The Foundation of the Church (part 1)
Introduction. Because no building can be any stronger than the foundation connecting it to the ground, time and effort must be put forth to be certain that each home is built on a strong and solid foundation. If time, effort, and money are not well spent here, all future effort will be vain. Jesus used this truth at the end of His sermon on the Mount.
There is a vital lesson to be learned in all this regarding our spiritual life. Jesus affirmed that doing His words must become the absolute foundation upon which we build our lives. Each and every day we must return to that foundation to be certain we are still building upon it. When this life ends, Jesus will be there to bless all who kept these words. He offers eternal life to those who live and die upon this foundation. Those who have built anything, no matter how elaborate, if it is not on this foundation, will lose everything they have done. While in the sermon on the Mount, He only gave a parable, later, He would reveal the entire scope of this foundation to His apostles.
What is this foundation? What are the proofs and evidences upon which it rests? If we want to “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,” (1Pet. 3:15), we need to have some ready answers to this issue. Jesus forced His apostles to grapple with this question. They had been blessed to see all His miracles and to hear His lessons. He wanted them to carefully consider the true foundation upon which they were His disciples.
Simon Peter had been watching Jesus with a good and honest heart. He knew absolutely they were not “cunningly devised fables.” (2Pet. 1:). His confession was based on what he had seen and heard. Jesus summed up this evidence as what “My Father who is in heaven” had revealed. This included, but was not limited to prophesy and miracles along with the testimony of John the Baptist, and God’s own words at Jesus’ baptism. What Peter had seen as a result of all these things led him to confess his own conviction that “Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God.” Jesus called Peter’s conclusions that the Father had revealed to him the “rock” upon which He would “build My church.” This mighty foundation upon which the church is built is so powerful that not even the gates of Hades (the last enemy — death) can prevail over it. As the Christ and the Son of the living God, Jesus now holds “the keys of Hades and of Death,” and after His second coming: “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 1:18; 20:14). Truly, His being the Christ and the Son of the living God made this foundation absolute and immoveable.
Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God is therefore an eternal foundation. Although the apostles were eyewitnesses and received their convictions directly from the source, God wanted it so clear that He could later “command all men everywhere to repent.” (Acts 17:30). It fell to Peter to reveal the exact proofs that the Holy Spirit, sent by the Father, would reveal to establish the mighty nature of the foundation upon which the church is built. It is all set forth in the first two chapters of the book of Acts.
At the ascension, Jesus was very clear. They were not to leave Jerusalem until God’s promise had been fulfilled. This was the promise first given to Eve, then to Abraham, David and Zerubbabel. Down through the centuries it was made clearer and more distinct. A part of that promise was that it would all begin in Jerusalem (Isa. 2:1-4), and would initiate the beginning of the last days. Since Jesus was crucified just before the Passover and Pentecost was 50 days later, the forty days Jesus spent with His disciples left only a little over a week for the promise to come.
On the morning of the day of Pentecost at about 9:00am, God began to lay out the details of the rock that would become the foundation of the church. It began with the sound of a mighty wind coming from the house where the apostles were staying. Yet, because the sound was inconsistent with the reality of a calm spring morning, a crowd quickly formed to try and understand what was happening. As the people gathered together, they saw the 12 apostles with tongues that looked like fire resting on each of them. But what filled the crowds with the greatest amazement occurred as they heard the apostles speak. Although, they were Jews from every nation under heaven, each man heard them speaking in his own native language, and not the common Greek or Hebrew. It was impossible for the apostles to do this, but they all heard them and it was inexplicable! Keep in mind that this was a crowd much larger than the 3000 who were baptized later that day.
Peter quoted Joel to set the scene, revealing that what they were witnessing was the beginning of the fulfillment of all the prophecies regarding the “last” or “latter” days. Then he spoke of two momentous current events that were historical facts which had filled all Jerusalem and could not be disputed.
But what “My Father who is in heaven” had revealed to Peter when he made the good confession to Jesus, these people did not yet understand or comprehend. They all knew Jesus had performed these miracles, wonders and signs. What they were now being confronted with was the obvious conclusion they should have drawn from them. Many of these miracles were very public, like the feeding of the 5,000, and later the 4,000. But the sheer multitude of miracles performed in Jerusalem, Judea, Galilee, and even in Samaria made it certain that if they had not witnessed any of them, they had spoken to someone who had. As the man born blind saw it after Jesus restored his sight: “Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” (Jn. 9:32). Sadly, the rest of Israel still had not been enlightened to the true meaning of the facts they knew. After the amazing events at the crucifixion, especially the three hours of darkness, multitudes must have been wondering what would happen next. Even His enemies among the Jewish leaders were well aware of Jesus’ affirmation of the resurrection.
This second historical fact was seen by multitudes. Since many who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover either stayed or returned for the Pentecost, most of those in Peter’s audience had witnessed or been present for these events and knew they absolutely were true. The terrible implications of these words are clear. God had attested Jesus to Israel by miracles, wonders and signs, but the nation of Israel rejected and killed Him. Peter said this much more powerfully in his second sermon:
We don’t know how long or how much elaboration Peter gave on these first two points. Yet, it is made clear that “with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them,” (Acts 2:40). So, there was a lot more information than the summation given here. They rejected Jesus by the “predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God.” Did Peter quote or refer to Isaiah 53, Psalms 2, or Psalms 22? Did he speak to them of Gen. 3:15 where God told Adam and Eve the serpent would bruise His heel, but the seed would bruise the serpent’s head. There are also many other scriptures Peter could have discussed with them.
Conclusion. The foundation of the church is that “Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God.” Step by step, the Holy Spirit used Peter to lay out the facts of that foundation in this first gospel sermon. Thus was fulfilled Jesus words to Peter: “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’” (Mt. 16:16-19).
(We will complete our examination of the foundation of the church next week).
- “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: 25 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.” (Mt. 7:24-27)
There is a vital lesson to be learned in all this regarding our spiritual life. Jesus affirmed that doing His words must become the absolute foundation upon which we build our lives. Each and every day we must return to that foundation to be certain we are still building upon it. When this life ends, Jesus will be there to bless all who kept these words. He offers eternal life to those who live and die upon this foundation. Those who have built anything, no matter how elaborate, if it is not on this foundation, will lose everything they have done. While in the sermon on the Mount, He only gave a parable, later, He would reveal the entire scope of this foundation to His apostles.
What is this foundation? What are the proofs and evidences upon which it rests? If we want to “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,” (1Pet. 3:15), we need to have some ready answers to this issue. Jesus forced His apostles to grapple with this question. They had been blessed to see all His miracles and to hear His lessons. He wanted them to carefully consider the true foundation upon which they were His disciples.
- “He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ 16 Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ 17 Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.’” (Mt. 16:16-19).
Simon Peter had been watching Jesus with a good and honest heart. He knew absolutely they were not “cunningly devised fables.” (2Pet. 1:). His confession was based on what he had seen and heard. Jesus summed up this evidence as what “My Father who is in heaven” had revealed. This included, but was not limited to prophesy and miracles along with the testimony of John the Baptist, and God’s own words at Jesus’ baptism. What Peter had seen as a result of all these things led him to confess his own conviction that “Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God.” Jesus called Peter’s conclusions that the Father had revealed to him the “rock” upon which He would “build My church.” This mighty foundation upon which the church is built is so powerful that not even the gates of Hades (the last enemy — death) can prevail over it. As the Christ and the Son of the living God, Jesus now holds “the keys of Hades and of Death,” and after His second coming: “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 1:18; 20:14). Truly, His being the Christ and the Son of the living God made this foundation absolute and immoveable.
Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God is therefore an eternal foundation. Although the apostles were eyewitnesses and received their convictions directly from the source, God wanted it so clear that He could later “command all men everywhere to repent.” (Acts 17:30). It fell to Peter to reveal the exact proofs that the Holy Spirit, sent by the Father, would reveal to establish the mighty nature of the foundation upon which the church is built. It is all set forth in the first two chapters of the book of Acts.
At the ascension, Jesus was very clear. They were not to leave Jerusalem until God’s promise had been fulfilled. This was the promise first given to Eve, then to Abraham, David and Zerubbabel. Down through the centuries it was made clearer and more distinct. A part of that promise was that it would all begin in Jerusalem (Isa. 2:1-4), and would initiate the beginning of the last days. Since Jesus was crucified just before the Passover and Pentecost was 50 days later, the forty days Jesus spent with His disciples left only a little over a week for the promise to come.
On the morning of the day of Pentecost at about 9:00am, God began to lay out the details of the rock that would become the foundation of the church. It began with the sound of a mighty wind coming from the house where the apostles were staying. Yet, because the sound was inconsistent with the reality of a calm spring morning, a crowd quickly formed to try and understand what was happening. As the people gathered together, they saw the 12 apostles with tongues that looked like fire resting on each of them. But what filled the crowds with the greatest amazement occurred as they heard the apostles speak. Although, they were Jews from every nation under heaven, each man heard them speaking in his own native language, and not the common Greek or Hebrew. It was impossible for the apostles to do this, but they all heard them and it was inexplicable! Keep in mind that this was a crowd much larger than the 3000 who were baptized later that day.
Peter quoted Joel to set the scene, revealing that what they were witnessing was the beginning of the fulfillment of all the prophecies regarding the “last” or “latter” days. Then he spoke of two momentous current events that were historical facts which had filled all Jerusalem and could not be disputed.
- "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know — 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;”
But what “My Father who is in heaven” had revealed to Peter when he made the good confession to Jesus, these people did not yet understand or comprehend. They all knew Jesus had performed these miracles, wonders and signs. What they were now being confronted with was the obvious conclusion they should have drawn from them. Many of these miracles were very public, like the feeding of the 5,000, and later the 4,000. But the sheer multitude of miracles performed in Jerusalem, Judea, Galilee, and even in Samaria made it certain that if they had not witnessed any of them, they had spoken to someone who had. As the man born blind saw it after Jesus restored his sight: “Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” (Jn. 9:32). Sadly, the rest of Israel still had not been enlightened to the true meaning of the facts they knew. After the amazing events at the crucifixion, especially the three hours of darkness, multitudes must have been wondering what would happen next. Even His enemies among the Jewish leaders were well aware of Jesus’ affirmation of the resurrection.
- “the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, ‘Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.” 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’” (Mt. 27:62-64)
This second historical fact was seen by multitudes. Since many who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover either stayed or returned for the Pentecost, most of those in Peter’s audience had witnessed or been present for these events and knew they absolutely were true. The terrible implications of these words are clear. God had attested Jesus to Israel by miracles, wonders and signs, but the nation of Israel rejected and killed Him. Peter said this much more powerfully in his second sermon:
- “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life,” (Acts 3:13-15)
We don’t know how long or how much elaboration Peter gave on these first two points. Yet, it is made clear that “with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them,” (Acts 2:40). So, there was a lot more information than the summation given here. They rejected Jesus by the “predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God.” Did Peter quote or refer to Isaiah 53, Psalms 2, or Psalms 22? Did he speak to them of Gen. 3:15 where God told Adam and Eve the serpent would bruise His heel, but the seed would bruise the serpent’s head. There are also many other scriptures Peter could have discussed with them.
Conclusion. The foundation of the church is that “Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God.” Step by step, the Holy Spirit used Peter to lay out the facts of that foundation in this first gospel sermon. Thus was fulfilled Jesus words to Peter: “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’” (Mt. 16:16-19).
(We will complete our examination of the foundation of the church next week).