“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 3:11).

Paul, who had planted the fledgling church in Corinth, had seen them begin to slip away, incorporating other doctrines and practices. Paul wrote to remind them that their local church and the church at large was founded on none other than Jesus Christ. His admonition in our text is mirrored in the much loved song, “The Church’s One Foundation,” and is just as crucial to the modern church as it was to the early church. Its words contain much Scripture, and we can use them to bring important truths to mind.

The church’s one foundation, Is Jesus Christ her Lord; She is His new creation, By water and the word; From heaven He came and sought her, To be His holy bride; With His own blood He bought her, And for her life He died.

The “church” referred to is not an individual local church, but the “universal” church, comprised of all true believers worldwide. A charismatic leader may enthuse a crowd, but only Christ Jesus could make the ultimate sacrifice necessary, for “Christ . . . loved the church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:25,26). “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation” (II Corinthians 5:17).

There will come a time when the church gathers around His throne, singing “Thou art worthy . . . for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Revelation 5:9).

He had long ago left that throne to seek, as it were, a pure bride. Finding no such pure bride, “Christ died for the ungodly . . . commend(ing) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6,8). “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: For the marriage of the Lamb is come” (Revelation 19:7,9). JDM