Page 16 - September 2026 - Truth & Tidings

head requires a body to complete it, so The Glory of the Foundation
now we complement and complete Him
in His role as Head of the body, the One “You yourselves like living stones are
who “fills all in all.” being built up as a spiritual house, to be
a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sac-
The Growth of the Body rifices acceptable to God through Jesus

“Ye are no more strangers and foreign- Christ. For it stands in Scripture: ‘Behold,
ers, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone
of the household of God; and are built chosen and precious, and whoever be-
upon the foundation of the apostles and lieves in him will not be put to shame’”
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the (1Pe 2:5-6 ESV).
chief corner stone; in whom all the build- Long before the advent of Christ, Isaiah
ing fitly framed together groweth unto an wrote about this “tried” and “precious”
holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also and “sure foundation” (Isa 28:16 ESV).
are builded together for an habitation of Paul and Peter now unitedly reveal that
God through the Spirit” (Eph 2:19-22). the fulfillment of this Scripture has come;
While God, in His infinite wisdom, eter- God’s eternal purpose rests securely on
nally envisioned the completed body, He this foundation – “Jesus Christ himself”
accommodates our time-based perspec- (Eph 2:20).
tive by likening it to a building project. Every normal foundation, with its cor-
Christ and the cross were its secure and nerstone, is inanimate. But this building
solid ground (see Mat 16:18); the teaching rests on an amazing footing – the risen, liv-
of the apostles and prophets (preserved ing Christ. Its base is not the dead dogma
for us now in the New Testament) pro- of human religion, or the dried remains of
vided its first-century inauguration. And human leaders, but God’s chosen Stone.
for the balance of this dispensation, Paul And from Him rises a living house, a holy
points to its ongoing construction and temple, with Himself as its glorious Head.
growth by the Spirit. One by one, as souls Earthly cornerstones with ornate carvings
are saved, they are added to the body. may be costly, but this one is of infinite
More than that, in wondrous grace, Jews value, not in some abstract way, but to
and Gentiles are equally incorporated redeemed hearts, priceless beyond com-
into this growing structure. It is not an
organization, formed by human hands, pare. Like the bridegroom of Solomon’s
but rather an organism, animated and song, Christ and His body, from head to
increased by the Holy Spirit. toe, are “altogether lovely.” Without “spot
The blueprint points to the final goal: or wrinkle,” this body, this building, will
that the Church, the body of Christ, is to endlessly proclaim – to the ages of the
be a “holy temple,” the inner shrine where ages – the eternal glory of God’s grace.
God Himself resides through, or “in the To God all glory, praise, and love,
Spirit.” Each Person of the Godhead exer- Be now and ever given;
cises a role in this amazing structure; every By saints below and saints above,
part of the body unites and coordinates to The Church in earth and heaven. 2
increasingly display the glory of God and
the beauty of His lovely Son. 2 Charles Wesley

272 TRUTH kTidings Sepember 2026