God's Building or Just An Addition?

  In understanding how a follower of God is supposed to live, it is important to comprehend the structure of God’s building.  In describing this building of God, the apostles use the illustration of a physical building.

    There are three different parts of the structure, which make up God’s building.  All three of these items are necessary.  All three of these parts are what God intended to make His spiritual house complete.

                                 The Cornerstone

    The first part of this building is the cornerstone.  A cornerstone is defined as, “A stone that forms part of the corner of the building” (Webster).  A cornerstone was laid so as to give strength to the two walls with which they were connected.  J.W. Shepherd & David Lipscomb say the following about the cornerstone:

   “The cornerstone is a massive stone in which the two lines of the wall at their foundation meet, by which they were bonded together, and on the perfect squareness of which the true direction of the whole walls depended, since the slightest imperfection in the cornerstone would be indefinitely multiplied along the course of the walls.”

    The cornerstone was very important in the construction of a building.  If it were not properly placed, the entire building would suffer because of it.  Likewise, in God’s spiritual house, His house would not withstand, if the cornerstone were laid incorrectly.

    In God’s spiritual house, the cornerstone is identified as being Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 2:20, “…Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone.” Isaiah talked about this cornerstone in Isaiah 28:16, “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed.  He who believes in it will not be disturbed.” Peter quotes from Psalm 118:22 when he says in I Peter 2:7, “…The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone.” In understanding the necessary perfection of the cornerstone, who would be more perfect than Jesus Christ, “the author and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:2).

                                 The Foundation

    In every building that is built to last there is a foundation.  Jesus talked about the foolish man who built his house upon the sand with no foundation (Matthew 7:26-27; Luke 6:49).  The result of this foolishness was that the house fell down and great was its fall.

    The foundation that is in God’s spiritual house is a firm foundation (II Timothy 2:19).  Without a firm foundation a house will not be strong.

    The foundation of God’s spiritual house is laid down by the apostles and prophets.  Paul said in I Corinthians 3:10, “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation…” Ephesians 2:20, “having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets…” The gospel as preached by Paul and the other apostles is the foundation that was laid.  Without this solid foundation, nothing else could be placed upon it.

                                    The Building

    With Jesus as the cornerstone and the apostles and prophets s the foundation, what better place could a building be placed?  But who makes up the building of God?  Ephesians 2:19-22, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”

    Christians are the ones who make up this spiritual building.  I Peter 2:5, “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 3:9, “For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.”

    We are built on a foundation that cannot be moved.  The responsibility we have is to build on this foundation.  Our responsibility is an important one.  We cannot just build whatever we want.  Paul warns in I Corinthians 3:10b, “But let each man be careful how he builds upon it.”

    The foundation of truth has been laid.  It is up to us to follow this pattern.  Many people have lost sight of the foundation and have taken it upon themselves to add on to God’s spiritual house.  We cannot do that.  If we are to build correctly, it must be built upon the foundation that is laid.  Paul said in I Corinthians 3:11, “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” There is only one foundation on which a church of Christ can be laid.  If you wish to lay down another foundation, it will not be founded upon Jesus Christ.  God does not call for an addition, He calls for workers in the spiritual house.  Will you be one?

                                                                  --Shane Williams