What is your foundation built on?
Luke 6: 47-49
(47)Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like:
(48) He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep,
and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
(49) But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
If I were to ask the question why are you saved?
What would your answer be? Everyone please stop and think about it, in your own mind say it to yourself, tell yourself why you’re saved.;;;;; Now I will almost bet that a lot if not most of you probably started off with because I.
The most common answer that I get when I ask this question is “ I know I am saved because I was baptized when I was very young”. The next answer I get is “ Because I said a sinners prayer”, or because I go to church all the time, or I give to the church regular.
You know all these answers sound real nice, and we should do all these things, but none of these are the reason that you are saved. You see baptism Can not atone for your sin dept! You see a sinner’s prayer did not pay the price for your redemption! Going to church will not justify you before all mighty GOD! And giving to the church does not sanctify you.
You see it goes deeper than that. There is more to Christianity than a water baptism, there is more to it than a simple prayer, more than just meeting with others who believe, there is more than paying tithes.
You see we have something no other religion in the world has. We have a Redeemer, we have a Savior, and we have a personal relationship with the one true living GOD!!
I have to tell you today, that it is time that we check our foundation. Its time that we look to see what our house of praise is sitting on. Have you built on the Rock or on sand?
What are you counting on to get you to heaven?
Do you know that most people who profess to be a Christian, and say they have been one for years have never lead anyone to JESUS. Nor can they tell you how to be saved. (correctly) This petrifies me because either they never cared enough to learn just what happened to them, or their foundation is laid upon something other than the finished work of Jesus on the cross.
What is Jesus’ finished work on the cross?
Jesus’ work was to rejoin sinful man to a sinless God. Jesus’ purpose for dieing on the cross was to redeem us to God, and to destroy the work of the devil. You see sin separates us from God. God’s judgment for sin is death.
Jesus’ death on the cross takes away our sin therefore there is no judgment from God unto us. That is why John said behold “the Lamb of God” who takes away the sin of the world.
Do you know that a lot of people are under the impression that Jesus was defeated on the cross. That the devil had his way, he killed the son of God. There are even churches that teach this. The fact of the matter is that it was God’s plan from the begging, that Jesus would lay down his life so that we may live eternally with God. 1st Peter 1:19-20 “But with precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and spot: Who verily was foreordained (chosen) before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for YOU. JESUS died for You!
You see Jesus did what no man could do. That is He lived a sinless life. Not even once did he ever displease God nor did he break one of the Ten Commandments. This is why is referred to as the Lamb of God. Because he was without spot or blemish, Jesus kept the law that we could never keep. Remember what Jesus said “Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil”.
Do you know that the law was giving to point out our sin? The law was giving to show without a doubt that we are sinners in need of a savior.
When God gave the Law do you think that He gave it thinking that we would ever be able to keep it in our on power? No! God knew as I said, before the foundation of the world we couldn’t keep His Law. This is why Jesus came to die on the cross. To pay our sin debt.
You see in Old Testament times the lamb that was sacrificed was really pointing to what Jesus was going to do on the cross. The difference in the two is this; a lamb had to be sacrificed often for sins. Jesus was a one time sacrifice, His work lasts forever. The sacrifice of the true Lamb of God, covered past, present, and future sins. Not only that but, Jesus defeated death, and sins grasp or hold on our lives. Sin has no more dominion over the believer. What does this mean? Well I am so glad you asked. This means that now through the power of the Holy Spirit through the finished work of Christ you can over power sin. In other words you don’t have to surrender to the sin nature that has been put to death by Jesus.
You see when you accept Jesus as your lord and savior, the old you dies, and you are born again. Don’t you remember the great conversation that Jesus, and Nicodemus had one night over in (John chapter 3). Jesus told Nicodemus that except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of GOD.
You see when you accept Jesus as Lord and savior, this wonderful miracle of salvation takes place. This new birth happens. Your old self is crucified your Sins washed away in the blood of Jesus. This is why I love baptism, Because it is such a great opportunity to tell the Gospel Story.
You see as you are submerged in the water this represents your old self-dieing with Jesus. As you are raised out of the water this represents your resurrection with Jesus in newness of life. Now you have the Lord living inside you. Not on your on, but with the help of the Lord, you have the power to resist temptation. Sin has no dominion over you as it did in times past. You have became a new creature in Christ.
This finished work of Jesus is the only true foundation.
There is only one way to Heaven that is through the shed Blood Of JESUS! If this is not what your foundation is built on, then YOU don’t have a foundation!
If your trusting in anything except Jesus and his finished work, than I want to show you a few more verses.
MATTHEW 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven, many will say to me in that day Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity. The will of the FATHER is that we believe in the SON without this foundation there is no salvation!!
Again I ask in love what is your foundation built on?
Brother Greg.
