Laying an Excellent Foundation - Part 1

"According to the grace, the special endowment for my task of God bestowed on me, like a skillful architect and master builder I laid the foundation, and now another man is building upon it." (1Cor 3:10 Ampl)

Paul the apostle wrote to the church in Rome, saying: "But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,..."(Rom 6:17)

Setting the Standard of Expectation

When we set a standard of measurement we lay down the basic measurement by which to measure all other measurements. Paul was chosen, called and endowed by Jesus Christ to lay an excellent foundation (1Cor 3:10-11)!

Many believe that their foundation is truly Jesus Christ, but Paul goes one step further: “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw…” Paul is qualifying the type of material each Christian could build with, progressively showing how the material with which each believer could build could range in degrading order from gold to straw. The question would be: “How do I know with what material have I built?” How do you measure your work to what God expected from those who believed in Him?

Paul was chosen by Jesus Christ and was entrusted with a task of preaching the pure unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ. This gospel was revealed to him by direct revelation from Jesus Christ (Gal 1:6-12). This pure undefined faith was transferred to the churches of Jesus Christ via Paul's letters.

After many years of interpretation of the Words of Paul, not taking his word as the standard, but treating it as open to interpretation, the current religion Christian system has lost the true power (2Tim 3:5) and glory of that which Jesus through the apostle Paul had given to the gentile churches.

Only once the right standard is laid down, can we expect from God and ourselves what was truly promised. (2Cor 13:5) If we had created a doctrine, which in some way undermines the true integrity of the Word of God, we will nullify it, stripping it of its true intention and power. (Matt 15:6)

Equipping the Church of Jesus Christ to Perfection

Jesus ascended to heaven and gave gifts to men. These gifts, which Jesus came to give us was the office of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher: “…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,…” God’s purpose to equip the body of Christ would not seize: “…until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,…” (Eph 4:12-13)

What does the words: “…until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,…” mean? If we have a false or compromised expectation of what God expects of us we will never achieve what God had intended for us. Thus the correct interpretation of this phrase will be determined what God expects from us and are pleased by. Setting the standard according to God’s heart, expressed in His Word, would help us to have the correct expectation for the church of Jesus Christ.

Let re-examine the words of the apostle Paul: “[That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him. (Eph 4:13 Ampl)

God says what He means and means what He says! God has sent us His gifts to help His church to attain oneness in spiritual maturity, which is: “…the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection. Here Paul tell us what is God’s expectation: “Christ’s perfection in us!” God expect perfection!

But you would say that is impossible! Jesus said: “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” (Luke 18:27) Does God actually expect perfection? Yes – Jesus Himself said: “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt 5:48)

The Power of the Gospel – The Righteousness of God

The apostle Paul made a very powerful statement, saying: “…I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” Many know by logic and pure reasoning that the gospel is the power of God for those who believe, yet many who believe has no power to demonstrate the dominion of the kingdom of the Son of God’s Love.

A great secret lies hidden and were revealed by the apostle Paul in the following statement, saying: “…for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith…”(Rom 1:16)

For many years I had seen very little of the power which Jesus had promised to those who would believe in Him. So many who have been believers for many years are still powerless to defeat the works of the enemy, sickness and bondage to sin, against their lives, not even understanding the basic principals of the faith, which Jesus Christ gave His disciples. (Heb 6:1-3) The reason for this was revealed, saying that they are “unskilled in the word of righteousness”! (Heb 5:12-14)

Why do we, need to again lay an excellent foundation in the lives of the believer, who have been a Christian for so many years? Because they still do not understand even the basic principals of the faith of the true gospel, which Jesus Christ had revealed to the apostle Paul. What would be the main reason why even though many are believing Christians they are still powerless to defeat the enemy in their lives?

The answer comes as a great eye opener as to why so many of the existing denominational churches are powerless today: They are “obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness…” For “…solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice…” The greatest single ingredient, which those who claim to be believers in Christ lack, is they have no experience of the Word of God – especially the doctrine of righteousness. They have not been trained by the practice or the use of the Word and promise of God of righteousness!

Only through the righteousness, which God gave to those who believe and accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, can any man be made perfect!

Paul once asked the churches of Christ in Rome: “Do you not know that if you continually surrender yourselves to anyone to do his will, you are the slaves of him whom you obey, whether that be to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness (right doing and right standing with God)? But thank God, though you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient with all your heart to the standard of teaching in which you were instructed and to which you were committed. And having been set free from sin, you have become the servants of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in thought, purpose, and action).” (Rom 6:16-18 Ampl) How do you become a servant of righteousness? When we understand this secret we will be able to be truly set free from sin! What was impossible with man was made possible by God!

True Knowledge of the Word of God through Experience

Jesus once spoke to those who believed in Him: “If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 Ampl) Jesus told those who want to be His followers or disciples to abide in His Word. The Word abide means to consistently continue to do and live according to the Word of God! Only once we have obeyed and lived according to the Word of God, will we start to truly know the truth. True knowledge comes by practical experience! Only once we, by practical experience know the Word of God, will the Word set us free!

To many, the Word of God is mere knowledge and only a mental concept, but that was not what Paul desired for the church of Jesus Christ: “…let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.” Paul desired for us to not only experience and but to enjoy the glory of God!

In order to truly know Jesus we need to not only know about Him, but we need to have a living, personal experience with the glory of God, through the resurrected Christ Jesus! Thanks to God in Christ who has made a way - making the impossible possible through the righteousness of Christ Jesus Hendrik Vorster A servant of Jesus Christ and His church