I love this post. And you're right, He did have a church on planet Earth, the Kingdom Church, which John the Baptist preached on, Christ preached about, the 12 Apostles preached about, and the complete actualization of Peter actually offered to Israel on the day of Pentecost. If only they had accepted Christ He would have returned and set up His kingdom and all the OT prophesies would have been fulfilled along with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. With Peter and the 11 ruling with Him on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel. But know that did not happen.
Which brings us to 1 Cor. 3:10-15. The foundation that was given to Paul to lay by God. God called him a wise masterbuilder. It cannot be the Kingdom Church, given to Peter and the 11 to build upon, with Christ as the cornerstone. Paul says he was specifically given this foundation to lay according to the grace of God. Christ was and is the cornerstone of the Kingdom Church and the Church that Paul was tasked to lay, The Church the Body of Christ, located in the heavenlies with Christ as its head and founded solely on the grace of God. Not convenants or prophecies. There is a heavenly Church, the Church the Body of Christ, and there was and will be again, an earthly Church, the Kingdom Church. Both built with the Cornerstone being Jesus Christ. One with heavenly promises and inheritances, and the other with earthly promises and inheritances.
"In the beginning God created the HEAVEN and the EARTH." (Gen. 1:1). The very first scripture in His word tells us He created both for His reason and purpose.
Thanks, Chief, for providing me with another way of looking at something I’ve seen only poorly through a smoked window. I intend to seek prayerful guidance as I consider in the days ahead what you have just posted on FR.
R2z