Building on the Foundation

Building on the Foundation

Brian Culliton

Every building starts with a foundation. The foundation of any structure must be laid before the building goes up. If a building's foundation is flawed, or in any way unstable, the building will eventually fall. The Bible tells us that the Foundation of the Christian church was laid almost 2000 years ago, and that the Foundation is solid, free from even the most minute flaw; that foundation is Jesus Christ - the Rock and Cornerstone of our salvation! As before mentioned, a flawed foundation equals a flawed building, but a flawless foundation does not necessarily equal a flawless building. If a building has a wiring problem for example, the building may burn to the ground; but if the foundation is good, the building can be reconstructed on it. When we build upon the solid foundation of Christ, our materials will eventually fail; our wood will rot, our wires will corrode, our shingles will blow away, etc. But when Christ builds, He builds with gold, silver, and precious stones, nothing will rot, corrode, or blow away. So the question is are we building or are we being built upon the Rock - or are we on a different foundation all together?

Nearly 2000 years ago the Christians in Corinth were beginning to have contention with one another after they received the Gospel of Christ from Paul and others. They began to identify with certain teachers and divided into groups, putting their teachers at the head. The underlying cause of these divisions was pride. "Pride leads to arguments; those who take advice are wise." ¹     Some said they were of Paul and others Apollos or Peter, and others said they were of Christ only. Paul asked them, rhetorically in his letter, is Christ divided? He accused them of being prideful and carnal minded and reprimanded them for not growing in the knowledge of Christ. It's probably safe to assume the various groups contended for supremacy of truth, each group thinking themselves to be wiser than the other. Paul informed them, however, that the wisdom of man was nothing in the sight of God. He reminded them of what is written "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord." ²

Paul exhorted them to be united in Christ. He explained to them what the church of Christ is in a way they should be able to comprehend, even if they were still carnal minded as he said they were. Paul preached to them on the subject of the church. He expounded on the Gospel that he already delivered to them, specifically on Jesus' words to Peter in Mathews Gospel chapter 16, where He said, "On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." ³

Paul wrote to them, "According 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. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." ⁴     Here he is telling them that all who believe build upon the Rock, which is Jesus Christ, but we must be careful how we build upon it. He goes on to say, "Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each 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. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward." ⁵     Remember, Paul told them they were yet carnal minded yet they received and believed the Gospel of Christ. He draws a contrast between building on the foundation with a carnal mind - wood, hey and straw - and building with the mind of Christ - gold, silver, and precious stones. These materials represent the works of the heart. Pride, envy, strife, malice, hate, etc., are corruptible things represented by wood, hey and straw, which when passed through the fire are consumed. "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." ⁶     The gold, silver and precious stones represent the works wrote by the Spirit of God that comes from the heart conformed by Christ. When these materials are passed through the fire, they are refined and purified but not destroyed.

Paul said, "The Day will declare it." He is referring to the Day of Judgment when all things will be reveled. Revealed by fire is figurative speech, not to be interpreted as "purgatory" as some people believe. Paul didn't mean that our sins must be purged; he is referring to the Gospel message of life in the Spirit. Jesus said we are to store our treasures in Heaven where there is no corruption; this is to say, if we walk according to the Spirit, pressing towards the perfect mark, which is Christ, are works - that is the works of the Spirit that is in us - will pass into the kingdom of Heaven wherein lies our reward. These things are not corruptible and will pass through the fire, so to speak, without being consumed. But whatever things put onto this foundation that is not by the Spirit of Christ, is corruptible and will be consumed as if by fire. Nothing corruptible can enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

Not only is the kingdom of Heaven referred to as Heaven itself, but also as the church of Christ. Paul taught that when a believer commits himself to Christ and is born again, baptized of the Holy Spirit, he will also be baptize with fire. Old things are passed away - as if consumed by fire - and all things are made new. The corruptible things of our lives are burned away and the non-corruptible things of the Spirit sprout in our hearts. This is what is meant by born again, or born of the Spirit. Have you ever noticed the fresh new life of a forest after a fire? The forest was "baptized by fire," so to speak. The old has passed away, and new life began. Paul referred to the Christians as saints because he said they were now numbered with the saints in Heaven, having died to the world and are born anew in Christ. They are now set aside for God's purpose - a holy people.

