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I. THE "FOUNDATION" IS THAT FROM WHICH EVERYTHING SPRINGS, WHILE ITSELF BEARS ALL THE WEIGHT. So from Christ all that is beautiful in the whole structure of the Church starts; and back to Him every part throws its heft and burden.

1. Christ was the "foundation" of the material world. For His sake, chiefly, this world was made — to be the scene of the display of His exceeding power and love to the glory of the Father (Proverbs 8:23-31).

2. So that when this world fell to ruin, there was the eternal Son of God ready to be the beginning of a new and better creation. As the promised Messiah, at the gate of Eden, He stayed the hand of universal death; and this earth and everything that is in it lived on, for "He was before all things, and by Him all things consist," i.e., hold together.

3. After that, all along, underlying the whole Jewish dispensation, there was that expected One, the "foundation" a thought of every Jew till, in due time, He came. And the cradle of Bethlehem was the "foundation" of a throne before which every throne shall crumble into dust — of a kingdom which shall never be destroyed.

4. Of this kingdom of grace and glory the threefold fundamental principal is —

(1) The person of Christ, that He is God and man — man to constitute Him a representative; God to give efficacy to the representation.

(2) The work of Christ — that He paid the debt of the whole world, and wrought a righteousness which can make the whole world good in a holy Father's sight.

(3) The glory of Christ — that He is occupying heaven for us, and there exercises all regal functions for His people's sake.

II. FOUNDATION PRESUPPOSES SUPERSTRUCTURE. And with the superstructure you have to do. And the height of the superstructure will be according to the depth of the strength of the "foundation."

1. The foundation of all prayer is the Christ that is in it. Realise that your prayer is made prevalent by His intercession, that whatever you ask in the name of Christ shall be done.

2. Works are good and acceptable to God just according as they proceed from love — the love of God. But you cannot love God till you are in Christ, Good works are sweet evidences; the pinnacles and the decorations of heavenly architecture; but no foundation.

3. Is there any one in this church who has not peace? It is because Christ is not in His proper place. He is not laid deep enough in that poor heart of yours. Nothing else can bear the weight of that sin of yours.

(J. Vaughan, M. A.)

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KJV: For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

WEB: For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.