Jesus is the Foundation

Paul uses many illustrations when referring to the union between Jesus and his people. One of them says that Jesus is the foundation and we are the building. Imagine a building with twenty-one floors. Each floor represents each century since Jesus died and rose again. It already is a tall building, but we don’t know how many floors will yet be added. Perhaps, there may be another twenty.

A foundation can exist without a building, but a building cannot exist without a foundation. But what would the foundation do without the building? So when the plans were made for this building, it was recognised that it would be built on Jesus as the foundation. The plans for it are eternal. Jesus was called to this position by his Father: ‘therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation”’ (Isa. 28:16).

As far as the commencement of the relationship between Jesus and his people is concerned, he is a living stone and they were dead stones. They did not only need to be made alive, however. In addition, they were lost and scattered all over the place. He had to gather them by the gospel and make them spiritually alive by the Holy Spirit. That activity is happening today.

Because we are accustomed sadly to denominations, we often lose sight of Jesus as the foundation for millions of believers who are building on him. In reality, there is only one church of Jesus Christ. I wonder who the next stone to each of us in the erection of this amazing building is. Maybe it comes from Africa or Asia.

The building Paul probably has in mind is a temple in which God can dwell. What a wonderful prospect for the other residents in the building!