| ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ( E ) GODS’ FOUNDATION - LOST OR STOLEN The word restore, as stated in section A of this study, indicates something lost, in the process of deterioration, damaged or destroyed. Restore means to reestablish, to bring back into original condition or to bring back into existence or use. Can these definitions truly fit the foundation of God ? Could the very foundation of God, the Creator of the heavens and earth, have been lost, stolen away, or partially damaged or altogether destroyed from use or existence ? Such questioning has no scriptural basis and the nature of such surmisings are really ludicrous, foolish. But if in truth, as has been stated throughout the years of the past century and in the few years of this new 21st century, the idea that God is restoring His apostles and prophets in the church, then of necessity such questioning and surmising must be taken to task. The Christian must take into account that if Gods’ very foundation is and has been in need of restoration, then logically and reasonably that foundation was at some point in time past either lost, stolen by some natural or spiritual power, in a process of deterioration or altogether destroyed. Let us examine the possibility of Gods’ foundation being lost or stolen away. First of all, no where in holy scripture is God described as being lost. Jesus Christ, our chief corner stone is certainly no where in scripture described as being lost. The word lost has always described sinful mankind and therefore God, Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, is always the one looking for and rescuing lost mankind; 3. The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. - Psalms 58:3 67. Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. - Psalms 119:67 176. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments. - Psalms 119:176 6. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53:6 ( see also Psalms chapters 14 & 53 and Romans 3 ). 6. My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace. - Jeremiah 50:6 35. And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. - Matt. 9:35-36 ( see also Mark 6:34 ) 24. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. - 1 Peter 2:24-25 Let us as Gods’ people, put into honest and truthful perspective as to who is lost. We, because we are sinners, are the ones whom holy scripture defines as lost. Not God. Certainly not Christ, the chief corner stone of our foundation. God, Jesus Christ, has always been the Good Shepherd seeking to save and rescue sinful mankind. It is sinful mankind who does not seek God. We are the lost ones because of our sinful nature. Therefore, the foundation of God being what it is, the foundation of God, could not have ever been lost which means that it has never required nor necessitated a restoration. With these things in mind and knowing that the foundation of God comprises Jesus Christ, His Son and the apostles and prophets ( Ephesians 2:20 ), then therefore it is simply unreasonable and indeed devilish to say that God has been and is presently restoring His apostles and prophets in the Christian church. Certainly the holy men of God, i.e., those apostles and prophets of God, were at one time, sinners, just like the rest of sinful mankind. They were at one time in their lives, lost and without God. They too were far from God as we all have been. But when God chose and called them for His purpose to be His apostles and prophets, then they became holy men of God and no longer lost. Once God chose and called His apostles and prophets then those holy men became part of the incorruptible foundation of whom Christ is the chief corner stone. Let us consider what Christ Himself has clearly stated regarding those persons whom God His Father has given to Him; 12. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. - John 17:12 27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30. I and my Father are one. - John 10:27-30 All the sheep of God, ( i.e., the saints of God, Gods’ children which include the apostle and prophet ), are people whom God does not lose. Gods’ people are not lost people. With this information in mind it is then reasonable to conclude that, regarding all of Gods’ apostles and prophets, ( the foundation of Gods’ house, of which Jesus is the chief corner stone ), there is no logical reason for restoration of those spiritual roles in the church. All of this being said then, it is unreasonable and a false witness to promote the thinking that God is restoring His apostles and prophets. They are part of Gods’ foundation, a foundation by whose spiritual nature cannot be lost. Therefore no restoration is required. Also, further consideration of the above referenced scriptures shows that just as Gods’ apostles and prophets are never lost, the same conclusion is equally true in that Gods’ apostles and prophets have not been stolen away. Therefore no restoration has ever been necessary for any portion of Gods’ foundation. Let’s look again at the verses in Johns’ Gospel. In chapters 10 and 17, Jesus stated these words regarding His sheep, the children of God; 27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. - John 10:27-29 12. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. - John 17:12 Christ prays in regard of all the people whom God has given Him and says that no one can take those people from Himself or God. Also, Jesus said that all the people whom God has given Him are people that He, Jesus, has kept. Thus, no righteous saint of God has been stolen away from Him and therefore, again, no need for restoration. Certainly, the apostle and prophet belong to Christ as they help comprise Gods' foundation for His church which means that the apostle and prophet has never been lost or stolen. Therefore, again, no need to restore the apostle and prophet of God to the church. Next, let us scripturally examine the last two alleged possibilities that would require God to restore His foundation, those possibilities being a process of deterioration or complete destruction. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |