Sure Foundations

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If the foundations are destroyed, what shall the righteous do? (Psalm 11:3). What would be considered the foundation of our walk with God? If you were asked to list the most basic beliefs of the Christian religion what would you include? While the wording may vary I believe the following four concepts must be at the top of everyone’s list. Each of these truths are compelling and informative in their own right, but when put together in the human heart they form the foundation of every honest person’s walk with God.

God is there.

While modern atheism has gained popularity over the past few decades the philosophy that seeks to eliminate the need for belief in a transcendent, eternal God remains unreasonable and irrational. The evidence for the existence of God is overwhelming to the honest observer so that belief in him is not a blind “leap into the dark” but a reasonable response to the evidences of the creation. The historical proofs of God’s existence have been to point to the existence of the universe, the intelligent design evidenced in the things he has created, the universal moral awareness built into humanity, the fine-tuning of the universe that makes life possible, and the impossibility of the non-existence of a creator God who is responsible for it all (Rom. 1:20; Psa. 14:1; 19:1). These considerations make theism a fully justified belief.

Further, consider the implications if there were no God. There would be no meaning, value, or purpose in life. Without God there is no objective basis of right and wrong. There would be no final arbiter of truth and everyone would be justified in behaving in a way that is fully self-absorbed and self-promoting. If God did not exist this world would truly be a terrible place to live with no expectation of justice for all the evils perpetrated on innocent human beings. Thankfully, God does exist and therefore every person matters and every thought, decision, and action has real consequences. We will be accountable to God for our beliefs and actions (Heb. 11:6). There are abundant reasons to maintain a firm conviction of God’s existence and his immediate and unchanging concern for the direction of human affairs.

Jesus is Lord.

The God who exists and created the universe has fully and finally revealed himself in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The following three main points combine to show the Lordship of Jesus: his teachings, his character, and his resurrection.

His teachings are life-transforming and have shaped entire cultures for the better through history. His ethic has transformed human hearts and brought life and spiritual prosperity to all who accept them. He helps us understand our world and our place in it. He brings us repentance and offers us the forgiveness of sin and the hope of everlasting life. Indeed, “No man ever spoke like this man!” (John 7:46).

His character is indisputably virtuous. Not only has no one ever spoken like this man, but no one has ever lived like this man. His self-sacrificial life and virtue is above reproof and an evidence of his identity as the Son of God.

His resurrection is the final declaration of God that Jesus is truly who he claimed to be. Though sinners rejected him and put him to death, the Father has accepted him and raised him to life. The resurrection is proof-positive of Jesus’ divinity and his place as Judge over all (Acts 17:30-31).

The Bible is reliable.

God has spoken to us through both his living Word, Jesus Christ, and his written word, the Bible. The Bible is the only source of verbal revelation from God today (2 Tim. 3:16-17). It is therefore utterly reliable and vitally important. We should accept its worldview and ethic because it is the word of our Creator. Thus, the content of the Scriptures is objective truth that serves as the definitive source of doctrine and morality. It is the standard by which every assertion of human wisdom and philosophy must be judged. Contrary to current relativistic thinking, there is only one source of truth and all people are responsible to believe it, love it, and live it.

The commonly accepted sentiment today is that each person has his own “truth” and that no one should seek to invalidate any other “truth.” But Jesus spent much of his time falsifying the erroneous beliefs of his contemporaries and he teaches his followers to lovingly do the same (Matt. 23:13-33; 28:19-20). Relativism is one of the most dangerous cultural axioms of our day and young people need to be shown its errors and dangers. And the Bible is the only standard that can do so infallibly and powerfully.

Christianity is the only way.

The unfailing standard of truth, the Bible, teaches unapologetically that Christianity is the world’s only approved religion. The church of Christ and Christianity should be viewed as a blessing from God and the only way to properly relate to him. As followers of the God of truth we have a unique role in this world as carriers of the unchanging word of God that is able to convert the heart and save the souls of men (Psa. 19:7). Unfortunately, Christians are often vilified today as exclusive, ignorant, bigoted, and judgmental. We are castigated because in our devotion to Jesus and his truth we ignore the social conventions of pluralism and uncritical tolerance.

Brothers and sisters, we need not be ashamed of God, the Christ, or the church because we are the special people of God saved by his grace and the blood of Jesus. We should trust in his strength and seek to honor him by living the life of Christ in joy and confidence no matter what others might say. Jesus himself was often castigated and rejected for his stand for the truth. He encourages his followers that although they may be rejected also, they are glorifying God in their faithfulness and their love for those same people who may be rejecting them. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:12). Jesus left us an example that we should follow in his steps (1 Pet. 2:21).

Conclusion

These four considerations are the foundation of our walk with God. Not only are they powerful truths that undergird our hope, they are based on good evidence that is powerful and time-tested. There is no good reason to reject the truth of God, the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Scriptures, or his church. “The firm foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and ‘let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity’” (2 Tim. 2:19).