It is a gathering of people that have been called out. Ex 28:9-10 (NAS). 2:20; 1Pet. 2:4, 6-7), which means that the very existence and the purpose of the church depend on and flow out of the person and the work of Jesus Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one bodywhether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or freeand have all been made to drink into one Spirit. Then after the church is cleansed we will cleanse the whole world from its evil ways into the liberty of Jesus Christ. Notice that it says "If any man builds." Eph 3:10-11 (NIV). Rev 21:14 (NAS). Similarly, the twelve apostles signify every aspect of doctrine concerning the Lord, and life conforming to His commandments. John 20:21) who then sends out the twelve. "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem (who we are), which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name" (Revelation 3:12 NAS). The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. 12-21). The Salvation of Man. 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, which, He said, you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. We can do this with courage and resilience because of our great privilege to be an apostolic church that stands on Jesus, our chief cornerstone. Earthly Jerusalem was the place where Gods presence dwelt in the Old Testament and where people would go and gather to hear and minister to God. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. - Have twelve gates named after the twelve tribes of Israel, twelve foundations named after the twelve Apostles of Christ, is as a cube measuring 1.9 million square miles (1500 miles per side and height), walls of jasper, construction and streets of pure gold, gates of pearls and walls covered with precious stones (vv. If any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire. But if we build our lives with the Spirit of truth we will be building with gold, silver, precious stones, which are only purified by fire. Roman Catholicism, Christian church that has been the decisive spiritual force in the history of Western civilization. God has put all the names of the tribes of Israel and to memorialize their service to Him in this city forever an ever. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 Thanks Jesus for Being the Foundation of the Church. This line of thinking assumes that Gods revelation needs to be updated from one context to another and that we ought to be paying attention to the newest revelation that God desires to communicate to us. In fact, one can easily argue that it is the most fundamental and crucial part of any building. Commentary on Matthew's Gospel 10, 9-10: SC 162, 173-177. Why do we want to keep people in or out? "And Joseph named the first-born Manasseh, "For, he said,"` "God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household" (Genesis 41:51). Andrew = A strong man, we are to be strong in Christ. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH CAN YOU HAVE SALVATION WITHOUT ANY INHERITANCE? Rev 21:14(NAS). We the church are a chip off the same rock that Jesus is from, which is the Spirit of our Father that is eternal and can never pass away. Jude expresses this idea in his letter as he writes: I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). This great message of the atoning work of Christ is . The foundation are various. In the meaning of their names are the attributes of Jesus that we must have in us if we are to carry the name of our God and His city. We are being made into the same precious gem as Jesus is, for the entire world to see Him through us. John 1:17 says, "For the law was Hebrews 12:22 which we have looked at, starts by telling believers that they have come to Mt Zion, the Heavenly Jerusalem. In this assessment of the nature and the implications of the apostolic foundation of the church, what we observe is that Jesus and his message of the gospel sit at the very heart of the identity and the call of the apostles, thereby the foundation of the church. Do you believe that too? No! This understanding fails to recognize the core identity of the apostles: faithful proclamation and preservation of the gospel message that was directly received from Jesus. "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. He then explains the church of Jesus Christ; 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to thegeneral assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven,to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. That is to say, the apostles in a very real sense give us Christ. The Fall of Man. (See Rev. In ancient Israel, a disciple was one who chose to follow a teacher and emulate both his lifestyle and teachings. I remember the event because just before the e "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets." Were Apostles Unique and Unrepeatable Messengers of Christ? This scripture is talking about Moses, and its referring to the Israelites that gathered around mt Sinai as Moses spoke to the angel of the Lord, as an Ekklesia, an assembly or gathering of people that had been called. These building materials are not long lasting, but will burn up under the fires that life brings our way. (See Is 11:2). 1 Kings 5:17 At the king's command they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones. Acts 7:38 (WEB)38 This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living revelations to give to us. When scripture says Christ is the head of the church, it is referring to the resurrected Christ. The 12 Foundation Stones in New Jerusalem - Christian Evidence Peter had just received the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God. The Heavenly Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9-27) [New Jerusalem] - Simply Bible 1 Apostolic Doctrine Understanding Our Teaching And Heritage By Bro. Ex 28:17-22 (NAS). As D.A. Scripture states that Jesus is the chief cornerstone (Eph. Firstly, the writer of Hebrews starts by telling Christians that they have not come to the same church that was on mt Sinai in the wilderness as Moses spoke to the Angel. It all has to do with the building materials we are using, such as the religious and worldly system, which are wood, hay, and straw. We are to be built upon the truth that Jesus is the Christ, He is salvation, the [WALL] of deliverance, protection, and provision. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.. Paul is an exceptional case, receiving his apostleship by a slightly different means (1Cor. These original apostles along with the prophets who testified beforehand of Christ, gave us the foundation upon which the church is built: Jesus Christ who is himself the chief cornerstone . We may be drawn to one foundation over another, but all are important. This means that one will not do something without the other; they are equals! The Seven-Fold Ministry of the Holy Spirit, Accused of Committing The Unforgivable Sin, 13 Divine Principles on Spiritual Warfare, The Importance of Scriptures in the life of a Believer, THREE GREAT TRIBULATIONS Part 3 (The Three great Tribulations), THREE GREAT TRIBULATIONS-Part 2 (The Abomination of Desolation), THREE GREAT TRIBULATIONS Part1 (Mathew 24 and Luke 21), How to Exercise Justice without Compromising Mercy, The Tabernacle of Moses and Your Body Part2, The Tabernacle of Moses and your Body Part 1, Assurances of Eternal Security in Salvation, 5 Characteristics Of The Born Again Spirit. Jesus is Lord of all, He alone holds all power, wisdom and authority, which the seven spirits represent, seven is the number of wholeness and completeness. Jesus is called the "Salvation of God." Please be aware that these items are sent out from our office in the UK. Twelve precious stones in the foundation of the New Jerusalem The New Testament writers words are truth from God because they are the foundation of true spiritual reality that was imprinted in them for three and a half years when they walked with Jesus. And we must thank Him for them! All views expressed in this essay are those of the author. Peter himself gave testimony when he proclaimed Jesus as Christ, the Son of the living God, and Jesus affirmed that upon this truth He would build His church . Revelation 21:18 says that the wall is made of jasper stone, this is the very stone that Jesus is liken to Who is seated on the throne in chapter 4:3, the bride is liken to the same when she descends out of heaven in 21:11. Now if you can imagine for a moment the city of God that John likened us to, built out of precious stones that shines with the glory of God for all eternity. He is over joyed to call us His brethren, family, and friend because that is who we are, we have His same Spirit living and abiding in us as He is in Jesus. An intriguing observation regarding Revelation chapter 21 is that all 12 of the gems mentioned for adorning the New Jerusalem are anisotropic gems, i.e., gems that can show colorful patterns under pure light. (See Luke 2:30). Paul's epistles represented his effort to unify the various localized doctrines, and set standards for all the various churches to look up to. This good news is to be received and believed by faith, once for all. Paul = small or little, we are to be in our own eyes. We must have these twelve foundational stones as our attributes in our life if we want to make up the walls of the city of our God. The rock that Jesus refers to here is associated with Peter in that moment. Especially a religious gathering. In Revelation 21, the foundation is the Twelve. Only after the word became flesh, was he now called, Jesus. Jesus is the head of the church. Much of what is shared here comes from personal illumination that has come by the grace of God through years of private study of the bible. Edmond Clowney notes: They become foundation stones of the church only because Christ is the chief cornerstone. "The gates will never be closed." (Revelation 21:25). The blood The cross The Holy Spirit Righteousness Justice The Spirit of Wisdom The Spirit of Council The Spirit of Understanding The Spirit of Strength The Spirit of Knowledge The Spirit of Fear of God I have read about the twelve levels, but nothing on the foundations. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. And the stones shall be according to the names of the sons of Israel: twelve, according to their names; they shall be like the engravings of a seal, each according to his name for the twelve tribes. B. The people who make up this city are now equal and are made complete in it; they are the finished product as prophesied Revelation 10:7. 1 Peter 2:4-6 (NAS). 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because . What did Paul mean by this statement? This is why there are twelve foundations with the names of the twelve apostles. "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Psalms 34:1). Here are a few more definitions of the Church of Jesus Christ. Ezra 3:1-13 Rebuilding God's Temple | Biblical Foundations for Freedom Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. PDF Apostolic Doctrine - Amazon Web Services, Inc. Safety and security are only found in God as we have built our lives upon the truth of His word. It is a gathering of people that have been called out. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27). We must realize that when we pass the test by going through the fire, God will "REWARD" us with a greater revelation of Jesus in our heart. Newark Housing Complex Blast Prompts Church Collection, Red - TAPinto He also showed me that we are named in this great city of God, even as we are named amongst the genealogy of Jesus because we are His seed. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. More than forty years ago, Los Angeles experienced a terrible earthquake, one of the worst in the city's history. Since the UK is now no longer a member of the EU, you may be charged an import tax on this item by the customs authorities in your country of residence, which is beyond our control. This has already been established. Philemon 1:2 (WEB)2 to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to theassemblyin your house: Acts 19:32 (ESV)32 Now some cried out one thing, some another, for theassemblywas in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 3. Ephesians 2:20 The Roman Empire had in Paul's time gathered into a great unity the Asiatics of Ephesus, the Greeks of Corinth, the Jews of Palestine, and men of many another race, but grand and imposing as that great unity was, it was to Paul a poor thing compared with the oneness of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Through it all, in this God-honoring work of sharing and spreading the apostolic Gospel, Jesus guarantees his presence to the end of the age (Matt. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I could easily expand each one of these but that is not my purpose here. We can always feel like we are fighting uphill battles. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12 KJV). I knew this was right when I thought of a verse in Isaiah 60:18, "But you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise." That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar, 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. In Exodus 28:17 God had Moses make a breast plate with twelve stones in it and the names of all the tribes would be engraved on each one of them, he would then carry them over his heart to intercede for them in Gods presence. They are small stones that caused an irritant and have become beautiful gemstones in the oyster's mouth. There is no need to further establish this once-and-for-all foundation. The existence of church officers proves the existence of the Church in an organized form: bishops and deacons (Phil.1:1), elders (Acts 20:17), the presbytery (1 Tim.4:14). This was the great revelation that Peter received from the Father, Peters name means the [ROCK]. HOW TO DEAL WITH CURSES, WITCHCRAFT AND PERSISTENT DEMONIC ATTACKS, 6 Key PRINCIPLES ON JUDGING CHURCHES AND PROPHETS, Grace for Evangelism vs Grace for Teaching, 9 Reasons why the Gospel of JOHN May Have Been Written by LAZARUS. 6 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. And because He now dwells in us, this means that we also have the seven spirits of God dwelling in us. Lesson 14: The Lord Reveals Additional Scripture. 41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed theassembly. "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl" (Revelation 21:21). Jesus is the first born Son and we are added in with Him. Gad = "To overcome" Jasper Stone = Jesus our great overcomer. 38 Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. 10 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. Jesus said in Revelation 2:17, "I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it." Their teaching is the teaching of Christ, the fulness of the revelation come by him, and this apostolic teaching was, in turn, entrusted or deposited to the church once for all (1Tim.6:20; Jude 3, etc.). Along with Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism, it is one of the three major branches of Christianity.. Isaiah 9:6 says that Jesus has the government (Kingdom) upon His shoulders. The question often arises of when exactly the church of Jesus Christ started. 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. Whilst the gathering of Israel could be called churches, Jesus says he was going to build his Church upon a rock. Revelation 21:19 The foundations of the city walls were adorned with Truth [Jesus] must be experienced, like in salvation or the baptism of the Holy Spirit that we may know Him, to live and breathe the reality of Him on a daily basis. Roman Catholicism | Definition, Beliefs, History, & Facts They only gave us the foundation, the foundation is not the building, it has got to go higher and higher until it fills the universe and all that the Father has made for us to rule over throughout eternity. I looked up at the massive dam and the floodgates where right above my head and I heard the Lord say "You will not make it in what is about to come if you are not grounded upon the twelve foundations.". Offering buildable coverage, the under-$12 formula won't clog . But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. The bride is represented in the throne as the four living creatures and the twenty four elders which are in Christ, as are the seven spirits of God which are sent out into all the earth through the church. Their total number, for symbolic reasons, was twelve against the background of Old Testament Israel this served to signify a new beginning for the people of God (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NKJV) 12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. Twelve Tribes and the Twelve Apostles - St. Boniface Parish Paul makes a contrast between the covenant on Sinai, which was established in earthly Jerusalem and the covenant of Christ which is established in heavenly Jerusalem. We are the wall of the city, which is the great temple that God is building out of living stones! In fact, Jesus sees himself as the Son who has been sent by the Father (cf. To put it around our necks and show it off to others? Scripture also states that the apostles are the foundation of the church (Eph. To some the answer is simple, but we still need to lay a bible based foundation of when the church started. Alphaeus = learned, chief, we are to be kings. These people are the body of Christ who have grown in love and are made equal on all sides, with no one person greater than the other. In the heavenly city we have harmony, not monotony; variety, not sameness; unity, not uniformity. Now remember that Paul prayed for us that we would, "Be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth" (Ephesians 3:18). We also are called to have a white stone, [meaning a stone clear as crystal] that has our new name engraved upon it. At the head of the Twelve, Jesus placed Peter. The Church's One Foundation by R.C. Sproul - Ligonier Ministries 1 Kings 6:37 In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid, in the month of Ziv. Jesus is the wall, the salvation of the city within His overcoming people. Jewels are made through much fire and pressure and are very rare because they are not in abundance as are fieldstones. The sent-ness of the apostles finds its root in Jesus own self-understanding and mission (Matt. Before Christ came, the foundation of the church of Jesus Christ had not yet been laid. "He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son" (Revelation 21:7). Baptism of the Spirit started at Pentecost. 