The New Testament church is the one having a scriptural foundation

Neither a building nor a religious body can be structurally sound and remain firm and unchanged, unless it is built upon a strong, unmovable foundation. It is impossible for a church tobe stronger than the foundation on which it is built. It was God that laid the foundation of the earth (Psalm 102:25b). God created the vast universe, which contains the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands (Ps. 102:25c). Its history assures us that the heavens and earth have always performed as God intended from the beginning of time. It remains constant and sure as the foundation which was laid by our Creator.

So is the body of Christ, His church. The prophet Isaiah wrote this about the future foundation of the church: Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste (Isa. 28:16). It is that sure foundation the apostle, Paul, referred to in his letter to the church at Corinth. According to the grace of God, which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, 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 (1 Cor. 3:10-11).

Jesus Christ is the scriptural foundation - the cornerstone of the church. Its name reflects its builder as well as the foundation on which it is built - it is the church of Christ. A primary misconception in the religious world today is that Jesus built His church with the apostle Peter as its foundation. What a gross error. When Jesus asked Peter, whom say ye that I am, ...Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. To Peter's reply Jesus answered, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father, which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (See Matt. 16:15-18).

It is true, that the word Peter means "rock." However, the original language in which this scripture was written gives it a different overall meaning. Thou art Peter (Petros) and upon this rock (petra) I will build My church. It was God, Jesus' Father, which is in heaven, who made known to Peter the true rock that was to serve as the foundation on which the Christ's church was to be built. The rock (petra) was not Peter (Petros), but the true confession, which Peter had just made: Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. One cannot read, and understand,For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11), and still maintain that Peter is the foundation of the body of Christ.

The fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, has withstood skepticism, modernism, and atheistic attacks without any signs of weakening. In this we find the assurance that this foundation is secure and unmovable, and that the church of Christ will continue to remain firm upon the tried corner stone which is a sure foundation. Of Jesus as the corner stone of His church, the Psalmist wrote this prophesy: The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner (Ps. 118:22). Jesus admitted this prophesy applied to Himself with this rhetorical question, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The Stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the Head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes (Matt. 21:42b)? After His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension into heaven; after the establishment of His church on the Day of Pentecost, Peter also applies this prophesy to our Savior. In his impassioned defense before Annas, the High Priest, Peter made this inspired statement in defense of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ. Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the Stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the Head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:10-12).

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By Keith Holder from his Rays Of Light Bible Lessons website

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