Paul also told the Corinthians their bodies were temples for God in the Spirit; "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" ⁷     This is the true mark of a Christian. There are millions and millions of people who refer to themselves as Christians in the world today, but let me assure you, in actuality there are far fewer who are born of the Spirit. How many actually have the Spirit of Christ in them? We all need to examine ourselves and judge whether or not we have the Spirit of Christ in us.

The Apostle John, in Revelation chapter 21, saw a vision of New Jerusalem that he described as glorious. In his description the entire city is made of precious stones, gold and silver but he warned, "But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life." ⁸     From this we can see exactly what Paul meant by building upon the Foundation. Nothing that defiles or anything corruptible can enter into the kingdom of Heaven. The wicked will certainly be destroyed, but what about the deceived; those who, according to the world, have a good heart but because of ignorance were deceived? The Bible tells us it's the bitterness of our hearts that make us ignorant. We are ignorant by choice, maybe not a conscience choice, but by choice nevertheless. And if we are ignorant of the truth, it's because we have something in our heart that we esteem higher than God, our idol if you will. We each have to ask ourselves am I guilty of idolatry? Look into your heart; be honest with yourself because God knows your heart, "Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart."

⁹     So who are we kidding but ourselves?

Paul told the Corinthians, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." ¹⁰     If we are to be a temple for God, we must be holy, sanctified by the grace of God. We must submit to the will of God in order to be holy. Once we believe with all our heart, we should desire nothing above knowing and serving Him. If we truly do this, we will be justified. God will remove the punishment we deserve because of our sin. God will sanctify us, change us day by day more into the image of Christ. So it's the works we do that really define us and determine what we are made of. If our works are of God, that is, the works of the Spirit of God who is in us, then we are holy - set aside for His purpose. But if we try to build upon the Foundation ourselves, we defile the temple of God by the wisdom of our own minds. "Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness"; and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." ¹¹

"Let each one take heed how he builds on it." Every person who believes in his heart that Jesus is the Son of God and professes that He is his Lord and Savior is built upon the foundation of Christ. Notice I didn't say builds, but is built. What Paul stressed to the Corinthians was a personal relationship with Christ. When we surrender our lives to Christ, He builds us upon this Foundation; and likewise all who are His are built together in unity of truth. This is the true church of Christ.

To the Ephesians, who seemed to be more spiritually mature, Paul said, "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 corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined 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." ¹²     What a wonderful description of the church of Christ. Each person, having the Spirit of Christ in them, built up together in a holy dwelling place for God in the Spirit.

"…You are no longer strangers and foreigners..." Paul was contrasting who they once were, gentiles who were separate from God having no hope, and who they are now, a people united to God through His grace. The partition that separated the Gentiles from the Jews was torn down at the cross. They are now being built together on the solid foundation, having no more enmity between them. What was true 2000 years ago is still true today. Although many divisions exist within Christendom, those who reserve the highest place in their heart for Christ are of the body of Christ. They are, as Paul described them, "Fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." Because of Christ's sacrifice at the Cross-and the gift of the Holy Spirit, true believers are no longer foreigners but fellow citizens with the people of God.

"…Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone…" The foundation the Apostles laid was the foundation of Christ. Both the Jews who believe and the Gentiles who believe are built together upon this foundation. The important thing to understand is that they are not built on separate foundations. There is no salvation without Christ, "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Paul referred to himself as a wise master builder in laying the foundation of the Gospel of Christ. We can compare this to the Gospel where Jesus taught, "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." ¹³

Jesus is saying, either you are wise and build upon the Rock, or you are foolish and build upon the sand. Who is wise? Who can build upon the Rock? Once a foundation is laid, the rest of the structure is ready to be built. Before the structure can be built, there must be a plan of the details showing how the building will be put together, what materials to use, and what it should look like when it's complete. If we desire to be built on this foundation, where do we get this information? How about from the master builders themselves? The apostles laid the Foundation, that is, they gave us the Gospel and instructed us through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Surly, the blueprint for the building is none other than the Holy Bible.

"…the whole building, being joined 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." Everyone who is built on this Foundation is built according to the same blueprint. What's being built a holy temple; a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. And who is building it? Jesus told Peter, "Upon this Rock I will build my church." Not man, but Christ Himself builds His church.

In John's Gospel Jesus told a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well: "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

¹⁴     Here Jesus is talking about the kingdom age, the new covenant that God has written on the hearts of men. What does it mean to worship God in Spirit and truth? How can we know if we are doing this?

