The Foundation - Jesus Christ

by J.K.D. Johnston, Musselburgh, U.K. | Category: Key Truths From Corinthians | May 1983

The Workers

The vital period of forty days that lay between the Lord's resurrection and His public ascension into heaven was specifically aimed at preparing His apostles for the work that was to be entrusted to them. The objectives of the task were clearly set out to them in that authoritative edict given on the Galilean mountain where they met by His appointment (Matt. 28:16,19,20). The work was to be world-wide in its scope embracing all nations, and was to be age-long in its duration. It would be carried out under their leadership; the starting point would be Jerusalem, and the enabling power for the stupendous enterprise committed to them would be provided by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

The Work Begun

The historical record given in the book of the Acts provides us with a vital link between the Gospels and the Epistles and shows us clearly how the apostles and their co-workers carried out the directive given to them by their risen Lord. The coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost set in motion the outworking of the divine plan.

There are two mainline divine purposes relating to this present dispensation of the grace of God, these are, the building of the Church which is Christ's Body, and the gathering together of disciples, who are members of that Body, into local visible corporate testimony in churches of God. It is vital to a correct understanding of the truth of God for our day to see clearly that these purposes, although related, are not synonymous. On the day of Pentecost the building of the church the Body commenced, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ being baptized in the one Spirit into the one Body and indwelt by the Spirit (Acts 11:15; 1 Cor. 12:13). The Church of God in Jerusalem also came into existence at that point in time as a result of the one hundred and twenty disciples, gathered together in a visibly united testimony, being collectively indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

The coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was accompanied by signs that attracted a large concourse of people. Grasping the opportunity presented to him Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit, preached the word to the assembled multitude with such effect that three thousand persons were responsive to the message, and having received the word were baptized and added to the one hundred and twenty, thus greatly augmenting the numerical strength of the company of called-out persons which constituted the Church of God in Jerusalem. It is recorded of them that

subsequently they "were continuing steadfastly in the teaching of the apostles and in the Fellowship, in the breaking of the loaf and in the prayers" (Acts 2:42, literal translation-Interlinear Greek-English New Testament; Dr. Marshall).

The Work Widening

The numerical strength of the Church of God in Jerusalem increased rapidly as the work developed, and in due course there was a further widening of the work leading to the establishment of Churches of God in various places in Judea, Galilee and Samaria. Then the work spread to Syria, where the city of Antioch became a great missionary centre for the expansion of the work westwards. In this westward expansion Paul played a leading part establishing numerous churches of God in the Roman provinces that surrounded the Mediterranean seaboard such as Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia and Asia. As a tool of Satan he had sought to destroy the Church of God in Jerusalem, making havoc of it and scattering the disciples. The scattering, however, had contributed to the expansion of the work. Apprehended by the Lord Himself, the "destroyer" became in due course a "wise master builder" whose great objective ~was always to leave behind him in the places in which he laboured a building for God.

The Work in Corinth

The city of Corinth, strategically placed as a great commercial centre but notorious even in the ancient world for the moral laxity of its inhabitants, was one of the cities in which a church of God was established through the labours of the apostle Paul. Writing to the church in Corinth at a later date Paul described it in two ways, he called it "God's tilled land" (RVM) and "God's building" (1 Cor. 3:9). It is the latter description that we wish to focus attention on in this article. That building had a foundation that had been laid by Paul the wise master builder. The account given in the book of the Acts (Acts 18:1-18) shows that Paul laid the foundation in Corinth by what he taught there.

Arriving in Corinth from Athens Paul found lodgings and employment with ~ Jewish couple, recently come to Corinth from Rome, who, like himself, were tentmakers. While he provided for his needs by his day-to-day labours he made the synagogue in Corinth the base of his labours for the Lord. Each Sabbath day he reasoned from the Old Testament with those who gathered in the synagogue. The arrival, in due course, of his coworkers Silas and Timothy from Macedonia led to an intensification of Paul's efforts. Fierce opposition to the teaching he was giving forced him to find a new venue for his work. He found this in the house of Titus Justus which was contiguous to the synagogue. Paul's preaching was not without effect for "many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." It was this response of many becoming obedient to the teaching given that made possible the founding of the Church of God in Corinth. The pattern outlined in Acts 2:42 at the beginning of the work, and practised in Jerusalem, was being set out in Corinth also. The objective that the wise master builder had before him was not accomplished overnight, but required long and patient labour. A period of eighteen months is specified, and this was further extended by many days.

The One Foundation

What was true of the church in Corinth was also true of all the other churches founded through Paul's labours. He gave the same teaching in every place where he laboured (1 Cor. 4:17). Addressing the elders of the Church of God in Ephesus he said, "I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly, and from house to house ... For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:20, 27).

All churches of God have the same foundation; "for other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 3:11). It is conformity to the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings churches of God into being, and it is continuing conformity to the same teaching that secures their continuance. Writing to those in Rome, among whom he had not laboured he said, "Ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered" (Rom. 6:17).

A Spiritual House

Obedient disciples, as living stones, were brought together according to the pattern set out in the apostle's teaching to form God's building in Corinth. The building in Corinth was part of a larger structure fitly framed together in all its parts to form God's spiritual house, "a habitation of God in the Spirit" (Eph. 2:21, 22). The God of heaven no longer dwells in houses made with hands (Acts 7:48). True He was content to dwell in a material house in the past, built according to His specifications, and the material house that was in existence in Jerusalem when the Lord Jesus was here on earth was acknowledged by Him as His Father's house, but He spoke of a momentous change that was then imminent, when there would no longer be a geographical centre for corporate worship because the house would be spiritual in character. It would be composed of a called-out company of persons, the people of God (2 Cor. 6:16-18; 1 Pet. 2:9).

The Lord prayed that a visible unity might be expressed by His disciples in testimony towards the world (John 17:22,23). In the same context He also said, "I have given them Thy word" (John 17:14). The apostles in their teaching were transmitting to others what they had received from the Lord Himself. In setting out that teaching they were laying a foundation for a collective testimony. The teaching that Paul gave was the same as that given by the other apostles, but was independently received by him directly from

the Lord. He emphasizes this fact when referring to one of the truths that he had carefully set out in Corinth as part of his teaching (1 Cor. 11:23).

The unity of the people of God in the days of the apostles was visibly expressed in local companies of disciples forming churches of God. These churches were then linked together in a Community or Fellowship united in doctrine and practice (1 Cor. 1:9; 11:16). The pattern established in the days of the apostles is still the pattern for today. The directive given by the Lord remains valid until the end of the age.

The Opportunity and Challenge

The teaching of the apostles is still the foundation for churches of God. Those who are built up to form a building for God are also given the opportunity to build for God (1 Cor. 3:10). The service that they render in this way must be in keeping with the foundational teaching that provided the base for such service if it is to be of lasting value and meet with the Lord's approval in the coming day of assessment. It is service within the house of God that is particularly in view in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, and the apostle's words challenge us to consider carefully the quality of our contribution in our collective service. This aspect, however, will be dealt with more fully in a subsequent contribution to this series.

J.K.D. Johnston, Musselburgh, U.K. | May 1983
Key Truths From Corinthians