How does Ephesians 2:20 describe the foundation of our faith community? Scripture Focus “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:20) Key Components of the Foundation • Christ Jesus—Cornerstone • The apostles—New-Covenant eyewitness messengers • The prophets—Spirit-inspired spokesmen who pointed forward to Christ Christ Jesus, the Cornerstone • The cornerstone sets the lines and carries the weight of the whole structure. • Isaiah 28:16 foretold Him: “Behold, I lay a stone in Zion… a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation.” • 1 Peter 2:6-7 and Psalm 118:22 confirm that Jesus fulfills this prophecy. • Because He is alive and unchanging (Hebrews 13:8), every wall of doctrine and practice must align with Him. The Apostles and Prophets as the Foundation Stones • The apostles gave firsthand testimony of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection (Acts 1:21-22). Their preaching and writings form the New Testament. • The prophets spoke God’s Word beforehand (Hebrews 1:1-2). Their writings point to Christ and establish continuity with the Old Testament. • Together they supply a complete, Spirit-breathed foundation (2 Timothy 3:16). Unity of Old and New Testament Revelation • Luke 24:27, 44—Jesus shows that Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms all speak of Him. • Revelation 21:14—The New Jerusalem’s wall has “twelve foundations, and on them the names of the twelve apostles,” echoing Ephesians 2:20. • The same God who spoke through Isaiah and Jeremiah also spoke through Peter and Paul, knitting one seamless storyline that centers on the Cornerstone. Stability Guaranteed • 1 Corinthians 3:11: “For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” • When doctrine, worship, and fellowship rest on this foundation, the church stands secure against error and persecution (Matthew 7:24-25). Practical Implications for Our Faith Community • Evaluate teaching by its faithfulness to the apostolic and prophetic Scriptures. • Guard unity by focusing on our shared Cornerstone rather than personal preferences. • Build confidently, knowing the foundation is divinely set, unshakable, and eternally sufficient. |
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