I have a friend who is an amazing architect, he built his own grand-design home. But he couldn’t do it all. He needed to hire in the craftsmanship of tradesmen. Did he build his own house? I say yes but I also know he had help. Did Paul build the church at Corinth? The same answer. Yes. He did his job; he did so much and then other Pastors, teachers and leaders came and built upon it. From these next 2 verses I see 3 essentials for a church to grow.
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3 v 10-11)
Essential No.1 – The foundation. I recall visiting the site of the home of my friend when the foundation had been laid. It wasn’t much to look at. I understood it to be very important as he began to get me to visualise where the kitchen and the lounge would be, where the staircase was etc. It was a bit difficult for me to see what he was seeing and I am sure I just nodded at the appropriate moment. But the one who laid the foundation was the one carrying the vision. The divisions that Paul was challenging in the church were based on the foundations. I follow Paul. I follow Cephas after all he is the rock. In what was often seen as a joke I remember a period of time when it seemed every Pastor that went to a new church would begin a series on laying a new foundation (usually from Nehemiah) citing the need to get things right at the core. We have all come across phrases basically used for the same thing whether in the church or in government: Back to basics; the 3 R’s; The ABC’s etc. Whatever the Church becomes over the years and we have to accept that it will change whether we like it or not, we must continually ask the question: Is the Church today in the original vision of the foundation of the Church? That foundation Paul says is not a charity of good works but it is the Person of Jesus Christ. He is the foundation of the Church and every Church. Is what is being built upon now in the original vision of Him? Jesus Christ – who He is; the Son of God, the 2nd person of the Trinity, the only way to God the Father. Jesus Christ – what He has done; the sacrifice of the cross which demands our all, our repentance and calls us to holiness. His resurrection which brings new life to every person and makes it possible for the release of the Spirit in to our lives; Jesus Christ – who will return; to judge the living and the dead and who will sentence eternal destinations. That is the foundation. Not Peter. Not Paul. Not any celebrity. Only Jesus Christ.
Essential No.2 – The building. I love the Message translation, “Take particular care in picking out your building materials.” Paul will next begin to list those materials. The important thing is what he says in v10, build with care. We all know how easy it is for it all to go wrong. We know how a church can go from being vibrant to closing its doors. We know about hidden agendas, control and a lack of discipleship embracing whatever the world wants over the foundation of the church, leads to a demise of the church. So we build with care trying not to make a mess. We build with unity not division. We use the right materials that will last. There are many church consultants raised by God to help the many Pastors trying to build the flock. What a blessing they are! A Pastor who isn’t learning how to build is a Pastor who isn’t building with care.
Essential No.3 – Grace. From the church planter to the church builder to the church member enjoying what has been built, we need more declarations of grace, v10. The church doesn’t really have any right to exist on its own merit, save for their Saviour and Shepherd Jesus Christ. Grace from the beginning to the end. Grace throughout. Grace in every decision and every division. The very last words of the Bible are Grace. “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” (Revelation 22 v 21) In the end our hope is grace. No matter how big we get, no matter how important we become and how many people love who we are; we know who we are and we know we have no name compared to His name, we know we need grace. We live in a world starved of true love, oppressed, tempted, deceived and there are times when the church becomes stained by all of that. Grace.
There is hope. There is love. Grace is here. Grace is challenged continually across the world by preachers who are concerned about a sinful Church. The fact is the Grace of God is the answer to a sinful Church. To live by grace means you are not denying or trying to forget the sin in your life, but by allowing grace to expose it you find who you really are. Grace calls you to keep coming back to Jesus. Let Jesus bind up the wounds. Let grace be with you and with you in the midst of others. Let the community of God’s people be marked by grace words, grace reactions and grace decisions.
I laid the foundation of Jesus Christ by grace, Paul said. And we who build must build with grace. Until He comes let grace live!
3 essentials. The foundation, the building and the grace to sustain.
Missions Paul 