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THE CHURCH^S ONE FOUNDATION
(February 2012)
INTRODUCTION
I have been working in land surveying since 1973, close to 40 years. For the past 13 years I have been drafting for a Land Surveyor and a Civil Engineer. Most of the work involved buildings.
Surveying is used to establish subdivisions. Civil engineers design systems for storm water and sewage management for these subdivisions. Surveyors and engineers make sure that each house gets properly placed on each property.
The elevations are controlled by a Geodetic Benchmark. A Benchmark is part of a control system. Every Benchmark has a documented elevation, that is the distance that each monument is above sea level. By having the whole city on the same system planning and management of storm water and sewage is made possible.
Establishing the elevation of the foundation of the house is critical. The top and bottom of the foundation are both critical for proper management of storm water and sewage.
BODY
The title of this sermonette is The Church^s One Foundation. Just as surveyor^s and engineers take much care and effort in establishing a foundation so did God take much care and effort in establishing a foundation for His church.
SPS: What is the foundation of the church?
Our church hymnal has a song by this title The Church^s One Foundation P. 169 The first line states: The church^s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord.
Jesus was sent by the Father and came to reveal the Father and to establish His church.
Please turn to:
Ephesians 2:19 to 22
Ephesians 2:19 to 22
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Jesus is the chief cornerstone of the foundation. In Canada we tend to think of the cornerstone as sitting on top of the foundation like in so many churches and buildings that we have seen. The two temples that were built had no basements or foundations as we tend to think of them. The foundations of those two temples were build on top of rock, not in a hole. The cornerstones of these temples were part of the foundation built on a rock surface.
The prophets and apostles are basically the writers of the Bible. They were inspired by God who is building a church, a temple and a people. A parallel is drawn between building a structure and building Godly character.
As the engineers and surveyors plan and position the foundation of a house to just the right orientation and elevation so did God place Jesus at just the right place and time in history.
Please turn to:
Isaiah 28:16 (NKJV)
Isaiah 28:16 (NKJV)
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:
Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,
A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
Whoever believes will not act hastily.
This was a prophecy about Jesus written around 540 BC, well before Jesus was born. God is the ultimate planner. Can you imagine how lost we would be today had Jesus not come on the scene 2000 years ago?
Please turn to:
1 Corinthians 3:9 to 14 (NKJV)
1 Corinthians 3:9 to 14 (NKJV)
For we are God^s fellow workers; you are God^s field, you are God^s building. 10According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13each one^s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one^s work, of what sort it is. 14If anyone^s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
We see again in verse 11 that Jesus is the foundation that has been laid. Let^s have a better look at this foundation which is Jesus.
The scriptures describe Jesus in many ways. You could say that He wears many hats or that He is a jack of all trades.
Jesus is called;
Son of God
Son of Man
The rock
Cornerstone
Carpenter
Shepherd
Captain
Each one of these descriptions or titles helps us broaden our understanding of the foundation and also helps us to identify more personally with Jesus.
He is called;
Savior
Lion of the root of David
Lamb of God
Master craftsman
Some of these terms are found in both the Old and New Testaments.
Creator
God of the Old Covenant
King of kings
Lord of lords
Light of the World
Bread of life
Word of God
As the word of God Jesus is the author of the Bible and so the prophets and apostles wrote what He and His Father inspired.
Door
The Way
Our example
Our inspiration
Our intermediary , mediator
Brother
And last but not least He calls Himself a Friend.
He also has many benevolent and righteous traits not the least of which are being just, merciful and faithful.
This list is not in any particular order, just in the order that I thought of them when I wrote this. I got some help from Jean.
So what is the church^s foundation? It is Jesus, the well qualified, very talented and precious cornerstone.
CONCLUSION
Surveyor^s and engineers are very concerned about foundations. The Bible and God are also very concerned about the foundation of the church, Jesus.
We should strive for maturity, to be responsible and to exercise justice, mercy and faithfulness as Jesus gave the example.
Jesus is our everlasting foundation.
2012 Jacques Gauvin