"This thing was not done in a corner . . . " Acts 26:26

Building blocks. 

Of course these are fundamental to any small child’s toy chest.  

When was the last time you saw a child build a house of blocks? Did he suspend the roof in mid air? Were the walls floating above the floor?  Was the foundation the last thing that was put in place?  Obviously none of this is possible.

Even on the most basic level of construction, the foundation is laid first.  When we are looking at a biblical picture of a structure made of stone we are constrained to evaluate the cornerstone; Jesus is the cornerstone.  This cornerstone was promised in Isaiah 28:16 and set in place according to 1 Peter 2:6.  Notice that this cornerstone does not get set in place at the foundation of the world or before the foundation of the world.  It was promised and predestined before the foundation of the world but not made effective until established in time.  That time, according to true Christian doctrine, was the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

There appears to be some confusion in this area of Christian doctrine because of what I would call a flirtation with Pharisaism.  A renewed interest in Judeo-Christian ethics and the idea that the Ten Commandments are the cornerstone of a great society has a powerful appeal, but is truly a house of cards.  The inspired picture in Revelation 21:10-14 gives us a different perspective on God’s view of how the house is built.     The Apostles are not set in place before the cornerstone.  The Apostles are not set at random without the cornerstone.  The cornerstone is set in place first.  The twelve building blocks of the foundation are established in relation to the cornerstone.  The gates of the city, though older material, are not of greater importance, they cannot be established on a foundation of sand nor suspended in mid air.  All the houses and apartments above the first floor level are part of the promise of John 14:1-4 (You Calvinist make what Jesus says here nonsensical, if he already knows who will be living in the house and how many there are, then there is no need for preparation).  It is often hard to remember that Jesus did not care a fig about building a great society but gave his life to save every individual soul.  Pharisaism , we must always remember,  is the favored formula of Satan and his promised method of deliverance. Never mind that what he promises is always based upon lies (John 8:44) and the only deliverance that he is capable of is special delivery straight to hell.

Notice that one of the cardinal difficulties of Calvinism is that it pictures a building with Jesus at all four corners.  Again, their perspective is problematic in that their building is all on one level: limited in size and scope.  Small hearts demand small horizons . . . fueled by the parochial power of Pharisaism.   Jesus promises to erase our horizons when he says, “If I be lifted up, I will draw everyone to me” (John 12:32).  What difference do our human limitations make to us when he is offering us eternal life from the cross?  

Come to the cross.