In the church, bad behavior often is the result of bad understanding. We’ve been talking about this in my Teen’s Sunday School as we’re going through Galatians . . . if I think I have to do stuff in order to be accepted by God it creates a very different church then if I desire to do stuff because I am already fully accepted by God in Christ. If I’m not fully convinced that Christ’s work on the cross is truly “Finished!” . . . then I’m inclined to try and finish it for Him — to add my best efforts, that my salvation might be secure . . . resulting in a “look over your shoulder” fearful Christianity rather than a “march triumphantly” victorious Christianity. Or, if I think that spirituality is somehow tied to a leader, or a special teacher, then the danger is that the One Body of Christ becomes fractured as it lines up under the banners of different men . . . such was the case in Corinth.

Paul had received a report that the church of Corinth was splitting into different camps based on who people thought was the “most anointed” of the evangelists and teachers who had helped establish the church in Corinth. Some followed Paul . . . some followed Apollos . . . some followed Cephas . . . some said they simply followed Christ . . . and this varied follower-ship was leading to division and strife within the Body (1Cor. 1:10-12). Somehow their faith had become associated with their favorite . . . their standing before God was dependent on the speaker they liked the best . . . their holiness became tied to who they deemed to be the most gifted. And so, Paul tries to redirect their focus from the pulpit and to the Person . . . he seeks to break their preoccupation with the sermonizer and remind them again of the Savior . . . he downplays the flash and instead lifts up the Foundation.

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.    (1Corinthians 3:11 ESV)

Paul was simply a tradesman . . . sub-contracted by the the One who declared, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). His job was to lay the foundation . . . others, such as Apollo or Cephas, where “brought in” to build upon that foundation. The beauty of the building wasn’t determined by its workers but by its Architect. And the strength of the building . . . the utility of the building . . . the durability of the building . . . rested not on the workers, but on the foundation.

How much bad behavior in the church today is because of bad understanding concerning the church’s foundation?

On this Good Friday, as so many of us will focus afresh on the work of the cross, might we remember and rejoice in the foundation. Might we check every thought . . . might we arrest every behavior . . . that declares we are trying to supplement that which is already laid and set. There is nothing to be added to the work of Christ . . . nothing to be mixed into the foundation. The work is finished . . . His grace is sufficient . . .

We build not to be better . . . for we are righteous . . . we are fully accepted . . . we are more than conquerors . . . in and through the blessed Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us. Instead, we build in order to bless . . . not ourselves, but to bless Him who alone is worthy of blessing.

We are God’s building (1:9b) . . . we are God’s holy temple (1:16-17) . . . built upon God’s foundation, which is Jesus Christ.

To Him be allegiance alone . . . to Him be glory alone . . .