THE FOUNDATION OF TRUTH
KJV Dictionary:
1. The basis of an edifice; that part of a building which lies on the ground; usually a wall of stone which supports the edifice.
3. The basis or ground work, or anything; that on which anything stands, and by which it is supported. A free government has its foundation in the choice and consent of the people to be governed. Christ is the foundation of the church.
Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone - a precious cornerstone. Isaiah 28
Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1Corinth 3
At one point in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus spoke about false prophets. He pointed out also the folly of profession unless the life measures up to the profession. He concluded His sermon by comparing those who heard His Word in Luke 6:47-49
47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew 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.
The Moral is to do and listen to Christ’s Word.
1.The people’s reaction to Jesus’ doctrine we can find in Matthew 7:28, 29
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
2. Paul tells us what the true foundation is that we are to build on in 1st Corinthians 3:11
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
3. Can a person be saved without believing truth? We find this in 2nd Thessalonians 2:13
13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Note: Paul reminds his readers that “from the beginning” God has chosen them. This is not an arbitrary choice. The choice is contingent upon the sanctification of the chosen ones. The sanctification is accomplished by the Holy Spirit.
4. According to Paul’s counsel to Titus what kind of doctrine should preachers proclaim? We find this in Titus 2:1, 7
1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Note: “Sound doctrine” must be the basis of all exhortation and it will bring conviction (Titus 1:9). When instructing timothy to preach God’s Word Paul cautioned him that there would come a time when people would not want to hear “sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
5. If a person should reject truth what will be the result? We find that in 2nd Thessalonians 2:10-12
10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Note: If a person refuses to hear truth that person’s prayer becomes an abomination (Proverbs 28:9). Paul instructed Timothy that obeying doctrine is important. 1 Timothy 4:16 says: “ Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”
We should never close our eyes to truth. John 12:35, 36 says:
35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
Jesus showed the folly of this in Matthew 15:14
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
False doctrine overthrows the faith of some 2nd Timothy 2:18
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Therefore we ought to determine to test what we believe by the law (the books of Moses) and the testimony of all the prophets as we are instructed in Isaiah 8:20
20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Let us turn down traditions of men as a foundation of truth. Jesus points out all worship is in vain while teaching man’s commandments as God’s doctrines Matthew 15:3-9
3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Sister White says in Review and Herald December 11, 1900 Lessons for Christians
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Isaiah declares: "Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place." Christ has been crucified for us. He is the propitiation for our sins. He is the atoning sacrifice, the true, immovable foundation. He has gathered the believers in church capacity, that they may labor unitedly, strengthening and building up one another in the faith. {RH, December 11, 1900 par. 15}
"Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." It is for our eternal interest to place the right material upon the right foundation. Christ is the great necessity for everyone. It will be to the peril of our souls that we mingle selfishness with the offering laid on the foundation. We are to lay upon it material that will do honor to God. The laborer for God is to do thorough work; his mind is to be pure and clean, free from all the cheapness represented as wood, hay, and stubble. The work of those who bring their offerings to God in humility and love, depending hour by hour on the grace of Christ to sanctify and cleanse from moral impurities, bears the impress of God, who estimates our work, not according to the outward appearance, but according to the heart purity brought into it. {RH, December 11, 1900 par. 16}
In the work of character building, each person is responsible for the way in which he builds. There are many in our world who teach speculative theories, rather than the simple truths which Christ taught. Everyone will be tested, to see whether his conversion is real. The pure doctrines that are taught in faith, the gold, silver, and precious stones that are brought to the foundation, will elevate and ennoble the receiver. But the teaching that is mingled with human philosophy can never satisfy. {RH, December 11, 1900 par. 17}
It makes every difference what material is used in the character building. The long-expected day of God will soon test every man's work. "The fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." As fire reveals the difference between gold, silver, and precious stones, and wood, hay, and stubble, so the day of judgment will test characters, showing the difference between characters formed after Christ's likeness, and characters formed after the likeness of the selfish heart. All selfishness, all false religion, will then appear as it is. The worthless material will be consumed; but the gold of true, simple, humble faith will never lose its value. It can never be consumed; for it is imperishable. One hour of transgression will be seen to be a great loss, while the fear of the Lord will be seen to be the beginning of wisdom. The pleasure of self-indulgence will perish as stubble, while the gold of steadfast principle, maintained at any cost, will endure forever.
