God's Glossary of Construction Terms

The foundation of everything God does is in His Son and when Paul says, ‘I laid the foundation,’ he’s saying he represents something new because the foundation is where you start when constructing a building.

Specifically, Paul writes in I Corinthians 3:9, “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
[10] According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
[11] For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

“When you go to school they tell you not to mix metaphors but the Bible does it all the time and it’s fascinating how Paul mixes the metaphors,” says Jordan. “He says you’re God’s husbandry; you’re God’s garden. You are rooted in Christ; there’s a living union.

“You’re also God’s building. Now, a building is a structure. Colossians says you’re rooted and built up in Him. He literally builds into your life the life of the Lord Jesus Christ and Christ is formed in you.

“Here’s the standard: ‘According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder,’ writes Paul.

 

"In Ephesians 3:8 he says, ‘Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.’

“There is a foundation, a preaching of Jesus Christ, that’s searchable. Jesus told His hearers in John 5:39, ‘Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.’

“They could search Israel’s Scripture and find the testimony of Christ. Paul says, ‘I’m testifying something about the Lord Jesus Christ that you can’t search the Old Testament (and Four Gospels) and find.’

“Paul was preaching Jesus Christ according to the revelation of a secret program; the mystery. There was something about Christ that God didn’t choose to reveal until He revealed it through the ministry of the Apostle Paul and put it in your Bible, and Paul lays this foundation about the Lord Jesus Christ.

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“The great division in your Bible is between prophecy and mystery. Romans 16:25 says, ‘Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.’

“One has to do with God’s purpose with the nation Israel and the other has to do with the Body of Christ. That’s the great distinction and division and that’s what he’s making issue of in Ephesians 2.

“Ephesians 2:20 says, ‘And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.’

“Paul’s not talking about the apostles and prophets Christ gave to Israel in the earth, but the ones (Eph. 4) He gave after He ascended into heaven. These are the apostles and prophets He used to lay the foundation for us today.

“Then he says, ‘Jesus Christ himself.’ I always like it when he talks about how Jesus Christ’s personally involved. He’s the chief being; the chief corner stone. Paul’s not saying there are other corner stones; he’s not saying He’s the top one and then there’s a whole bunch of others.

“He’s saying Christ’s the conspicuous leader; He’s the one up there that everybody looks to. He’s the pinnacle of the building.

“Paul writes in I Timothy 1:15, ‘This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.’

“That word ‘chief’ there is the same thing as in verse 16: ‘Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.’

"Paul’s the first one. He’s the one out here that is the beginning of all this.

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“A corner stone in a building has two purposes basically. One is it’s the stone that everything rests on. It’s able to hold everything together. In this context He’s the foundation; but He’s not just the foundation, He’s the corner stone.

“The corner stone in the foundation is the rock or stone from which everything else is measured. When you start building a building you have to have a reference point; a place that you start and everything is measured from it.

“It’s the point from which every measurement, every dimension, is taken. It’s the point from which all the structure gets its shape; its function, its identity. Everything is aligned to the corner stone.

 

"Jesus Christ is the point; the place at which everything for the Believer orients. Everything you and I have is measured by Him. Every possession, every blessing, etc., rests upon Him and is measured out from Him.

“You and I are never the measure. Now we think we are. We think, ‘My ministry, my miracles, my work.’ You have to get over you because, ‘It’s not I, it’s Christ,’ and that’s the issue.

“The title of ‘corner stone’ is used throughout Scripture in a number of ways with regard to the Lord Jesus Christ. He’s the stone; the rock. In the Bible, He’s the ‘smitten stone.’ You remember Moses smites the rock in Exodus 17 and the water comes out of it and Paul says in I Corinthians 10 that that rock was Christ.

“He tells Israel in Deuteronomy 32:18, ‘Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.’ That Rock has a capital 'R'; it’s a name. It’s Jehovah God the Son.

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“In Isaiah 28 is a passage about the nation Israel during the tribulation, faced with the Antichrist who they’ve made a confederacy with and joined themselves to. Verses 15-16 read, [15] Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
[16] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

“God says, ‘You know what, you in the death and lie program, I’ve got a truth program and I’ve laid in Zion (Israel) a foundation.’

“Watch how He’s identified. He’s a tried stone; He’s been tested. A precious corner stone, a sure foundation. Those terms describe some things about the Messiah.

“Isaiah 8 says, [12] Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
[13] Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
[14] And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

“He’s warning them not to do what they do in Isaiah 28, making a covenant with the Antichrist. He’s not only going to be a tried stone and a precious stone, He’s going to be a stumbling stone and stone of offense and a rejected stone.

“There’s a chronology that works through in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ where each of these titles fits. Psalm 118:21-22 says, [21] I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
[22] The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

“These terms map out the career of Israel’s Messiah. When did they refuse Him? First coming. The headstone is the Second Coming.

“In one verse you’ve got both the first coming and the Second Coming. You see how if you don’t pay attention to your Bible and ‘rightly divide the scripture,’ you get all confused about that?

“You got people going all over Christendom today taking the first coming and the Second Coming and saying they took place at the same time! Preterists say all the prophecies in scripture have been fulfilled and are in the past; there’s nothing future.

“Well, if it’s all been fulfilled, what about the kingdom?! It’s already here. Are you happy about the kingdom?! I mean, I got a better hope than what’s going on around me right now!”