Isaiah - Verse By Verse

Walking through Ephesians - Day 43

versebyverse | December 04, 2007 17:49

Thought:  To me, great rejoicing should spring from our hearts when we see God's great plan of "the church" and Christ, its cornerstone.

Question:  Have we studied all about the prophets and disciples enough to know and appreciate what our "church" is founded upon?

Scripture:  Ephesians 2:20 (NIV):  "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone."

This God-ordained change was well-established by God throughout time's eras.  The church, united from many nations and races, a world-wide brotherhood in Christ, was already a plan to God before He invented time.  The Old Testament prophets foresaw its scope and beauty, and the apostles brought it to inception in God's timing, after Christ departed the earth.  These men of God, filled by His Spirit, (thus united in theme, doctrine and purpose), laid the groundwork, the "foundation", for the church to take its footing.  That Jew and Gentile would unite was no freak accident, no new development at all.  It was purposed all along.  This great fore-ordained foundation is unmoveable and flawless because it has as its cornerstone, Jesus Christ.  A cornerstone sets the pace for all other stones.  A cornerstone is primary and determines what kind of building will be produced.  It undergirds and anchors all other stones.  It supports.  It is laid first.  And it becomes unseen underneath the superstructure.

The word "himself" here, to me, shows how God became flesh to join the prophets and apostles in making up the foundation of the church.  The church is based on the blood of these martyrs, Christ being the extreme example.  All the apostles died as martyrs, and scripture often refers to the fact that the prophets were slain.  Great sacrifice established the existence of the church.  

Prayer:  I praise You, Oh, Lord, for the great forethought You had and the great pre-planning You did, out of love for us, to establish the groundwork of Your dynamic church.  Amen. 

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