Signs of the Times February 14, 1900 God’s Care for His Church
"Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation." On this stone, laid by the Lord, there would have arisen no building had not the work of redemption been carried on after the Lord's prescribed plan. And, altho the plan of salvation was carried forward according to the plan ordained from the foundation of the earth, yet men and women will not be saved unless they themselves exercise faith, and build on the true foundation, unless they allow God to re-create them by His Holy Spirit. God works in and through the human agent who co-operates with Him by choosing to help to compose the Lord's building. A holy tabernacle is built up of those who receive Christ as their personal Saviour. Of them John writes: "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." By receiving Christ and being conformed to His will, man goes on to perfection. This building up of individual characters, which are renewed, constitutes a structure more noble than any mortal workmanship. Thus the great work of God goes forward from point to point. Those who desire a place in His church show this by their willingness to be so conformed to His will that they can be trusted with grace to impart to others. {ST, February 14, 1900 par. 5}
Signs of the Times April 241893 Obedience the Fruit of Love
The Lord would not leave the enemy any opportunity to perplex the soul or to becloud the mind as to the commandments of which he is speaking. It is the commandments which he made when the foundations of the earth were laid, "when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy." Away back in the world's history, before there were any people distinguished as Jews, he laid the foundations of his law, when he laid the foundations of the world. "The old commandment is the word which ye heard from the beginning." John, the beloved disciple, as mouthpiece for God, gives the inspired message, and it comes echoing down the lines, from age to age, to our time. Thank God, we are not left in mist and confusion in regard to the commandments. {ST, April 24, 1893 par. 4}
We are required to keep the commandments of God and to demonstrate before the heavenly worlds that we are obedient children, loyal and true to the government of God. We may not expect the world, which is under the power and dominion of Satan, to obey God and keep his commandments. There are but two classes in our world, the obedient and the disobedient, the holy and the unholy. When our transgressions were laid upon Jesus, he was numbered among the unholy on the sinner's account. He became our substitute, our surety, before the Father and all the heavenly angels. By imputing the sins of the world to Jesus, he became the sinner in our stead, and the curse due to our sins came upon him. It becomes us to contemplate Christ's life of humiliation and his agonizing death; for he was treated as the sinner deserves to be treated. He came to our world, clothing his divinity with humanity, to bear the test and proving of God. By his example of perfect obedience in his human nature, he teaches us that men may be obedient. {ST, April 24, 1893 par. 5}
Review and Herald March3, 1904 Danger in Speculative Knowledge
"Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein." {RH, March 3, 1904 par. 12}
Let none seek to tear away the foundations of our faith,--the foundations that were laid at the beginning of our work, by prayerful study of the Word and by revelation. Upon these foundations we have been building for the last fifty years. Men may suppose that they have found a new way, and that they can lay a stronger foundation than that which has been laid. But this is a great deception. Other foundation can no man lay than that which has been laid. {RH, March 3, 1904 par. 13}
In the past many have undertaken the building of a new faith, the establishment of new principles. But how long did their building stand?--It soon fell; for it was not founded upon the Rock. {RH, March 3, 1904 par. 14}
Did not the first disciples have to meet the sayings of men? Did they not have to listen to false theories, and then, having done all, to stand firm, saying, "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid"? {RH, March 3, 1904 par. 15}
So we are to hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end. Words of power have been sent by God and by Christ to this people, bringing them out from the world, point by point, into the clear light of present truth. With lips touched with holy fire, God's servants have proclaimed the message. The divine utterance has set its seal to the genuineness of the truth proclaimed.
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{RH, March 3, 1904 par. 16}