WildB
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by Cornelius R. Stam
In I Corinthians 3:10, the Apostle Paul declares by divine inspiration:
"According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise [instructed] master-builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon."
In what sense was Paul the master-builder of the Church, and what "foundation" did he lay? Did he not himself say that "other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ"? Yes, he did -- and in this very passage! He sought to lay no other foundation than Christ, but God had chosen him to proclaim Christ in a new way.
Some years previous our Lord had asked His disciples: "Whom say ye that I am", and Peter had instantly replied: "Thou art the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the living God" (Matt.16:16). This is how believers in general had recognized Him at that time (John 1:49; 6:69; 11:27; 20:31). Indeed, the Messianic kingdom was to be established upon Christ as God's anointed Son (Messiah means "anointed").
But with the raising up of Paul, God began to form "the Church which is Christ's body" (Eph.1:22,23; Col. 1:24,25). This is the Church of today, and it is founded, not on Christ as King, but as the exalted Lord and Head of the "one body" (ICor.12:13).
Paul does not present Christ as Messiah, but as Lord. In Romans 10:9 he declares:
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as LORD, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Again in I Corinthians 12:3: "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit". And again in Philippians 2:9-11, he declares that God has highly exalted Christ and given Him a name above every name, "that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father".
Have you confessed Him as your Lord and Saviour?
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That is all.....
Posts: 8775 | From: USA, MICHIGAN | Registered: Mar 2004
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