JESUS CHRIST, GOD’S CHOSEN AND PRECIOUS FOUNDATION.

In our examination of the foundation of the Church, we said that Christ is the only foundation the Father set up for His Church. No other person fits that role. We now want to see that Christ is not just the only foundation but also specially chosen and precious.

See, I la y a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone… a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight  1^st Peter 2. 6, 4

In Old Testament days, the high priest was selected from among the people to minister to God on their behalf. Such, however, had to be appointed by God, else his ministry was void. God chose the Lord Jesus Christ as the foundation of the Christian Faith. And one does not presume to take this honour , but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was (Hebrews 5. 1 – 4). Many have claimed to be sent by God and have drawn followers. But Christ not only claimed to be sent by God, He also claimed to be the only one sent to redeem the world (John 14. 6). He said all those who came before Him were thieves and robbers (John 10. 8) and that after Him, God sent no one else (Mark 12. 6). Attesting to this, God said, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3. 17). Indeed Christ is the chosen and precious foundation. If after the Lord’s ministry on earth, there has arisen any other, claiming to have been sent by God to minister things outside of Christ, that messenger is false. God has not sent them. If there are servants of God today, they have but one message to the world, and that message is Christ. Old Testament servants of God like Moses, Joshua, Isaiah, Ezekiel and others came before Christ but none of them could form a stable foundation for God’s house, the Church. Only the Son, Jesus Christ, who is in the bosom of the Father could bring many children of God to glory. That is why He was sent. On Him has God the Father put His seal. Indeed, Christ is the chosen and precious foundation.

 It is only befitting that on a chosen and precious foundation should stand a choice and precious house. That is what the Church is. Of her the Bible says, “You are a chosen people… God’s own people, and are precious in His sight” (1^st Peter 2. 9;   Isaiah 43. 4). The church of God is not the rickety mud house in the suburb or the imposing edifice in the city. It is a house not made with hands but by God. That, out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation, even from the four ends of the earth, God has called out a people for Himself. They are chosen and precious, built upon a chosen and precious foundation and bringing forth choice and precious fruits. In this there is no difference – Jews and non-Jews, male and females, young and old, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. These people make the Church of God. Of course, they will have to gather somewhere and worship. This is where the church building matters. The church is a place where the Church meets to worship God. And this chosen and precious building finds its base in the chosen and precious foundation, Jesus Christ.

The Church is more than just a gathering on Sundays. It is an on-going construction by God, a “ work in progress” of sorts. All who believe in Christ as their Lord and Saviour are the building bricks of this edifice. The foundation is Christ Himself, the chief cornerstone. He was specially chosen of God for that purpose. He is the precious foundation. Whoever is in Him automatically becomes precious in God’s sight.