INTRODUCTION:

Foundational Truths

(Hebrews 6:1-3)

My temple shall be called a house of prayer:

The old, limited temple of the Old Testament was of stone made of human hands gives way to a new, unlimited temple made of flesh made by God himself; The “greater temple” is the elected adopted children of God.

I GREATER TEMPLE: OF STONE & OF FLESH

A. TEMPLE OF STONE – “Picture” and “Type” in prophecy

Haggai 2 :6-9 – A greater temple prophesied

For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and *I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

* “shake etc.” - pertaining to the 2^nd coming of Christ…the end of the church age.

Mark 13:1 – Jesus predicts changes in temple

Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, *see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

A radical thing since God had directed the building of this magnificent structure. The disciples were proud of the temple and boasting about it to Jesus…and Jesus says “I will destroy it. After his death they understood.

John 2:18-22 -- Jesus to re-establish a new temple made of flesh.

"So the Jews answered and said to Him, 'What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?' Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. ” Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said."

* No wonder they wanted to kill Jesus.

Acts 5:42 Changes are taking place. Temple is not to be any longer the center for worship. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they (Christians) did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

* Moving from a temple or synagogue to the disciple’s homes. Radical idea to the Jew.

Acts 7:44

Old temple built by man is the “picture” of the New Greater Temple built by Jesus. A “picture” of what was to come. One is done away with to establish another.

“Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen, which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David, 46 who found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built Him a house. “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:

‘ Heaven is My throne,

And earth is My footstool.

What house will you build for Me? says the LORD,

Or what is the place of My rest?

Has My hand not made all these things?’

You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears!

You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.

Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?

B. THE GREATER TEMPLE OF FLESH – (I Corinthians 3:21, 22; I Corinthians 6:29)

I Corinthians 6:19 – Temple of Flesh Founded by Christ (including both male & female)

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

…in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord;

…in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.

“temple” – e.g. a building (body) used as a place of prayer and worship; a place where something holy or divine is thought to dwell, for example, the body of a holy person; a synagogue.

“fitly framed together” – e.g. individual believers – male and female, are built together upon the foundation to make a spiritual temple or building unto the Lord.

“habitation” – e.g. God doesn’t dwell in building made with hands, but He has chosen to dwell in our hearts; in His elected adopted children.

C. FOUNDATION OF CHRIST

Building a foundation for your temple of human flesh rather than stone and mortar.

A foundation is an architectural term referring to the solid support upon which the super structure is then constructed. Just as a physical building needs a foundation, the Bible presents the need for the fellowship of God’s people or His church to also have a foundation for their fleshy temple.

I Corinthians 3:9-11

For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:19-22 – A foundation of “household”

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

“foundation” — a part of a building, usually below the ground, that transfers and distributes the weight of the building onto the ground; the basis of something for example, an idea; the setting up of an institution or organization.

“support” — to keep something or somebody upright or in place, or prevent something or somebody from falling; to be strong enough to hold a particular object or weight in place without breaking or giving way; to provide somebody with money and the other necessities of life over a period of time; to give active help, encouragement, or money to somebody or something; to be in favor of something such as a cause, policy, or organization, and wish to see it succeed; to give encouragement to somebody or something by being present at an event; to give assistance or comfort to somebody in difficulty or distress; to give something greater credibility by being consistent with it or providing further evidence for it; to play a subsidiary role in a play or movie alongside another actor with a leading part; to put up with something unpleasant (literary).

“household” – Meaning the true corporate Church is unified by the Holy Spirit and of one accord. A spiritual term referring to Christians as a company or family of believers.

“apostles and prophets” -- The foundational truths were brought to us through these offices or ministries.

“chief corner stone” – The corner stone actually gives the plumb lines of the whole building. The cornerstone is needed for regulation (sets the rules) and for producing assimilation (consistency of design)

II THE GOSPEL IS THE FOUNDATION: “Milk of the Word” – Christ’s basic teachings - the Gospel.

Hebrews 5:8-14

Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. (e.g. this teaching is solid food) We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

I Corinthians 3:9-11 — Jesus is the foundation of your temple. Your body is the temple.

For we are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry (the frugal and sensible management of resources), ye are God’s building, According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 6:1-3 (American Standard Version)

Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection (maturity); not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.

This foundation spoken of in this passage is the teaching of the beginning of Christ. The words and ministry of Christ is in reality who He is; therefore, these teachings are the complete “Gospel.” Jesus said my sheep hear my voice and they obey. When the Gospel is proclaimed, those sheep hear…the “goats” do not.

“not laying again”

– this implies that the foundation should be laid once and for all. Scripture implies that in order to attain maturity, this foundation must be laid and in place in order to go on and mature. As a baby learns to walk, so does the new believer. When firmly set into place, more can be built on top of them in perfect alignment. may be built and completed being solidly built and in alignment.

“leaving the doctrine”

– (leaving – aphentes) means to let go or leave aside. This word was used in classical Greek by orators to indicate that they intended to pass over a subject, or leave it unmentioned in order to get on to more important issues. In a court of law this would be “stipulated” as correct by everyone. Then “leaving” a subject unmentioned, or passing over it does not mean it had no force, or would not later be discussed. This implies that the matter is settled and not debatable any longer.

“principles of the doctrine of Christ”

– (literally, the teaching of the beginning of Christ) – The elementary doctrines are included in the basic foundational truths listed: repentance from dead works, faith toward God, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrections, eternal judgments. Everyone should know them by memory.

“

let us go on unto perfection;”

-- “perfection” – e.g. the quality of something that is as good or suitable as it can possibly be; the process of becoming or making something perfect; somebody or something that reaches the highest attainable standard.

1. The Doctrine of Repentance From Dead Works What are the works of God? What is a “dead work” to God? Every work of man is considered “Dead” if that work is not motivated by, energized by, and directed by the Holy Spirit.

2. The Doctrine of Faith Toward God – Who is the Sovereign God – His attributes or perfections, and what is His purpose in all of creation?

3. The Doctrine of Baptisms – What are the three Baptisms which are the Ways of God?

4. The Doctrine of Laying On of Hands – What is the Fullness of the Holy Spirit, Gifts, and Ministry of God?

5. The Doctrine of the Resurrections of the Dead – What is man’s Hope and the “anchor” of the Soul?

6. The Doctrine of Eternal Judgments – What is the ultimate purposes of God?

7. The PROMISE: …[to] go on to perfection (maturity) and this we will do if God permits.”

The Blessings: exploring the benefits and blessings of living a mature life in Christ? What great rewards both in heaven and on earth for the mature Christian.

III. FOUNDATIONS CONTRASTED: What happens when the foundations is not laid?

APOSTASY --- This is the central problem and the results of not laying all of the six stones solidly as the basis for theology.

I'm beginning to question whether an outline will do it....these need to be taught......maybe?