and teaching its doctrines. The mission, passion and purpose of Ligonier Ministries is to proclaim the holiness of God - If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window). Post was not sent - check your email addresses! They have been built into the temple of the Lord. A common belief of millions of professing Christians is that Peter was designated by Jesus to be the foundation or head of the church. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Verse 20. But, as with any Bible text, what something means out of context is irrelevant. What evidence is there for the resurrection of Jesus? The foundation, Paul tells us, consists of the prophets and the Apostles (Eph. Eph 2:20 Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. However, in reality it was unfit for use, and it had to be demolished and rebuilt upon a sure foundation. In the context, he has referred to the church as a household or nation (v19). Jesus had just arrived with the disciples at Caesarea Philippi, about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. 3:11, we are given the answer, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” However, let us read Matt. But there are other stones in this foundation. There is only one foundation of the church (Mt 16:16). More than forty years ago, Los Angeles experienced a terrible earthquake, one of the worst in the city’s history. 1 Peter 2:4-8. The Apostles taught with the authority of Jesus, who taught with the authority of God. Jesus was granted authority by God the Father to speak on behalf of the Father and to deliver His Father’s Word, so Jesus’ teaching had God’s authority. .” The verse does not invite us to make disciples “in” the nations but “of” the nations. 21:42 Jesus applies this prophecy to Himself: “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” Later in Acts 4:11 the apostle Peter, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, applies this same prophecy to Jesus: “This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.” Jesus, and not Peter, is the head of the church, as well as its foundation. 15:14, 17). That foundation is the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. He describes the foundation of this temple as the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus being the chief cornerstone. With so many different churches existing in the world today, with conflicting doctrines, you may be wondering why it’s important that Jesus Christ should be the builder and foundation of the church. Paul wanted them to refocus on the foundation that had been laid for the church, and then to build a ministry that was consistent with that foundation. in all its fullness to as many people as possible. In Matt 14:10 John the Baptist was beheaded. The Greek word “apostolos” simply means “sent one.” 5 Yet she on earth has union with God the Three-in-One; and mystic, sweet communion with those whose rest is won: O happy ones and holy! In the context, he has referred to the church as a household or nation (v19). When ,Jesus said, “I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter”, Jesus used the Greek word for Peter which is petros meaning stone, a rock, a small pebble, etc. First of all, John the Baptist referred to Jesus Christ as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” – John 1:29. Isaiah 28:16 - Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Answering that question correctly will help us guard the foundation and preserve His truth. No one can deny that this religion of ours is a tremendous mystery, resting as it does on the one who showed himself as a human being, and met, as such, every demand of the Spirit in … But, as with any Bible text, what something means out of context is irrelevant. I’ve often taught on this subject—the foundation of the church—in my years of ministry. His preaching laid it in their hearts. Some churches teach that the apostles or an apostle was the foundation of the New Testament church. What does it mean that “by His wounds we are healed”. The first Apostle in the New Testament was actually Jesus, for He was sent by His Father into the world. Jesus said, “I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me” (John 8:28). The church received it from the Apostles, who received it from Christ, who received it from God. In this verse Paul brings us the picture of the foundation of a building. Perhaps there is some of both, that the false teachers were accusing the apostles of following cleverly devised tales, but Peter is turning it back on them, saying, “It is not we who are following cleverly devised tales (as they assert), but rather they are f… John the Baptist did not build the church, and so it should not wear his name. Some have mistakenly interpreted this passage to mean that Christ built His church on Peter. Whatever it is, upon it the church was built by Christ. No building is stronger than its foundation. However, that is not all that the New Testament says about the church’s foundation. In a sense, Peter was the rock “foundation” of the church. The two words are as different as their meanings. Such designation is not a denominational name nor the only exclusive name by which the Bible refers to the church. But how do we recognize Apostolic authority? We not only have the apostolic witness to Jesus as they saw Him on the mount of transfiguration (1:16-18), but also (v. 19 in Greek begins with “and”) “we have the prophetic word made more sure.” “We” refers first to the apostles (as in 1:16-18), and by extension to the church. If John the Baptist was dead when Jesus made this statement, then John the Baptist could not have built the church. English Standard Version if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. 16:18 where Jesus says, “upon this rock I will build my church.” What is this “rock” to which Jesus refers? It is, remember, the Church of the living God, the pillar and the foundation of the truth. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. In Isaiah’s prophecy, chapter 28 and verse 16 it reads, “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundatiou a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” In Matt. The apostle Paul also writes in Eph. a huge mass of ledge of rock. 1 … Cited paragraphs of the Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC 100, “ The task of interpreting the Word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church , that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him.” Now he refers to it as a temple. But because Christ founded the church and because he is the very foundation of the church it is very appropriately called the church of Christ. The … It is, remember, the Church of the living God, the pillar and the foundation of the truth. With respect to the foundation of the church, Scripture does speak of Jesus as the foundation: “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God … shall be the church at rest! The Ligonier Ministries site requires Javascript, but you’ve got Javascript disabled. The angel said to Zacharias, his father, “thou shalt call his name John.” – Luke 1 :13. Verse 14 tells us that “the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Even the heavenly Jerusalem is based upon the foundation of the apostles. 3:11). People's Bible Notes for Ephesians 2:20. In Ephesians 2:20-22 Paul uses an illustration to describe the blessings we have in the church. Injury to the Church The first consequence is that the church will beinjured.Verse 12: \"Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold,silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble—each man's work willbec… First published in Tabletalk Magazine, an outreach of Ligonier. He was an emissary who was authorized by the king to represent the king in his absence, and he bore the king’s authority. [⇑ See verse text ⇑] The family and kingdom of God (Ephesians 2:19) are "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets." God laid the foundation by them; but Christ himself is the chief corner - stone of the foundation. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth. No one can deny that this religion of ours is a tremendous mystery, resting as it does on the one who showed himself as a human being, and met, as such, every demand of the Spirit in the sight of angels as well as of men. Paul's work under God was to point to this foundation, to induce them to believe, and thus … That’s why when we reject the teaching of the Apostles—the Apostolic tradition of the New Testament—we’re rejecting the very authority of God. We must begin with the word of God in order to get a sense of the kind of entity she is, and from there we can decide on the kind of tasks she ought to be engaged in. And it had to be demolished and rebuilt upon a sure foundation help us guard the foundation of bridegroom. God 's doing that they are put in Christ are no apostles in sense. 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