15:24, 21:37; Mark 9:37, 12:6). We are the shining city of God that is set on a hill for all to see and come home to! No claim is made that it covers all Biblical truth, only that it covers our need as to these fundamental doctrines. What we can hold onto is that the advancement of the kingdom of God through the gospel ultimately stands on the very heart of the apostolic foundation: the person and the work of Jesus Christ. There were in the foundation of the Church diversities of gifts and administrations, but the same Lord and the same spirit. If even one of these five are lacking (or missing altogether), the church's ability to function as God intended is seriously diminished. Benjamin = "Son of my right hand" Amethyst stone. Because there is no other way for us to enter into the fullness of the God but through the doorway of tribulation that God has allowed in our life. Now is the time to ask and believe for them in your life! The goal of this essay is to accurately assess the nature and the implications of the apostolic office. All the overcomers throughout the ages are represented through the symbolic number of 144,000 that come through the gates into the city of God. But this is about to change as God answers the prayers of Paul so that we are manifesting Gods Spirit at all times. Jesus is the word of God, meaning He is the communication from the Father to the apostles and the prophets in the Bible. Help TGC bring biblical wisdom to the confusing issues across the world by making a gift to our international work. Revelation 19:7 (NKJV)Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready., Revelation 21:2-3 (NKJV)Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Paul also gives his counsel to Timothy to continue in the things he had already learned and become convinced of (cf. One year we went on a missions trip to Peru and friend of ours asked if we were going to go to Machu Picchu. 37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. In Ephesians 2:20, Paul uses this building analogy to emphasize the power of unity available for the church in having Jesus as the chief cornerstone and apostles and prophets[i] as the foundation. Copyright 2023 The Gospel Coalition, INC. All Rights Reserved. If the foundation of the city is a living stone, then so are we made of same materials! Before the resurrection and ascension of Christ no one could receive the baptism and indwelling of the spirit. Eph 1:22-23 says, "And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Affirming the need for new revelations is to diminish the authority of the apostles, which ultimately diminishes the authority of Jesus. I will be their God, And they shall be My people. Some believe it started with Moses, and the New Testament only grafted the gentiles into a church that was already there. Precepts of the Church . 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. In each one of us God is building the character of Jesus Christ in our spirit-man whether we know it or not. The power [water of the Holy Spirit] is about to blow out the dam that man has made out of religion! The world is a confusing place right now. If the city would have been built out anything else it would not be here today and we would not be amazed that it is still standing and will be for many years to come. Marks of the Church. In this way, Peter the apostle is considered their first pope. Joseph wrote: "He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people. Isa 51:1 (Message Bible). In Revelation 7, all the tribes of Israel are named because their names have meaning. -- "But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ." Over the course of centuries it developed a highly sophisticated theology and an elaborate . Eph 3:17-19 (NAS). If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are" (1 Corinthians 3:13-17 NAS). The reason why the church of Jesus Christ is referred to as Christs body, is because it carries within it, the spirit of Christ in the flesh. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones Rev 21:18-19 (NKJV). Some believe the church started in Eden, and all righteous people who lived by faith in the coming Christ, upto today, were part of the church. The assembly and Church of Jesus Christ is a gathering of people who are Firstborn, meaning they are born again, and their names are registered in heaven. I am going to give five reasons that show that the church of Jesus Christ began to be built after the resurrection of Christ. For example, Roman Catholicism understands their pope as the rightful successor to Peter. Published July 22, 2023 at 9:49 PM. Chapter Two: Establishing the Foundations of the Church View all posts by, Your email address will not be published. Revelation shows us that the Bride of Christ is the New Jerusalem from heaven. 2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. From a compound of 1537 and a derivative of 2564; i.e. "Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw" (1 Corinthians 3:12 NAS). "And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin" (Genesis 35:18 KJV). Here the apostle John affirms that the apostles received their teaching and authority from the Lord Jesus himself and that they (the apostles) mediate the Christ-revelation to us. The apostolic foundation of the church refers to the apostles unique role in the overall design of the church: to be the immediate messengers of Jesus to carry out his authority and preach the gospel faithfully. We have already covered many scriptures, but Paul makes it clear that when he was part of the Jewish religion, blameless according to the law, he was not yet part of the church of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 54:12.) 1 Peter was part of the foundation.
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