But the first Corinthians chapter
three, I thought it was really fitting. Brother Neil read the
chapter right before and we'll be in chapter three, chapter
three. We're looking at verses seven
to 11, but our text will be found in verse 11. I just wanted to
read the context or we'll read the verse. Yeah, to 11, seven
to 11 or six to 11. I have planted, Apollos watered,
but God gave the increase. So what had happened there was
there was disputing. Some of the Corinthians were
saying, I'm of Paul, and I'm of Apollos, and I'm of this,
and this preacher, and I'm of that preacher. Paul's saying,
no, look to Christ. The foundation that we lay, all
of us preachers, is Christ and him alone, no one else, no one
else. I have planted, Apollos watered,
but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth
anything, neither he that watereth. So we preachers are nothing. We're just, we're, we're proclaiming
the great one, the one who is great, the one who is magnificent,
Christ. And it's God who gives the increase
in salvation, And then everything, everything. It's God who takes
the preaching of his word and uses it and regenerates by the
power of the Holy Spirit. Sinners who are dead in Christ.
But God giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that
watereth are one and every man shall receive his own reward
according to his own labor. For we are laborers together
with God. We are all laborers here. I'm no different than you. I'm called to preach, and it's
a great blessing. Great blessing. We have men in
leadership. It's a great blessing for them. But we're all laborers
together. Let us never forget that. And Paul here is talking about
preachers, but then he says, for we are laborers together
with God. Ye are God's husband. You're God's work. We're God's
work. He's the husband there. He's the one who takes care of
the garden. Remember, we've looked at the garden. He's the one who,
we are plants in his garden. Sister Ruth and I were talking
about that yesterday, and it was wonderful because it's true. And we're
all different in personalities, but we're all in the garden,
we who believe. Ye are God's building. Remember today we looked in 1
Peter 2 and we're lively stones. According to the grace of God.
Which is given unto me as a wise master builder, I have laid the
foundation, I've he's laid the foundation. We're going to find
out in the next verse who that foundation is, and it's the same
foundation every preacher lays. Look at this. I have laid the
foundation, and another buildeth thereon. Same foundation, right? But let every man taketh heed
how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man
lay than that which is laid. There's no other foundation for
a gospel preacher than Christ. Look at this, which is Jesus
Christ. There's no other foundation,
none. So here before us, we have the
truth of salvation in Christ alone put forth right here before
us. For other foundation can no man
lay, and that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. So the truth
set before us here is truth that's set forth both in the New Testament
and in the Old Testament. Turn, if you would, to Psalm
118, 22, and put your finger in Isaiah 28. And then put your
finger in Matthew 21, just we'll be moving around a little bit
at the beginning here. But this is just so we can see from the
scriptures, this truth set forth. Psalm 118, 22. And this is speaking to the cornerstone,
the first verse. And then Isaiah 28 will speak
of a foundation. The stone which the builders,
118.22, the stone which the builders refused has become the headstone
of the corner. The stone which the builders
refused has become the headstone of the corner. Now turn, if you
would, over to Isaiah 28.16, and I will read Zechariah 3.9.
If you want to write that down for notes, Zechariah 3.9, which
says this, Behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua. Upon
one stone shall be seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave the graving
thereof, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will move the iniquity
of that land in one day. And then Isaiah 28, 16, look
at this. Therefore, thus saith the Lord
God, behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone. a precious cornerstone. And then
look at this, a sure foundation. He that believeth shall not make
haste. So remember our text in First
Corinthians three eleven for other foundation can no man lay
and that that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. So so it says
in here in Isaiah twenty eight sixteen that God has laid the
stone as a foundation cornerstone. And then turn, if you would,
to Matthew 21, verses 42 to 44. And I will read in Romans 9.33,
which says, As it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling
stone and a rock of offense, and whosoever believeth on him
shall not be ashamed. So there's the same truth proclaimed
in the New Testament that was proclaimed in the Old Testament.
