Christ - The Builder

Hebrews 3:3 TNIV Chapter Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.

The universe and everything in it was built by Christ. On the seventh day He rested, but He was not yet done building.

Matthew 16:18 TNIV And I tell you that you are Peter, [ The Greek for Peter means rock.] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of death [ Greek Hades] will not overcome it.

The church is a thing that must be built, and it will be built by Christ.

John 14:2 TNIV Chapter My Father's house has plenty of room; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

The Father's house is being built by the Son, but it is not a city with streets paved by gold. It is His church.

Hebrews 11:10 TNIV Chapter For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
1 Peter 2:5 TNIV Chapter you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house [ Or into a temple of the Spirit] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:21 TNIV Chapter In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

But the building does not stop at the church. We, too, are built.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 TNIV Chapter Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

And we are to build up our neighbors. (Maybe this next should be the theme verse for the Familyhood Church.)

Romans 15:2 TNIV Chapter We should all please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.

And when we build each other up, it is Christ Who is building.

1 Corinthians 3:9 TNIV Chapter For we are God's co-workers; you are God's field, God's building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.

This blog is largely focused on the building of the church. Until this post, I have focused on what we have done in building, and what we should do. What have we done wrong as protestants? What can we do right to bring force back into our churches?

It is time to dig a little deeper. We are not the focus of the church, nor its constructors. Christ is. The One Who built the universe is building His church, and is building you and me into it.

There is a way to build a church, and there are ways to cripple a church. Studying our role in church building is a good thing. Paul was a master builder, while others had different skills and abilities. Some were unskilled, and yet tried to build. For a while, though, let's forget about our role.

For the next little while, let's look at the many roles of the Builder.

Psalm 127:1 TNIV Chapter A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.