Building (Part 1)

The Bible compares the life of a believer to the construction of a building:1 Corinthians 3:9 "Ye are God's building..."

Each believer is united in Christ with other Christians to form the Church. The Bible also compares the Church to a building: 

Ephesians 2:22 "In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

Whenever men erect a building they must first lay a proper foundation. Since this is a natural principle understood by all people, God used it to teach a great spiritual truth.

A believer must have a proper foundation in order to build a good spiritual house. The foundation must be laid according to the builder's plan.  The Bible gives the plan of the master builder, Jesus Christ.

The purpose of your spiritual "building" is to provide a habitation or a dwelling place for God.  His Spirit will dwell in you only when your life is built on the right foundation.  Paul asked in 1 Corinthians 3:16"

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"

Because of this you are cautioned to build your spiritual life properly:

1 Corinthians 3:10, 11 "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

The spiritual foundation of which the Word of God speaks:

1. Is based on God's Word:
2 Timothy 2:19 TLB "God's word stands firm like a rock [foundation]; nothing can shake it."

2. is a good foundation:
1 Timothy 6:19 "Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation."

3. Is based on righteousness:
Proverbs 10:25 AMP "The uncompromisingly righteous has an everlasting foundation."

4. Is eternal:
1 Timothy 6:19 AMP "...Laying up for themselves the riches that endure forever, a good foundation for the future..."

5. But the firm foundation laid by God stands sure and unshaken, bearing this seal and inscription:
2 Timothy 2:19 "The Lord knows those who are His and let everyone who names  himself by the name of the Lord give up all iniquity and stand aloof from it."

The two principles upon which the foundation stands are:

a.  Redeemed men-The Lord knows those who are His.

b. Living redeemed lives. Let everyone who names himself by the name of the Lord give up all iniquity and stand away from it.

Luke 6:48 "He is like a man which built a house and digged deep and laid the foundation on a rock and when the flood arose and beat vehemently on the house it could not shake it for it was founded on a rock."

That Rock is Jesus Christ!
Isaiah 44:8 AMP "There is no other rock; I know not any."

Jesus Christ is the only foundation for spiritual life:
1 Corinthians 3:11 "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."