The Foundations of the Church
Please read Ephesians 1: 1-14 and then pray; Almighty God, may my faith, hope, worship, and service be built upon the strongest foundations, and may I always walk in the perfect light of your presence through your holy word. Amen!
One thing we can all appreciate and acknowledge is that every sound building must be built upon solid foundations. Solid foundations are crucial for safety and endurance, and there can be no compromise on this question, otherwise the building is in danger of quickly collapsing with the potential loss of life. Jesus spoke about the need to build our lives on the correct foundation of hearing and obeying his word. (Luke 6:46-49) Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians is very concerned to highlight the strong foundations of the Church, and even within his initial greeting, he wants to point Christians toward understanding exactly what the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is built upon. This preliminary teaching will come to full flower in chapter 2 when he carefully explains that the Jewish/Gentile Church united in Christ is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone. (2:20)
We considered some aspects of Pauls greeting to the Church in Ephesus last week – identifying some of the key ways Christians are described. We saw how Christians are referred to as saints, people who have been specifically chosen, called, and set apart by God for God’s glory, and that this choice was made before even before the world was founded. (1:4) We also noted that Christians are the faithful – individuals who possess and place their trust and belief in Jesus, and who reveal that faith in him through their consistent integrity, faithfulness, and obedience. We also took note of Paul’s favourite description of Christians in this letter which is introduced in this greeting – namely that Christians are those who are in Christ Jesus. There is a very real bond and precious relationship between each saint and their Saviour. The saints – the faithful – in Christ Jesus!
Today, we continue our study of this greeting by looking at 4 other truths which help us to understand what a Christian is, and the foundations upon which the Church must be faithfully built. It may be worth adding that this letter to the Ephesians was almost certainly a circular letter which was received into the life of several Churches in Asia, with the Church in Ephesus being the primary one. This is revealed through some of the manuscript evidence we have in which the words “in Ephesus” are missing. Where you have those words “in Ephesus” you could instead place the name of any city – including in Gloucester (21st century). This letter is supremely relevant to all Christians, in all places and for all time.
So, what must the Church be built upon and what must each Christian be therefore committed and conformed to? What are the foundational elements of the Church’s existence and growth?
The are 4 foundational truths to which we now turn our attention;
- The writings of the apostles and prophets.
- The operation of God’s grace and peace in the life of the Church.
- The Fatherhood of God and the gift of prayer.
- The Lordship/Headship of Jesus Christ.
These are all raised by Paul in his opening greeting and prayer.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Firstly, notice how Paul introduces himself and why this is very significant. He reminds the saints in Ephesus that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ, and he is an apostle because of a unique and special call from God. Paul is what he is (an apostle) – by and because of the will of God. This is not something he willed for himself or decided to do himself. (Galatians 1:1, 11-12) He is only in this position of apostleship because of the grace and the will of God the Father and Jesus the Son. (Read 3: 7 –9)
Jesus originally called the 12 to be his disciples, but critically, Jesus also designated them to be apostles. (Mark 3:14) These men were destined to be a critical part of the foundation of the Church as Paul states in Ephesians 2:20. They were sent out to preach the gospel of the resurrection, but some of them were also destined to be the writers of the New Testament Scripture – namely Peter, John, Matthew. Paul was the exception, an added extra. But what an extra! (1 Corinthians 15:8)
He was called and saved later by Christ as he travelled to Damascus on-route to persecute the Church. He had his own personal powerful encounter with the risen Christ and was called by the Lord Jesus to be the main apostle to the Gentiles. (Acts 9:15, 26: 16-18). Paul would bravely carry the gospel to the Gentile world with his team, to great cities like Ephesus; but as well as preaching and teaching, Paul would be led and anointed by the Spirit to write epistles, vital letters, which would later become part of the NT canon of Scripture. And it is the NT Scriptures which are apostolic in origin and authority which make up a fundamental part of the mighty foundation of the Church. Remember, the Church is a Spirit-filled temple (2:21) which must hold up and contain millions and millions of saints. The prophets and prophetical figures of the OT also form this foundation and the apostles came alongside them, and stand with them
