THE FATHER AND THE SON: THE FOUNDATION & CORNERSTONE COMPANY
by Bud

The Gospels contain many accounts of the work and cooperation of God, the Father, and God, the Son, Jesus Christ. The Gospel of John presents the clearest explanation of how the Father and the Son went about their work from the very words of Jesus:

“…I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. ... For as the Father has life in Himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in Himself. “ John 5:19-20, 26

“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given Me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent Me. And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified concerning Me. John 5:36-37

“All that the Father gives Me will come to me, and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. For My Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:37-40

In ancient times, erecting large buildings required two important components for the structure to be stable and hold together – a solid foundation and a true cornerstone.

The foundation is the stable base; the entire building rests upon it alone. Bedrock was preferred (Luke 6:48) and in Jesus’ day a crew would dig down to it and level it off before any construction began. If bedrock were too far below the surface for digging, precisely fitted, cut stone was laid. Many times the only remnant of ancient cities are their foundations. In some cases the destruction of a city included its very foundation, like Jericho (Joshua 6:26).

Check out how Paul teaches the Corinthians that it’s not eloquence or logic that’s the strength of the gospel. It is Jesus Christ, Himself – the only foundation for us to rest our case upon.

“For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:9-15

The hands of men weren’t involved in laying this foundation. Teachers of the Word such as Paul, Peter and John, simply uncovered / revealed the foundation that had been promised and already stood before mankind. They uncovered and pointed to the foundation promised long ago.

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord ...” Ephesians 2:19-21

The Old Testament prophets proclaimed Messiah’s coming. The apostles proclaimed He had come and was the Jesus who had been crucified and rose from the dead. From the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane to the Tree of Life in the New Jerusalem, the entire Bible points to Jesus Christ.
(((Continue to page 2 by clicking below)))

Pages: 1 2