And then look at Matthew 21, verses 42 to 44. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye
never read in the scriptures the stone which the builders
rejected, the same has become the head of the corner? This
is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Therefore
say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you and
given to a nation, bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever
shall fall on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever
it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. And in Ephesians
chapter 2, turn if you would over there. Ephesians chapter 2, this is
the last place I'll have you turn for a little while. So we're laying a foundation
in the sense of this truth. And as I said, it's all from
scripture. Ephesians chapter 2, verses 19 to 22. And this is speaking of God's
people, God's saints. Now, therefore, you are no more
strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints
in the household of God. Verse 20 and are built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets. What was the foundation
of the apostles and prophets? Christ. Only Christ. Christ himself told us that,
didn't he? He said the law and the prophets, they testify of
me. That's what he said, that's what our Lord said. and are built upon the foundation
of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the
chief cornerstone, in whom all the building fitly framed together
groweth into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom ye also are
builded together for inhabitation of God through the Spirit." So
we see here Christ is set forth in the Scriptures, we've seen,
as the foundation for believers. the foundation for the church,
and we, the church, are built up in him and upon him. He's the foundation. He's the,
and isn't it amazing when you think about that? The same Lord,
the same gospel that the apostles proclaimed is being proclaimed
right now. The same foundation. That's what
this text is telling us, that there's no other foundation than
Christ. And it's marvelous. It's marvelous. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
foundation for all believers. We don't have any other. The Greek definition for foundation
by Thayer is this, laid down as a foundation, the foundation
of a building, wall, or city. Metaphorically, the foundations
beginning the first principles of institution or a system of
truth. And then also this, a foundation
of a superstructure of a building. So Christ is the foundation of
faith. Christ is the foundation of the
doctrine which we believe. That's why we say doctrine is
wonderful as long as it's centered around Christ. That's where it has to be. And
the foundation of our hope is who? Christ. You see how he's
the foundation of everything for us. So Christ is the foundation
laid in the commencement of the preaching of the gospel. Who
do we set forth as the foundation? We gospel preachers. Christ. Christ. We must we must put him forth
because he is the only foundation. The only one, the only one. Laying up in store. For themselves,
a good foundation against the time to come that they may whole
lay hold on eternal life, first Timothy 619 crisis, the foundation. The foundation of gospel preaching.
Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ
was named, lest I build upon another man's foundation. Romans
15, 20. You see, the foundation of all
gospel preaching is Christ. It's Christ. And that's why we
say that these others who are proclaiming what you've got to
do, all these rules and regulations, they're not focusing on Christ.
They don't have the foundation. Their foundation is in, they
mix, their foundation becomes Christ plus their works. No,
that won't do. That house will fall. That house
will fall. That which is built upon Christ
shall never fall. Shall never fall. That's why
we gospel preachers just keep pointing you to Christ. Don't
look to me. I'm a saved sinner. I'm built upon that foundation,
beloved, just like all of you. Oh, my. And I rejoice. I rejoice. My. So we see that the word foundation
expresses the basis and groundwork of a building, the basis and
groundwork of a building. And I've kind of went over that
this morning a little bit with that picture I gave you when
we were in construction, when Carrick would purchase the land
and then the guys would come with the dozers and till the
land. lay the concrete foundation, and next thing you know, the
framers come and start to build the house. You see the frame,
you're like, oh wow, there's a frame there. And then they come in and they
put on the dry, they put on the outside and the drywall, and
next thing you know, before you know it, it's complete. It's
complete. But oh my, God's church is being
built daily. Daily. Daily, but we, I hear about stuff going on in
Papua New Guinea when that Lance is unbelievable. Lord, just add
into the church daily. You know, you hear John Claude going
and preaching out of church, and he told me one time he went
to one church, the whole church turned to Christ. The whole church
turned to Christ. God is doing his work in his
will, and we just keep faithfully, but we don't know the gospel
goes out forth from here, right? And God does his work. God gives
the increase. God gives. We just keep putting. We are to be faithful to proclaim
it to our generation. That's what we do. So in the
scriptures language, Hawker's words for I like how he said
that in the scriptures language. Foundation. is always Christ. The foundation is always Christ.
The foundation that God laid in Zion is always Christ. And
the foundation which Jehovah has built his church upon is
Christ. And scripture says the gates of hell will never prevail
against him. Matthew 16, 18 says this, and
I say unto thee, thou art Peter, and upon this rock. Now some
folks have mistakenly taken that. There's a whole church movement
that has taken that and said, well, that's all about Peter.
That's Catholicism. They say, well, that's talking
about that rock. There's talking about Peter. No, that rock is
talking about Christ. That rock is talking about Christ.
I will build my church. He built it upon Christ. He's
the foundation, the same foundation the apostles laid, the same foundation
the prophets laid. My, it's wonderful. And the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it. Not. Don't you love that
word shall not prevail against it. The rock spoken of is none
other than the Lord Jesus Christ and him alone. Christ is the
foundation of the church and the church is founded in him
and the church rests in him, just like a building rests upon
that foundation, right, is built upon that foundation. That's
how we are in Christ, built upon the sure foundation, a sure foundation. And this foundation is purposed
by God. Purposed by God according to
His goodwill and according to His counsel from eternity. And it is Jehovah who has established
Christ as the foundation. And there is a union between
Christ and His people. Like a union between a foundation
and a building. The church is joined to the Lord. They are one. We are one with
Him. For both He that sanctified and they who are sanctified are
all of one. Hebrews 2.11. We're one with
Christ. So let us remember this. The
building cannot stand without a foundation. A foundation, though, can stand
without a building. But a building can never stand
without a foundation. We must have Christ below. We
must have Him. The building must be joined with
the foundation. They must be united in order
for the building to stand. So it's the same with this biblical
truth before us. Christ does not need us. But
we cannot be without Him. Oh, my. But he loves us and he's
loved us from eternity and he purchased us with his precious
blood. So this brings us back to our text. Look at this. For
other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
Christ. So the same foundation which
we have, all believers through all the ages have the same the
same foundation. This is true again for the apostles
and for us. And we're all built upon this
one foundation, the Lord Jesus Christ and him alone. And that's
what our text says right here. For other foundation can no man
lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. No other foundation. If you're trusting in yourself,
you're trusting in your own foundation and the house will fall. But all the house that is built
upon Christ shall stand. The same foundation I preach
today, which is Christ alone. Christ alone. Salvation is of
the Lord. Salvation is in Christ alone,
is the same foundation that Paul, that Peter, that John, that all
the preachers, faithful preachers through the ages have preached
the same foundation, beloved, from generation to generation
to generation. And you can be sure that God's
truth will be preached until it's all over. You can be sure of that. And here in this pulpit, we proclaim
to our generation, salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ and
no other. Acceptance before God in Christ and not in anything
we do. Only Christ. So the question
comes before us, before anyone who's listening, who is your
foundation? Who is your foundation? Who is the foundation of your
faith? Is it Christ alone? Because he is the only sure foundation
to rest our eternal souls upon. And if we're not trusting Christ,
then we're trusting in our own foundation. That's the bottom
line. And our scripture declares for
other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which
is Jesus Christ. Look at verse 10 in our text,
according to the grace of God. First Corinthians 310, the verse
right before our text, according to the grace of God, which is
given unto me. As a wise master builder, I have
laid the foundation. Everywhere where Paul went, and
we saw it when Brother Neil read chapter 2, he preached Christ. He preached Christ. And the reason
he did that is because he is the only foundation for our faith. The only one. I have laid the
foundation and another buildeth thereon. That means another preacher
comes and preaches the same truth. Has that not happened here through
the years? Faithful men, proclaim the gospel
from this pulpit. And Lord willing, it will continue. But let every man take heed how
he buildeth thereupon. Notice in verse 10, I laid the
foundation. Now one commentator said, whom?
Himself? No, no, no, no, no. In verse
11, Paul proclaims Christ is this foundation and only Him. For other foundation can no man
lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. It's very plain. It's right there before us. The
only way for us to be saved, the only good news, the only
foundation of good news of the gospel is Christ, the Lord Jesus
Christ. Who He is? Lord over all. What He's done? He came to save
His people from their sins and He did it. Where He is now? He's in glory, reigning in majesty
upon high. He is Lord over all. And the
believer, we just, we praise His name. Oh, Lord, I can't tell
you how sometimes I'll just sit in and I'm in awe that God had
mercy on. Me. I know what I am. I know who I am and that the
Lord had mercy on me. A sinner. My. And I don't think we'll ever
get over that, even in glory, because even in glory, were these the
land? Worthy is the Lamb. We'll be praising Him in glory,
just like we praise Him here. My. So the only foundation. For other foundation can no man
lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now, one may
ask, is it not said that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone? We
saw that in a few of our texts, didn't we? A cornerstone? The
cornerstone is not the foundation. The cornerstone does not hinder
his being the foundation also. He is both in different respects.
And I found this this week. This was magnificent. So he's
the foundation. And he's also the cornerstone.
He's both. He's both. The use of a cornerstone
is this. And I didn't know this until
I found this. This is magnificent. The use
of a cornerstone is to unite the sides of the building. and
the foundation. Isn't that wonderful? He is the
very, he's the foundation and he's also the one who unites
us to the foundation. Christ, he's everything, beloved. He's everything. And think of
this, think of this. is being that uniting, right?
Uniting us to the foundation is the cornerstone. The foundation,
he's the foundation and he's the cornerstone. Think of this.
Turn, if you would, to Ephesians chapter 2 and think of this.
In the body of Christ, right, there's both Jew and Gentile,
isn't there? Who's the one who unites us? Christ. Look at this in Ephesians
chapter 2. Look at this. This is wonderful. But now in Christ Jesus, ye who
sometimes were far off, Gentiles, right, are made nigh by the blood
of Christ. For he is our peace. Now there
was a court of the Gentiles, right? The Gentiles couldn't
enter in, but the Jews could. That's the middle wall of partition.
Look at what it says. For he is our peace who hath
made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition
between us. In the body of Christ, we are
united, Jew and Gentile. We are united. We're one. One
body. The Israel of God. And who unites
us? And I'm talking all the saved
Jews. who are born again by the Holy Spirit of God and purchased
by the blood of Christ and all the Gentiles who will be purchased
or who are purchased and who will be found, the lost sheep
even, and we who believe are one in Christ because he's the
head and we're the body. And we who were far off are bought
nigh by the blood of Christ. That's wonderful. That's wonderful. So what kind of foundation is
Christ? Oh, He's a foundation laid down
by God Himself. By God Himself. He is the only
mediator between God and man. He's the only Redeemer of our
eternal souls. And He alone has purchased us
by His own precious blood. And He is the foundation. And
He is the cornerstone of our faith. Jesus Christ, our Lord,
was appointed for this very purpose, to save His people from their
sins. And He did it. He did it. He is our comfort and He is our
joy. And without Him, we have no hope.
And without Him, we have no atonement. And without Him, we have no reconciliation.
And without Him, we have no peace. And without him, we have no salvation.
But praise be to God in Christ. We have all those things. Oh,
oh, an atonement that atones reconciled with God, peace with
God, redeemed by the precious blood of God, salvation in Christ
alone. The next point is, He is a precious
foundation, a precious cornerstone. Turn, if you would, to Isaiah
28, 16. And here we will see that He's
a foundation and a cornerstone appointed by God. Isaiah 28,
16. Therefore, thus saith the Lord
God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried
stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation. He that believeth
shall not make haste." Notice who is the one who lays down
the stone. It's the Lord God Himself. Now,
all stones in their place are useful, but not all stones are
precious stones, are they? And few buildings are built upon
precious stone, but the churches, the church is built upon the
precious stone. And that's what it says in that
verse, a precious cornerstone. Christ is a precious cornerstone.
And he is the one who is the church is built upon. Christ
is precious in himself. He is of great great worth. He
is the fairest of ten thousand beloved. He is precious to his
people. We looked at that today. Unto
you, therefore, which believe he is precious, precious, but
unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders
disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner. The next point I'd like us to
consider is he is a permanent foundation, a permanent foundation. He is the rock of ages. Turn,
if you would, to Isaiah 26, 4, two chapters over from where
we were in Isaiah. Isaiah 26, verse 4. He is a permanent
foundation. He is the rock of ages. He's
from everlasting to everlasting. He's a permanent foundation.
He's the eternal foundation. He is our everlasting strength.
Trust ye in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting
strength. So the saints have been resting
on Him for ages now. The saints have been resting
on Him and we've been built up in Him. He is Jesus Christ, the same
yesterday, today and forever. He does not change. And He is
a permanent foundation for the church. His righteousness is
an everlasting righteousness. His promises are unchangeable. And they are in Him. All God's
promises are where? In Christ, in Him alone. In Christ. But the mercy of the Lord is
from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him. And
His righteousness unto children's children. Psalm 103, 17. The next point is, He is the believer's
one foundation. God has made Christ the one foundation. He appointed Him to be Prince
and Savior for His elect, for His people. And whosoever believeth
in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Turn,
if you would, to Matthew chapter 7. Matthew chapter 7. We look
to Christ and Him alone. We renounce all hope in ourselves. We have no righteousness of our
own to bring to God. None. None. We have no strength
or ability or anything. We can't do anything good, can
we? Everything's tainted with sin. Without Christ, we're hopelessly
lost. And we renounce all other foundations, we renounce all
other foundations, we who trust Christ, because they are nothing
but sinking sand. He who builds upon them will
see his building fall. Look at Matthew chapter 7 verses
24 to 27. Therefore, whosoever hear these
sayings of mine and do with them, I will liken him unto a wise
man which built his house upon a rock. That rock is Christ. That rock is Christ. And the
rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat
upon that house and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.
See, the foundation is a rock. Christ is the rock of our foundation.
He's a sure foundation. Remember I said the building
will, a foundation will stand on its own, but a building cannot
stand without a sure foundation. Christ is a sure foundation.
If you're trusting in yourself, that's not a sure foundation.
We who trust in Christ have a sure foundation. And the rains descended,
and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that
house, and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. And everyone that heareth these
sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a
foolish man, which built his house upon the sand." There's
folks who build their house upon their own self-righteousness,
thinking, well, I'm good enough to make it to heaven. Well, no,
you're not, because there's none good and not one. And the rain
descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon
that house and it fell. It fell. And Scripture says,
and great was the fall of it. My. You imagine folks, you think
about folks who die and off they go into eternity. And those who
are trusting in themselves are like the man who built the house
on sand and great is the fall of it. One preacher of old made this
common. He said, we roll and rest thy soul by faith upon the
merit upon Christ's merit and righteousness. None but Christ,
none but Christ. That's what the believer does.
And that's where when we build upon our house, upon a rock,
I trust in Christ, I trust in him alone. And we know it's the
Holy Spirit who draws us and and brings us to Christ. Now
this building which is built upon Christ is the church. We
are a spiritual building. Turn if you would to 1 Peter
2, verse 5. We are a spiritual building.
Now other buildings, this building here is made of wood and stone
and other materials, but this building is spoken of in scripture. The temple of God, which we as
lively stones are, holy, a spiritual house. This building is made
of men and women who have been purchased by Christ in Him alone,
regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and who will one day be glorified
and be in His presence forever. Look at this in 1 Peter 2, 5.
