Building a Home

Luke 14:28 – 30
28. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29. Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30. Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Planning
Have you ever been a part of a construction project from planning through completion, like building a House?  If so, you’ll know as the scripture above said, before you start a project, if you want to be successful, you must have a planning stage.  Once you have secured a location, you have to decide what kind of structure it will be.  Then go through plan books until you find the perfect plans or draw what you want yourself.  Then, unless you are a carpenter or have a fair amount of knowledge on this subject you have to have a professional review your plans to determine their feasibility.  Once your blueprints are sorted out, the planning can really begin. How much will it cost, how will you pay for it, who will be the general contractor, which Plumber, Electrician, HVAC guy will you use, what permits are required, and on and on and on it can go.  The planning stage is pretty long, you don’t want to rush it and discover that you’ve figured incorrectly or underestimated the cost.  It is much better to figure and refigure during this stage.   The Planning Stage is or should be fairly long, but if you do it right, it’ll speed up the actual building process.

The Build
Next, you build.  This should be straight-forward, just follow the plan. You might add this or change that, but because you planned it out most things fall into place. The contractors arrive in a specific order, do their thing, and in a few months, you have a building, a home, ready to move into and live in, hopefully for many years to come.

Maintenance
You settle into your new Home, but sooner or later you’ll hear a weird noise or notice a strange smell. You may need to call a specialist to check the systems to make sure they are functioning properly.  Just maintenance from then on, changing filters and light bulbs, a fresh coat of paint after a few years, a fridge 10 or 15 years down the road. Maintaining the investment takes work as well, and is important and will be a lot longer process than Planning and much much longer than the building phase.

Comparison
Now, let’s look at the New Testament. Not a verse or two, but almost the whole thing.
I want to make it very clear that this is an oversimplification but done so on purpose. I am a simple man and understand things simply.  I’m sure there are people better suited to explain this, but God chose me.  I’m also certain that I will cross some of your theology with what I’m about to say, again that is O.K. We can agree to disagree and be civilized about it and have as long a discussion as you’d like to have about it and hopefully remain Brothers and Sisters and Friends.
I’m open, I want all that God has for me and if you can shed some light that will help me grow as a child of God, by all means, let it shine.  Hopefully, I can shine a little light as well.  I will not debate or argue though. I don’t argue, God would not be pleased, and I’m not good at it, so I refuse to engage in it.

The New Testament, as I see and understand it.
There are four sections to the New Testament, the Gospels, The Acts, The Epistles, and Prophecy.
I’m only going to be referring to the Gospels, The Acts, and The Epistles in this message. The Book of Revelations has its own special place but doesn’t really apply to what we are saying here.

The Gospels
The Gospels were written during the dispensation of Grace about things that occurred during the dispensation of the Law. Their subject matter is Old Testament but written with New Testament insights.  These Books are about the planning stages, the setting things in motions, figuring out the cost, appointing a General contractor, getting everything to the location, revealing the carpenter, getting the paperwork in order with courts and governments, etc. Also, the Old Testament can be considered a part of the preparation for the fulfillment of The Plan!

The Acts
The Book of acts occurs immediately after the planning stage was completed. The foundation had already been laid.  The signs of a Home started when they were all in one accord and in one place. It was the spiritual building of the House. Within a few hours that day, this House grew from just a plan to 120 souls, to a few thousand, with more being added daily. The Building part only took a short time, and now there’s a Church, The Church, a Home.  The first Home, a lot of us, ever knew.

The Epistles
The Epistles are the maintenance agreement between the Builder/Landlord and the occupants. They tell the occupants how to keep the lights on, the Fire burning.  How to keep the warranties valid. How to live in this world without being of this world.  They explain how to live and how to die.

So, it is my understanding and belief that the Church was built in the Book of Acts.  Salvation and the plan of salvation were laid out and poured out in The Book of Acts.  How to get saved, along with many, many examples of people being saved are found in The Book of Acts, it is the Building of the Church.
I also, know that a large percentage of Christians believe that the plan of salvation is explained in Romans, so here are a few things to consider:

1. Peter was given the Keys to the Kingdom in Matthew 16: 18 & 19. It was Peter that preached on the Day of Pentecost. Peter walked with Jesus, saw things that only two other people ever saw, had a close and personal connection with Jesus. He was taught by Jesus directly.  Appointed by Jesus to carry the Keys.

2. The first 8 verses of Romans makes it very clear that Paul’s audience in Romans is a church, not sinners
Romans 1: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7. To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
So why would Paul write a letter to the First Church of Rome to explain Salvation, They already knew about salvation, he was teaching them about maintaining the walk and witness. 

3. There was already a Church, revival, and persecution of the Church before Paul came to the Lord in Acts chapter 9.  Peter, bearer of the Keys, again brought the original Message of salvation to the Gentiles (us) in Acts chapter 10.

4. Romans was written approximately 25 years after the Day of Pentecost.  Pentecost is believed to have occurred in the Springtime of 32 AD. Paul penned the letter to the Roman Church about 57 or 58 AD.  With the Salvation message being so important, why would God wait 25 years between pouring out His Spirit on the Day of Pentecost before telling us how to get saved?

5. Romans was not the first epistle that Paul Wrote. Historical data tells us that 1st & 2nd Thessalonians, 1st & 2nd Corinthians, and Galatians were all written over an approximate 5 year period before Romans was written.  Biblically these books are not in chronological order, so again, Why would Paul write five letters to established churches about their walk and then write to another church, Romans to explain the plan of salvation?

6. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.  Just to be clear that the Books of Acts was indeed talking about Salvation.

God is not the author of confusion. The Word of God will not contradict itself.  If there is confusion or the Word seems contradictory, it is in our understanding, Not the Word.  The Word Will Always Agree.

Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

I’m not asking you to take my word for this or anyone else’s, I am asking you to study, to pray, to work it out for yourself with Fear and Trembling.

God Bless You Richly
Greg