Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. It is very apparent throughout
the Scriptures that Christ alone is the foundation of the faith
once delivered to the saints. Paul testified of this when he
said, For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,
which is Jesus Christ. Peter gave testimony of the same
when the lame man was healed at the temple gate. He said,
This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which
has become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in
any other, for there is none other name under heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved. Nonetheless, there are
many who believe and teach that the apostles and prophets are
an integral part of this foundation. They often point to the Lord's
calling Simon Peter a stone, to say that Peter was the one
upon whom he would build his church. Yet the church is not
built upon Peter, but rather upon this rock, in contrast to
Peter as a stone. that rock is Christ. While the
apostles and prophets both were used mightily by the Lord in
the establishment of his kingdom in the earth, they were as much
resting upon this foundation as any other inhabitant of Zion.
This is why Paul says that the household of faith is built upon
the foundation of the apostles and prophets. That is to say,
the same foundation which the apostles and prophets rest upon
is that one to whom they point as the chief cornerstone. Behold
the sure foundation stone which God in Zion lays to build our
heavenly hopes upon and his eternal praise. The kingdom of God manifested
in his church in the present day does not simply consist of
a foundation, but rather is a building which is constructed by him who
is the wise master builder. This building rests squarely
upon its foundation and is tied to it with cords of love which
cannot be broken. Paul says it is a building which
is fitly framed together. He has designed each part of
this building, and he has used no unnecessary parts in its construction. But the manifestation of the
Spirit is given to every man to profit withal, that is, the
whole. But unto every one of us is given grace according to
the measure of the gift of Christ. This fitly framed building is
strengthened by that which every joint supplieth, and no one member
is more important than any other. This is a galling prospect to
those who love the spotlight. Each part of the building is
designed to be dependent one upon another, as each part rests
in the Lord. And the whole edifice groweth
unto a holy temple in the Lord. For the body is not one member,
but many. But now hath God set the members,
every one of them, in the body as it hath pleased him. And if
they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they
many members, yet but one body. This fitly framed building is
built together for inhabitation of God through the Spirit. Peter
describes the church of the Lord when he says, Ye also, as lively
stones, were built up in spiritual house and holy priesthood to
offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. The only acceptable spiritual
sacrifices that can be offered up unto God are those which are
in and of Christ. By Him, therefore, let us offer
the sacrifice of praise to God continually. That is the fruit
of our lips giving thanks to His name. The benefit that each
of the parts of the body bestows or receives from or to the other
parts is in the ministry of one to another, through the exaltation
of Christ. For each part of the body is
a living stone, made alive by Christ. And this is the record
that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his
Son. He that hath the Son hath life,
and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. This is
the basis of all of the benefits of the brethren one to another.
The fellowship of the Lord's people is not in their shared
interest in the things of this world. Rather, their ministry
one to another is in their testimony of the life which is in Christ.
In this, they strengthen one another. In this, they bear one
another's burdens. In this, they esteem one another
better than themselves. On a practical note, I believe
that the singing of praise in psalms and hymns unto the Lord
in the gathering of the saints is a blessed practice, which
encourages each one, even as praying together causes them
to bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. How sweet, how heavenly is the
sight when those that love the Lord in one another's peace delight,
and so fulfill his word. Do you delight in the assembly
of the saints, which is the habitation of God?