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house. Who's
our foundation? Christ. And we're built up a
spiritual house. Living stones. Living stones. and holy priesthood to offer
up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. So Christ
is the foundation of this spiritual building. He's the one it's built
upon. Christ in Him alone. It is the
building of souls, souls which have been redeemed by Him. Souls
united by Him to the foundation. He's the cornerstone and the
foundation. These are they who make up this
building spoken of here, a spiritual house, the redeemed of the Lord,
the redeemed of the Lord. And this building is a holy building.
God dwells in it. God dwells in it. It's a temple
of God. Ephesians 2 2 verses 21 and 22
says this in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth
into an holy temple in the Lord. That's speaking of God's people
in whom also in whom ye also are built together for an habitation
of God through the spirit. Ephesians chapter 2 turn up there
if you want. Ephesians chapter 2 verses 21 and 22. I'll read
it again. in whom all the building and think of what we look there.
He also has lively stones are built up a spiritual house and
holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
by Jesus Christ. And look at Ephesians two verses
twenty one and twenty two in whom all the building fitly framed
together groweth unto an holy temple on the Lord in whom he
also are built together. That's speaking about we who
believe. for inhabitation of God through
the spirit. The church is God's temple. The
temple in scripture was a place set apart for God. We're a people set apart for
God. The Lord has set apart him that
is godly for himself. Think of that. We're sinners,
but the scripture says the Lord has set apart him that is godly
for himself. How are we made holy? Only in
Christ. Only in Christ. Holiness to the
Lord is written upon the front of this building. It is the house that he dwells
in, and we are made holy, sanctified by Christ in him alone. It's
wonderful. It's wonderful, and it's all
God's doing. Psalm 87 verse 1 and 2 says this,
His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loveth the
gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. That's speaking
of the church. And then over in Psalm 132, verses
12 and 14, it says this, for the Lord hath chosen Zion. We know who Zion is from our
study in Psalm 48. It's we who are redeemed. The
Lord hath chosen Zion. If you're saved, he chose you. Lord had chosen Zion. He had desired it for his habitation. That ties right into Ephesians,
what we looked at. He desired us for his habitation. Why? This is wonderful. This is my rest forever to Christ. Christ. Here will I dwell, for
I have desired it." Oh, this building, whose foundation is
Christ, is a living building. It is the church, and it is like
no other. Its builder and maker is God.
Its builder and maker is God. It is made up of those who are
quickened by the Holy Spirit of God, born again. And it is
built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets.
That's the preaching of the free grace and gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ and Him alone. And this foundation is Christ.
The foundation is a living foundation. Christ is in heaven right now.
Foundation is a living foundation. And the superstructure, we who
are the church, is a living superstructure. It's amazing. Our brothers and
sisters who passed the glory aren't dead. They've left the
land of the dead. and are now in the land of the
living blood. And we will soon be with them. Turn again, if you would, to
1 Peter, chapter 2. 1 Peter, chapter 2. Look at verses 4 and 5 together. To him coming as unto a living
stone, Whom coming as unto a living
stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious.
This speaks of Christ. He's the living stone, the living
foundation stone. Ye also as lively stones, living
stones, are built up a spiritual house in holy priesthood to offer
up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. So all the materials in this
building spoken of in scripture where God dwells the temple spoken
of in Ephesians 2, which will be a habitation of God through
the Spirit. All the materials in this building are men and
women who are spiritually alive, born again, quickened by the
Holy Spirit of God. They were once dead in trespasses
and sins, but now they are made alive in Christ, quickened, born
again. And this building is built upon
the sure foundation, secure, and the building is protected
by God. Protected by God. Other buildings
are exposed to wind and weather and water, to fire, to assaults
from the outside. But this building is safe from
all peril and all danger. My. Remember we saw that in Psalm
48? She's a fortified city. She's a walled city. in the towers of the Lord himself.
My oh my. And this building, think of this. Men in all generations have tried
to bring this building down. They've tried, haven't they?
