The Church's One Foundation

The Church’s One Foundation

Introduction
The song “The Church’s One Foundation” beautifully declares that Jesus Christ is her Lord, her creator, her redeemer, and her bridegroom. From heaven, He came to make her His holy bride, purchasing her with His own blood. This truth ties perfectly to the parable of the sower in Luke 8, for both reveal the nature, origin, and growth of the church. The church’s foundation is firmly established in Christ alone, and its growth depends on the pure seed of God’s word.

The Seed Principle and the Growth of the Church
In Luke 8, Jesus gives the parable of the sower. The seed represents the word of God, and the various soils represent the hearts of people and their response to that word. Some reject it entirely; some receive it for a time but fall away due to temptation, worldly cares, or misplaced priorities. Others receive it with a good and noble heart, keep it, and bear fruit with patience. The principle is simple: growth occurs when people hear, accept, and act upon the word of God.

In Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost, the apostles preached only the word. The result was that believers became Christians—just Christians. No denominations, no divisions, only the body of Christ as God intended. The same pure seed, when sown today without addition or alteration, produces the same result: Christians only, belonging to the one church Jesus built. Adding anything to that word produces something else entirely.

The Singular Nature of the Church
Ephesians 1:22-23 teaches that Jesus is head over all things to the church, which is His body. The Bible knows of only one body, which means there is only one church. This one body is composed of all who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28). The New Testament model shows one head, one body, and one faith. Man has complicated and distorted this simple design by adding manmade teachings, creating a multitude of divisions. But the seed principle calls us back to the original pattern, where all who obey the gospel are part of one undenominated body—Christians only.

The Work and Worship of the Church
The church is not a social club, an entertainment venue, or a commercial enterprise. Its mission is spiritual: to glorify God and to follow the instructions He has given. In worship, the church approaches God in five ways: partaking of the Lord’s Supper each first day of the week (Acts 20:7), singing from the heart without instrumental accompaniment (Ephesians 5:19; Hebrews 13:15), praying, giving as prospered (1 Corinthians 16:1-2), and hearing the word preached (Acts 2:42). Each of these acts is done according to the New Testament pattern, without human innovations.

Organization and Autonomy of the Church
The New Testament shows no earthly headquarters for the church. The headquarters are in heaven, where Christ, the head, reigns. The Bible knows nothing of earthly governing boards, conventions, or councils. Each congregation is autonomous, self-governing under Christ’s authority, with no outside body dictating its affairs. This ensures that the church remains as it was in the first century—locally led, answerable only to Christ.

The Names and Descriptions of the Church
The church is called by various descriptive names in Scripture: the church of Christ (Romans 16:16), the family of God (Ephesians 2:19), the kingdom (Colossians 1:13), and the church of the living God (1 Timothy 3:15). These names describe its relationship to God and Christ, not to divide or distinguish it from other groups, but to identify it according to its biblical nature.

The Church and Salvation
Salvation is found only in Christ (2 Timothy 2:10), and to be in Christ is to be in His body, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). This means the saved are the church, and the church is the saved—there is no salvation outside the church. Entrance into this body is not through human traditions but through obeying the gospel: believing in Jesus as the Son of God (Romans 10:10), confessing Him before others, repenting of sins (Acts 2:38), and being baptized in His name for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, 47). The Lord then adds the saved to His church.

The Call to Return to the Pattern
In a world filled with religious division, the church must stand firm on its one foundation—Jesus Christ—and adhere strictly to the seed principle. We must resist the temptation to add to God’s word, remembering that only the pure seed produces Christians as found in the New Testament. The church must be content to be Christians only, united in faith, worship, and work, as Jesus prayed for in John 17.

The Church’s One Foundation Sermon Outline:

• The Seed Principle (Luke 8:11; Acts 2)

• Growth through the Word alone produces Christians only

• Jesus as the sole head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23)

• The church’s spiritual mission, not social or commercial roles

• Five acts of worship according to the New Testament

• Autonomy of each local congregation; no earthly headquarters

• Biblical names that describe the church’s nature

• Salvation in Christ’s body, the church (2 Timothy 2:10; Acts 2:38, 47)

• Call to unity and adherence to the New Testament pattern

Call to Action
The Lord’s invitation is open to all. The seed has been sown today through the word. If your heart is good and honest, receive it, obey it, and bear fruit. Place your faith in Christ, confess Him before others, repent of your sins, and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins. The Lord will add you to His church, the body of the saved. Do not delay; eternity depends on your response.

Key Takeaways

• The seed of the kingdom is the pure word of God (Luke 8:11)

• The same seed today produces the same Christians as in Acts 2

• Jesus is the only head of His one body, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23)

• Worship must be according to the New Testament pattern (Acts 20:7; Ephesians 5:19)

• Salvation is in Christ, and to be in Christ is to be in His church (2 Timothy 2:10)

Scripture Reference List

• Luke 8:11 – The seed is the word of God

• Acts 2:38, 47 – Baptism for the forgiveness of sins; the Lord adds to the church

• Ephesians 1:22-23 – Christ is head of the church, His body

• Romans 10:10 – Belief and confession lead toward salvation

• 2 Timothy 2:10 – Salvation is in Christ Jesus

• Matthew 28:18 – All authority given to Christ

• Acts 20:28 – The church purchased with Christ’s blood

• Ephesians 5:19 – Singing and making melody in the heart to the Lord

• Hebrews 13:15 – Praise as the fruit of our lips

• 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 – Giving on the first day of the week

• Acts 20:7 – Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week

Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO