Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. Ephesians 2:20
A Solid Foundation
When a building begins to crack or lean, the problem is often hidden below the surface. The foundation is weak. No matter how beautiful the structure may appear, it cannot stand if the foundation is unstable.
Paul uses that picture to describe Christ’s Church. Believers are part of God’s spiritual building, and that building rests on a sure foundation: “the apostles and prophets.”
At first glance, we might think Paul is saying that the Church is built on certain people. In one sense, that is true. God used the prophets of the Old Testament and the apostles of the New Testament to proclaim his saving truth. But the Church is not built on the men themselves. It is built on the message they delivered.
The prophets wrote the Scriptures that pointed ahead to the coming Savior. The apostles wrote the Scriptures that proclaimed the Savior who had come. Together, their inspired writings form the Bible. When Paul speaks of the foundation of the apostles and prophets, he is directing us to the Word of God that they were inspired to record.
This is wonderfully comforting. The foundation of our faith is not human opinion. It is not popular culture, personal feelings, or the latest religious trend. It is the unchanging Word of God.
Paul adds that “Christ Jesus himself” is the chief cornerstone. In ancient construction, the cornerstone determined the alignment of the entire building. Everything was measured from it. Likewise, the entire Bible points to Christ. The prophets foretold him. The apostles proclaimed him. The Scriptures find their center and fulfillment in him.
That means whenever you open your Bible, you are standing on solid ground. There God speaks truth that does not shift with the times. There God reveals the Savior who lived, died, and rose again for you. There God strengthens the faith he himself has created.
When doubts arise and the world feels uncertain, return to the foundation. Listen to the prophets and apostles in the pages of Scripture. There you will find Christ, the cornerstone who never fails.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me the sure foundation of your holy Word. Strengthen my faith through the gospel that points me always to you. Amen.