The Apostle John records for us a particular conversation between Jesus and a Jewish ruler, a Pharisee named Nicodemus. Before Nicodemus could ask his question, Jesus answered by saying, "most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus, being a very well-learned man, was baffled by the response Jesus gave to the question that was in his heart. Nicodemus could not understand how a man could be born again and Jesus responded, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." ¹⁵     This verse is the source of much controversy in Christendom today. In particular, the words "born of water" pose the most questions and disputes.

Among Christians, there is disagreement as to whether this means, "born of the Word" or "born of the flesh." This, however, is a minor disagreement as we are obviously born of flesh, and if we truly believe, we are also born of the Word. I believe Jesus is talking about our physical birth because it is within the context of the conversation. Contrasting the physical and Spiritual is a continuing theme in John's Gospel, and in the very next verse Jesus said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." ¹⁶     The contrast is: When we are born of the Spirit we are no longer "of the flesh." One cannot be born of the Spirit and remain in the flesh. Many do not understand this concept because it is really speaking of the mind. To be of the flesh is to be carnal minded, but to be of the Spirit is to have the mind of Christ. We live in bodies of flesh, but our minds should be on heavenly things as was Jesus' when He was in His earthly flesh.

Immediately after Jesus' discourse with the woman at the well, John tells us that the disciple tried to get Jesus to eat something because it had been quite some time since He had eaten. But Jesus wasn't concerned about satisfying the flesh and told them He had meat they don't know of. The disciples figured someone else must have given Him food to eat, but Jesus explained, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work." ¹⁷     Jesus is giving them (and us) an example of life in the Spirit while living in the flesh. If we truly desire to follow Christ, we should say the same thing; we should desire to do the will of our Father in Heaven first and foremost. It doesn't mean we don't satisfy the needs of the flesh, nor does it mean we can't have pleasure in the flesh; it simply means that doing the will of God and keeping Him first in our lives is far more important. If we put our trust in Him, He will see to our needs.

There is a much more serious disagreement, however, over the meaning of the words "born of water." Catholics and Mormons, for example, believe this to mean water baptism. Baptism by water, they say, is necessary for salvation. To interpret the Scripture this way is to totally ignore the context of the conversation. Nicodemus was trying to grasp Spiritual things but Jesus told him not to marvel. Jesus explained to him, "If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" ¹⁸     If Jesus meant we must be baptized to enter the kingdom of Heaven, certainly He would have used the word "baptized" just as He did every other time He talked about "baptism."

The other problem with understanding it this way, is that it requires the work of man in order for one to be saved. This is far from the teaching of the Gospel. We are commanded to repent and be baptized. Repentance is necessary for salvation baptism is not. Let me explain, to repent is to feel remorse for your actions and change you ways - turn and go the other way to be literal. To repent from a Gospel perspective is to realize that you are an enemy of God and desire to be reconciled to Him by loving and serving Him, and asking His forgiveness, also recognizing that He is the source of all truth.

Baptism is a public proclamation of that love and commitment. By baptism we publicly proclaim our death to the world and our new life in the risen Christ. But it is a symbol of what we have already done in our hearts. We are commanded to be baptized but it must be the desire of our heart to publicly proclaim our love of God. If a person believes and receives the Holy Spirit, they will desire to be baptized, and who can deny them? If they die before they are baptized, are they lost?

What about when men, who are unable to recognize when someone is born of the Spirit, deny baptism because their requirements haven't been met? Who is committing the sin, the person who desires baptism or the person who is denying it? The requirement of baptism for salvation is an attempt to build upon the Foundation by corruptible means.

Consider the commission of the apostles by our Lord Jesus Christ:

"And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mar. 16:15-16)

He who truly believes will be baptized, but condemnation is for those who believe not. How is it that we come to believe? Jesus told His disciples to go into the world and preach the Gospel. So in order to believe we must receive the good news. What we do with the Gospel is what will define our belief. The church is defined as all people who are in Christ Jesus, who are established in His kingdom by new life in the Spirit, who also place Him above all else, being united in truth which is witnessed by the Holy Spirit in their hearts and in their minds. These people do not exist in a single denomination. They are the true Christians and together they are the body of Christ, which is the true church of Christ. "For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." ¹⁹

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