Many, many. Tried to bring this building
down, seeking to overthrow it. But they've been dashed to pieces.
dashed to pieces, all their schemes have been in vain, because it's
God who protects this building. It's God who protects and keeps
this building. And this building is a growing
building, a growing church. And it is the Lord who adds to
his church as he's pleased. He is the one who is building
this temple, building this building. It is the body of Christ, beloved.
It's the body of Christ. And he is the foundation. He
is the head. And we are the body, the temple.
And this is God's doing. This is all God's doing. And
it is a building we saw fitly framed together. Fitly framed
by God himself. By God himself. There is not
one stone out of place. And you and I are fitted right
in where God wants us. Ain't that amazing? Ain't that
amazing? We didn't know when we were born
into this world that we were one of the livestones, did we?
But God knew. God knew. And He is the foundation. Christ
is the foundation. And it groweth into a holy temple
in the Lord. And it grows larger by the addition
of those to it who shall be saved. Turn, if you would, to Acts chapter
2. Acts chapter 2. It grows larger by the addition
of those who shall be saved. As God saves His elect, the building
grows. And it grows amidst opposition,
but it's a sure growth, beloved, because it's God who gives the
increase. It's God who gives the increase. Look at Acts chapter
2, verses 46 to 47. Look at this. and they, continuing
daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from
house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness
of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And
the Lord added to the church daily, such as should be said."
That's why we know our preaching is not in vain. It will accomplish
God's will. Whether it's to build up the
saints, or draw in the lost sheep, It will accomplish what it goes
forth to do. And the believer in Christ has
no other foundation, no other rest, no other righteousness.
No other acceptance before God, no other salvation, but in Christ
and him alone, and we cleave to him, don't we? We cleave to
him. He's our Lord and Savior. He's the Savior of our souls.
I love that song. He's the Savior of our souls.
And he is. He is. He's the church's one
foundation, like we sang tonight. It's Jesus Christ our Lord. He's
the one who our hope is set in. In Him alone. And it is in Christ
that we have security. We don't have security in ourselves.
We have security in Christ. Do you know why? Because He's
the unchanging one. He doesn't change. Isn't that wonderful? So our
salvation is sure in him. It's sure in him. He's the unchangeable
one. He's the eternal one. And Christ
is the sure foundation of God. He is the wonderful person. The Lord
Jesus Christ is the wonderful person on whom the church is
built. The sure foundation. He is the
foundation of all the church. He's been the foundation from
the beginning of the church. And he will be the foundation
of the church when it's all finished, and then he's the foundation
of the church redeemed and. He will always be our foundation. Always, forever. And he alone
is the savior of sinners. And it's all according to the
purpose of Jehovah. All according to God's purpose.
In all God's purposes, find their end in Christ. In Christ. Now we know why Paul penned.
Other foundation can no man lay. is laid, which is Jesus Christ. So let us meditate this week
upon this wonderful verse. Let us. I love what Brother Norm
says, ruminate. And I love to ruminate, just
chew it up, think about it. Contemplate. That Christ is the
only foundation for the church. And that Christ alone is our
righteousness. Christ alone is our redemption.
Christ alone is our sanctification. Christ alone is our wisdom. He's our satisfaction for life
and for glory. Any other foundation is sink
and sand and it will perish. Therefore, thus saith the Lord
God, behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation stone, a foundation
stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, Assure a foundation. He that believeth shall not make
haste. May God grant you faith to believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, the one true foundation for our eternal
souls. Gracious Heavenly Father, we
thank Thee for Your goodness and mercy and grace which is
daily bestowed upon us. And we who believe, we thank
You that You have revealed to us our desperate need for Christ. And that he has become, he has
become the one sure foundation of our faith. It is in Christ
and him alone who we trust. And we pray, oh Lord, if it's
your will, that you would make it so for a lost sinner today.
In Jesus precious name. Amen.