The True Foundation
Many foundations can be formed in a person's life, but only one foundation will remain standing on the day of judgement before the living God. That foundation is Jesus Christ!
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about this in 1 Cor. 3:10,11 "By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."
There are many people today who profess to be "Christians" but do not know Christ, they do not own His Life. These people have foundations other than Christ and need to be born again. Still others who have truly been born again, have been ensnared and led captive to the religious traditions of men, resulting in faulty work built on top of the True Foundation. These believer's minds have become dull and a veil is over their hearts, yet there is still hope. (2 Cor. 3:14,16) "For whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away."
The question is, what is absolutely necessary for the True Foundation of Christ to be formed in our lives? The answer: One must turn to the Lord wholeheartedly and get to know God, through His Holy Spirit, who reveals Jesus Christ to our hearts. Without His Spirit, the most profound knowledge about God will not help in the saving of one's soul. No amount of Bible studies, sermons, church services, tithing or anything else will be of benefit either. The only thing that will count is genuine faith in God, expressing itself through love by the leading of His Holy Spirit.
It is simple, Christ in you is your only hope of glory. The kingdom of God is within you, if in fact, He is in you. This calls for a serious look at one's heart. Is Christ your true foundation? Do you really know Him personally, or do you just know about Him?
In John 10:27,30, Jesus said, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." This is a promise for the real sheep of His pasture who know Him, who listen to His living Words and follow Him.
The Apostle John wrote, (1 John 2:26,27) "If you know Him, then you have an anointing from the Holy One, I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things, and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit, just as it has taught you, remain in Him." Each of us is to be led by the Holy Spirit. We are to "remain in Him."
In the Bible in Galatians chapter 3, we see where the Galatian church became bewitched and enslaved to the traditions of men. Though they started in the Spirit they got duped into thinking they needed something more than the Spirit. They performed religious duties, which Paul makes clear is only an exercise of the flesh. It is the same today for many believers. Even though they start by the Spirit, they try to work out their salvation in their flesh.
Do not be led astray. The only leader we need is Jesus Christ who guides by His Holy Spirit. This is not to say He will not use men in the process. He will, but those who are true shepherds will always bring you to the only Shepherd and Bishop of your soul. The head of a man is Christ, not a pastor or a group of elders or a denomination. The head of a man is Jesus Christ and Him alone!
Beware of those who would take you captive to vain philosophies and religious traditions. (Jude 17,19) "Remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold, they said to you, In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires. These are the men who divide you, (divide you from the Spirit of Christ and take you captive to their human traditions) who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit."
Unlike these false leaders, Paul was a godly overseer who followed the unction of the Holy Spirit. His motives were pure in ministering to people. His burden was to see Christ formed in them. He was not a deceiver trying to catch men by craftiness. His methodology was not to plant churches, so as to reap tithes, as many organizations and their hirelings do today. Instead Paul was a good shepherd who labored to see the imperishable Seed of Christ planted in those he preached to. His purpose was building the True Foundation of Christ into their lives.
Oh, Christians wake up! You who have been burdened by a yoke of slavery. Mark my words, I Daniel, tell you that if you let yourselves be ruled by false teachers and the traditions of men, Christ will be of no value to you at all. The mainstream of denominational Christianity, is a broad road leading to death! It is ruled by greedy beasts who gather men to themselves for their own personal gain. Their leaders speak from their own notions and imaginations, and not out of the Spirit of Truth in Christ Jesus. They shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces and do not enter themselves. They keep a veil over the hearts and minds of their listeners for their own gain. They are shepherds who feed only themselves. They make a trade out of the things of God and His judgement is over them all.
There is only one body of Christ, one true believing church! The Lord Jesus started it nearly 2,000 years ago. It is made up of all those who know Him and own His Life. It is the only true church, and He its only Foundation. "Wake up, oh sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (Eph. 5:14b)
Let no one deceive you, Jesus Christ is the only True Foundation of our faith. Let Him be your Teacher and your Guide. By His Holy Spirit He will lead you into all truth and righteousness. Trust Him with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.
DM