The first significant point then is that the Church is and must continue to always be built upon the authority of the Scriptures. The Church is built upon the Word of God. To be apostolic, all Churches whether in Ephesus or Gloucester must be built upon the authority, truth, and power of the Word of God. Never dismiss the writings and teachings that come from the likes of the apostle Paul as some do. He was commissioned and authorised by Christ to do what he did – preach the gospel and write Scripture. By accepting the authority of the Scripture – NT and OT, we are accepting the authority and the Lordship of Christ who is the only Head of the Church. We take our orders from Jesus, but Jesus gave many of the orders and directions through specially chosen, called and anointed men like Paul. Let us never forget this! Are you building your life on the authority of the Scriptures? If the Church fails to accept and stand upon this authority, this powerful foundation, established by Christ Jesus himself, the Church will topple and fall. Churches that do not accept and build their life upon the authority of the Word will suffer, shrink, and die. It is as simple and as stark as that! And it is happening now. Growth is only possible through the Word – through and upon the foundation given by the chosen prophets and apostles – like Paul. I hope you see the importance of this opening statement of fact;
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. The letter to the Ephesians and to us, written by Paul, is part of the foundation.
Next, we must consider two words which perhaps more than any others summarise the gospel of Jesus upon which the Church is built and continues to grow and flourish. The two words form the key part of Pauls greeting prayer. They are grace and peace.
Grace and peace to you writes Paul. Now what is of the utmost significance, and this will be revealed as you read the entire letter, is that the whole of Christianity and the gospel and the therefore the Church, is built upon the glorious and stupendous abundance of God’s grace for lost sinners. And this grace so freely given to men and women in Ephesus and to us, brings us and the whole Church into a wondrous and precious experience and knowledge of God’s peace. This letter is therefore full of the message of God’s grace and peace in Christ Jesus. In what is one of the most iconic verses in all of Paul’s letters, we read this in 2:8:
For it by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.
Every single member of the Church of Jesus Christ who has ever lived, whether it be Paul, or one of the slaves in Ephesus, or whether it be you or I, is saved by the grace of God. And grace is God’s kindness and favour and love shown to those who do not deserve it. Grace is God’s love at Christ’s expense. God’s grace is unmerited free love, mercy and kindness shown to those who were stuck in sin and darkness. We are not saved because we deserve to be. Saints do not come into being because they are more special and deserving than any other sinners affected by the tragic fall of man and the oppressive power of the devil. (2: 1-3) All saints, all Christians, the entire Church is called and saved by grace alone. And God provides a supernatural and stupendous amount of this saving grace. (1:5-7)
The Church is a grace constructed and grace filled community – but it is also a community which has come to know and enjoy and revel in God’s peace – in peace with God. Grace leads to peace with Almighty God, and peace with all those who have tasted and been transformed by grace. So as Paul gets into the meat of his teaching about the Church in Chapter 2 (11-22), he writes about the blessing of peace which comes through Christ and his cross – Christ who is our peace. (2:14) Christ is our pathway and gateway to peace. He wins peace with God for us by his death. His death breaks down all dividing walls and barriers between people and God, and between all divided peoples. A deep unity and peace should lie at the heart of Church life – which Paul calls “the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (4:3) As we share holy communion today, with symbols of Jesus’s death before us, let us pause to solemnly give thanks for the tender grace of God which has brought to His banqueting table, and for the peace of God we know because our sins have been totally forgiven. This then is second great part of the foundation – the gospel which has grace and peace as its primary blessings. I say to you as Paul said to the Ephesians; Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
As we move on, we note that the blessings of grace and peace are from God the Father, who Paul emphasises is our Father but also from the Lord Jesus Christ. The Father and Son are also united and linked in the following verse (3) which stresses that the multitude of our spiritual blessings (like grace and peace) are poured out from the Father and through and in Christ the Son.
