Build Upon “The Foundation”

by Dan DeVitis

t a recent CMF Ministerial Gathering held in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Brother Sergio Valori spoke on the Book of Ezra, and the commission to the Israelites by Cyrus king of Persia, to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.¹ Though through an earthly king, it was a Divine commission. The theme of Brother Sergio’s message was that, because of local opposition, the building stopped after the foundation was laid. And it remained that way for fifteen years. There is another Divine commission to build a holy temple. Jesus declared, “I will build My church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”² In a similar manner to the Israelites, many churches, fellowships, and ministries today have stopped building for a number of reasons at the foundation level—and not continuing on to the higher, more complete (perfect) purposes of God.

I do not wish to elaborate on Brother Sergio’s message here, but only to add an aspect relating to the failure to build upon the Gospel foundation. How often it is with zeal that a proper Gospel foundation is laid, something upon which believers may rest concerning eternal life and the functioning as members in the Body of Christ. This Gospel of grace and faith must be a sure foundation, a solid base of the absolute necessity of the cross of Christ, including the shedding of His blood, His death, burial, and resurrection, and the sending the Promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, to indwell the believer.

The Apostle Paul, wrote, “For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”³ Paul also went on to caution the believer on just how he, or she, would build upon that foundation. For some building materials are inferior and corruptible and will perish when tested with fire (judgment). And, the believer will suffer loss. Other more precious and pure building materials, when used to build upon that foundation, will stand the test of time and of fire, and will bring to the believer eternal rewards.⁴

Do you know that this glorious Gospel of grace in Christ Jesus, alone brings the promise of the resurrection and of eternal life, but there also must be a furthering of that Gospel to lead to spiritual maturity of the believer? If the foundational Gospel message that is laid stops with the grace of God poured forth into the believer’s life through the cross of Christ, in all its truth and glory, true spiritual perfection (maturity) seldom follows. What must be fully understood and apprehended is that a more perfect (complete) message of the cross of Christ, one that includes the believer being “in Christ,” sharing in His death, bur-ial, and resurrection. It is a building process that begins in the Spirit with the grace of God at the cross of Christ, but continues with the power of God in the believer as he or she shares in that crucifixion experience. This is the intent of Scriptural phrases like communion with, partakers of, and fellowship with Christ, and/or the cross of Christ.

There is that tendency in believers to begin in the Spirit with the grace of God, but then become prone to build upon that foundation with the efforts of the natural man through numerous programs, activities, manipulations, administrations, and so on. O what zeal and hope to be a blessing to our Lord. But alas, though noble in intent, the building is of wood, hay, and stubble, subject to the strength, knowledge and talents of man, and is also subject to fire of judgment.

If there is this reliance on our own resources, spiritual failure is inevitable. With our special talents, keen knowledge, management skills, and charisma there may appear to be growth, even an exciting growth in numbers or involvement in church activities and programs. People may be blessed by acts of kindness towards them. Outreach and “mission” programs may seem to prosper. However in all of this, there is a spiritual principle, that, having begun in the Spirit, perfection (completeness) cannot come by way of the natural man.⁵

There are now two “I’s” present in the life of the believer. The first, the old man “I” is fashioned after the seed of Adam, with all its knowledge, wisdom, talents, resolve, and even abilities for goodness and kindness. However, Adam can only produce things of Adam, and not of Christ. The second “I” is the new man born after the seed of Christ, subject only to the ways, nature and character of Christ. Does not Gal. 2:20 explain this spiritual concept clearly by stating, “I (old man) have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I (old man) who lives, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I (new man) now live in the flesh I (new man) live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Yes, there will be a day when we pass from death into life, and that old man will not follow us into eternity. It will fully remain in that grave where it belongs. But for now, there remains these two “I’s” present within us. The nature of the old man, with its greed, ambitions, self-centeredness and self-will, lusts, and immorality is, by faith, crucified with Christ. And that new man having risen with Christ from His tomb, becomes a partaker of the divine nature.⁸ Only the expression of this Christ-like character can build upon that foundational Gospel of grace with gold, silver, and precious stones--building material that will surely bring spiritual maturity to the believer and proper func-tioning of the body of Christ.

¹ You may listen to Brother Valori’s complete audio message, “A Habitation,” ²Mt. 16:18, ³1Cor. 3:11, ⁴1Cor. 3:12-15, ⁵Gal. 3:3 paraphrased, ⁶Rm. 8:23, ⁷1Pet. 1:23, ⁸2Pet. 1:3,4.