Cornerstone Construction

In the Apostles’ Creed we confess a “holy, catholic church.”

But this is not a confession about a building. Christians themselves are the house of God! What does this mean?

In the Old Testament, the Israelites worshiped especially at one place, the tabernacle or the temple at Jerusalem. There God was pleased to show his presence among his people. That was God’s holy house!

But something fundamental has now changed. Since the coming of Jesus Christ, God makes his dwelling in our hearts. Through his Holy Spirit, the living God is very near. That’s why the New Testament calls each believer, and believers all together, “temples”—temples of God’s Spirit (1 Cor 3:17).

Christians are God’s temple. Like every proper house, believers need to be built on a firm foundation. And God has provided it in Jesus Christ! Jesus is the precious stone on which the whole “building” depends. Every believer can rely on him, can be saved through him, and can be changed by him.

Though this Cornerstone was once rejected as unsatisfactory and below-expectations—though Jesus was once crucified and killed—He has become the true and lasting stability of the people of God in every place and every age.

The church as she lives in this world may depend in all things on her risen Saviour.

• Jesus will give us courage to deal with sin, to rebuke it and to repent from it.

• Jesus will give us the wisdom to make decisions that please him.

• Jesus will give us the strength to bring the gospel to an unbelieving world.

• Jesus will bind all of his believers together in blessed communion.

Christ will do all this for all who truly confess his Name—for He’s our Rock!

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Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:10-17

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you for dwelling with me by your Holy Spirit and for building your church on the Cornerstone who is Christ. Truly, in Him you have given your people all that we need. Amen.