Another foundation of Christian living and Church unity is the personal knowledge of God as OUR Father. Once again it can be stated as Paul does, that all Christians, all saints, come into the blessing of adoption into God’s family (5) and the beautiful knowledge that God is “their Father” and can be approached in prayer as “Abba,” or “Papa,” or “Dad.” (Romans 8:15f) This is yet another gift of God’s grace – to know God as our Father as well as our King and Creator. Just as a child loves to sit upon their father’s knee, secure in fatherly love, care and strength, so the Christian can hop onto the knee of the Father in prayer. Jesus’s death gives us “access to the Father.” (2:18, 3:12). We can truly come into the Father’s presence as his own chosen, adopted and beloved, and know his love, grace, care, provision and protection. This is why the Lord’s Prayer which Jesus introduced to his disciples as guidance in prayer – begins with the words – Our Father, or if we say it alone – simply – Father.
Whilst all people can be called children of God in a creational sense, people can only become children of God and adopted into the Church family of God, through grace and by faith in Jesus. (John 1:12) Jesus wants his people to know His Father as their Father. All his people, come into the refuge of the Fatherhood of God – and prayer is the beautiful means of experiencing this – individual or corporate – alone or together. My father or Our Father. Even for those who have experienced a neglectful and even abusive earthly father, Jesus wants each saint to know that perfect Fatherhood and care of the Heavenly Father. (Matthew 5:48) And the Lord’s prayer encourages us to go to the Father for provision (daily needs), pardon, and protection from all evil. Our Father will give us precious gifts, practical and spiritual from his heart of grace and love. (Luke 11:13) This is why the Christian can sing;
Father God, I wonder how I managed to exist without the knowledge of your parenthood and your loving care; but now I am your child, I am adopted in your family (the Church), and I can never be alone, because Father God you are there beside me…I will sing your praises forevermore…
Or as the older hymn “Lead us heavenly Father lead us” asserts;
Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
o’er the world’s tempestuous sea;
guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us –
for we have no help but Thee,
yet possessing every blessing
if our God and Father be.
(James Edmeston with my emphasis)
If we have, and if we know God as “our Father” – we need have no fear about today, tomorrow or eternity. Grace and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, writes the apostle. Basic Christianity and Ecclesiology.
Which leads us into our final point. The Lord Jesus Christ. Teaching about the Lordship of Jesus fills this letter and all Paul’s letters. Jesus is Lord is the heartbeat of this epistle. He is head of the Church. He is the Chief Cornerstone within the foundation. (2:20) Our faith is founded upon and grounded in Christ Jesus. In Colossians, which has so much in common with the letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes;
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (2:6)
Jesus said; I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. It is His Church. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. (2:21) He builds it by the power of His Spirit and His own blood. He is Cornerstone and Head. He appointed the prophets and the apostles. He calls each of his sheep by name and each sheep recognises his voice and authority. The Church must always stand on Jesus and his teaching, (Luke 6: 46f) and never be compromised by the current political, cultural, or religious ideologies of the world – for Jesus proclaimed that heaven and earth (with its politics and idols) will certainly pass away, but His word will never pass away. (Matthew 24:35) Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. (John 6:63, 68). He alone came from the Father and returned to the Father after completing His work and being raised from the dead.
Build your life upon Him – Christ Jesus – the Lord Jesus Christ – says Paul! (1-2) He is the Rock of salvation and hope! The Church’s sure foundation consists of the apostles (like Paul), the prophets (like Moses), with Jesus Christ as Chief Cornerstone. The Church is built with the grace of God and lives with the blessing of the peace of God. This is a spiritual edifice which will never fall or falter under the Lord of Jesus, the caring Fatherhood of God, and the mighty power of the Spirit. It is indeed good to be part of his body of Christ which is the Church – the Church Catholic (Universal), the Church Apostolic (built on His Word), the Church triumphant (in heaven) and militant here on the earth which continues to preach the gospel of “grace and peace” and take a resolute stand against all evil forces. (6: 10-18)
May the grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with us.
Amen!
(Revd Peter J Clarkson 21.7.24)