LAYING FOUNDATIONS
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22 | ESV
Building a house is both a suitable and familiar metaphor for what it is to build the local church. While each house can look very different, most houses can be recognized for exactly what they are, a house. I think it is the same with a local church. You can identify each as a church, but in many ways, each can look quite different.
Mainspring is most definitely still in the “design” phase as we seek the plans of the Lord, our engineer and architect. We want the Lord to build the house so that we do not labor in vain. And we want Jesus Christ to be the cornerstone that shapes and upholds everything we build.
A strong and well built foundation is imperative to building a house that will stand the tests of time, storm, and the people that make it a home. Likewise, the foundation will ultimately determine the design of the house in regard to it’s overall shape and character. That which often goes unseen very much determines what is seen.
…the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone…
The apostles and the prophets received the revelation of who Jesus is. It was revealed to them that Jesus was much more than a mere man, a great teacher, or a prophet. They came to understand that He was in the beginning with God and that He is God. That all things were created by Him, through Him, and for Him. His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave would give atonement for sin and new life in Christ for all who would believe past, present, and future. That He is exalted and seated at the right hand of God the Father in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. That He is preeminent and must come to have first place in everything. And for all who will receive Him as both Lord and Savior, He dwells in them and moves through them by His Holy Spirit.
When Jesus asked Peter the all important question, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter responded from a flood of revelation summed up into one very powerful statement. “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “…no human has shown this to you. Rather my Father who is in heaven has shown you. I tell you that you are Peter. And I’ll build my church on this rock. The gates of the hell won’t be able to stand against it” While Jesus did change Simon’s name to Peter (translated “rock”) I don’t believe it was Peter himself that Jesus was going to build His church on, but rather the revelation Peter had received concerning Jesus. That revelation would be the unshakable foundation that the New Covenant church would be built on.
We want Mainspring to be built on the foundation of the revelation of who Jesus is, all that He possesses, and the life we now have in Him and through Him. Jesus will be the Cornerstone by which everything else finds its level and shape. We will seek to find our initiative and purpose in Jesus alone.
Our goal is to make disciples, built on the cornerstone of Jesus and the revelation of who He is, as He joins us together to make us, His people, His dwelling place, His house.
May Jesus always be our mainspring and the master builder of our house.