Foundation Laying (I)
In the next two sessions, David explores foundation laying and how it revolves around the whole plan of God.FOUNDATIONAL APOSTOLIC MINISTRY TODAY | Session 3 - Foundation Laying (I)
1/ Biblical foundations
- The church is said to be built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Eph 2:20). This was laid by the original apostles and prophets but needs laying in each church in each generation by those gifted to do so.
- Paul seemed willing to lay a very clear foundation; he knew what it was and he knew when he had laid it. (1 Cor 3:10). It was a clear, systematic and, when it was laid, Paul was confident to move on perhaps returning to appoint leaders. Acts 14:22-23.
- It is then the responsibility of everybody in the local church and their leaders how they build on the foundations. (“But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.”. 1 Cor 3:10).
- Having well established the Ephesian church, Paul is happy to leave, even though he had prophesied that savage wolves would come in. He was confident enough in the foundation and the leaders he had trained. Ephesus was a mature church where Paul had lived for 3 years. Paul was confident of what he had laid as a foundation and confident in those he had been able to leave to care for the church, knowing they understood that foundation.
2/ What is the foundation?
The whole plan of God
Paul was involved in teaching the whole counsel of God. I believe that this teaching was essentially a narrative. It referred to the promises contained in the story in the Old Testament, fulfilled in Christ and now worked out through those who are in Christ i.e. believers both Jew and Gentile. It was God’s plan to renew the world, to head up everything under Christ. “Worldview” is essentially a story – see narrative style of preaching by Jesus and apostles in Acts. So, in the Old Testament we have:
- The promise to Adam and Eve.
- The example of Noah.
- The tragedy of Babel.
- The promise to Abraham.
- Passover and the establishment of sacrifice (including the crossing of the Red Sea).
- The establishment of the Temple/Tabernacle.
- The promise to David.
- The promise of an anointed Messiah.
- The promise of the suffering Messiah.
- The promise of the renewed temple.
- The promise of the wide outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
- The promise of the eventual new heaven and new earth.
Each of these promises were fulfilled in Christ.
Also in particular the following OT truths were fulfilled in Christ.
- The system of sacrifices because now 1 sacrifice for sins forever - so now all priests & therefore not special clothes etc. That's obsolete according to Hebrews – as is the rebuilding of a physical temple.
- The law fulfilled in Christ. Partly the sacrificial system but also what kept Israel a separate people. No longer needed either to please God through legalism nor to be separate because all ethnic groups can be in Christ.
- The dividing wall between Jew & Gentile abolished because one new man in Christ. So, racism & tribalism has no place. Not only no Jew nor Gentile but no barbarian or Scythian. Col 3:11. Also no longer priority for one nation of Israel but a renewed Israel – all people who trust in Jesus.
- Anointing not now for special few, prophet, priest & king but Holy Spirit fell on all. Now in NT just one anointed Messiah, but we are all in the Messiah, so all are anointed, though that involves different gifts now but not a special sub-group of anointed ones.
- Moral standards are fulfilled through Christ's perfect life but fulfilled in us as we live following the law of Christ by the Spirit. Those commands are reinforced in the NT.
- Eventually, when Christ returns, he will usher in the new heaven and new earth – fulfilling even more than Eden and God makes his dwelling with His people.
In the next two sessions, David explores foundation laying and how it revolves around the whole plan of God.
FOUNDATIONAL APOSTOLIC MINISTRY TODAY | Session 3 - Foundation Laying (I)
1/ Biblical foundations
- The church is said to be built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Eph 2:20). This was laid by the original apostles and prophets but needs laying in each church in each generation by those gifted to do so.
- Paul seemed willing to lay a very clear foundation; he knew what it was and he knew when he had laid it. (1 Cor 3:10). It was a clear, systematic and, when it was laid, Paul was confident to move on perhaps returning to appoint leaders. Acts 14:22-23.
- It is then the responsibility of everybody in the local church and their leaders how they build on the foundations. (“But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.”. 1 Cor 3:10).
- Having well established the Ephesian church, Paul is happy to leave, even though he had prophesied that savage wolves would come in. He was confident enough in the foundation and the leaders he had trained. Ephesus was a mature church where Paul had lived for 3 years. Paul was confident of what he had laid as a foundation and confident in those he had been able to leave to care for the church, knowing they understood that foundation.
2/ What is the foundation?
The whole plan of God
Paul was involved in teaching the whole counsel of God. I believe that this teaching was essentially a narrative. It referred to the promises contained in the story in the Old Testament, fulfilled in Christ and now worked out through those who are in Christ i.e. believers both Jew and Gentile. It was God’s plan to renew the world, to head up everything under Christ. “Worldview” is essentially a story – see narrative style of preaching by Jesus and apostles in Acts. So, in the Old Testament we have:
- The promise to Adam and Eve.
- The example of Noah.
- The tragedy of Babel.
- The promise to Abraham.
- Passover and the establishment of sacrifice (including the crossing of the Red Sea).
- The establishment of the Temple/Tabernacle.
- The promise to David.
- The promise of an anointed Messiah.
- The promise of the suffering Messiah.
- The promise of the renewed temple.
- The promise of the wide outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
- The promise of the eventual new heaven and new earth.
Each of these promises were fulfilled in Christ.
Also in particular the following OT truths were fulfilled in Christ.
- The system of sacrifices because now 1 sacrifice for sins forever - so now all priests & therefore not special clothes etc. That's obsolete according to Hebrews – as is the rebuilding of a physical temple.
- The law fulfilled in Christ. Partly the sacrificial system but also what kept Israel a separate people. No longer needed either to please God through legalism nor to be separate because all ethnic groups can be in Christ.
- The dividing wall between Jew & Gentile abolished because one new man in Christ. So, racism & tribalism has no place. Not only no Jew nor Gentile but no barbarian or Scythian. Col 3:11. Also no longer priority for one nation of Israel but a renewed Israel – all people who trust in Jesus.
- Anointing not now for special few, prophet, priest & king but Holy Spirit fell on all. Now in NT just one anointed Messiah, but we are all in the Messiah, so all are anointed, though that involves different gifts now but not a special sub-group of anointed ones.
- Moral standards are fulfilled through Christ's perfect life but fulfilled in us as we live following the law of Christ by the Spirit. Those commands are reinforced in the NT.
- Eventually, when Christ returns, he will usher in the new heaven and new earth – fulfilling even more than Eden and God makes his dwelling with His people.
© David Devenish
Foundation Laying (I) - Foundational Apostolic Ministry Today - Broadcast - July 2021
