Names of Jesus – Day 22 – Foundation

The Prophet Isaiah prophesied that a Messiah was coming who would be the foundation for all things.

~Isaiah 28:16 Therefore 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.

Isaiah says that not only is Jesus the foundation but His foundation is tried, precious and sure! Why are these adjectives so important? They are important because Christ’s foundation is like no other. No religious organization can have a foundation of equal value or strength. Let’s look at these adjectives and see what makes Jesus so different from religion.

Isaiah says that Jesus is a tried stone. As a refiner works with metal, he puts it through the fire and tests its quality. The same word used for tried is the same word as in:

~Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Christ had to take human form to become the perfect sacrifice on the cross. His life was tried and He came forth as gold. As a result, He was the perfect Lamb of God. Therefore, His Gospel, the very foundation of the Christian faith, was tried and proved worthy. Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8 ). Therefore, He does not change. His Word does not change. It stands as firm as His foundation. Any religion that changes their stand or eventually compromises does not have Christ as their foundation.

Secondly, Isaiah says that the Messiah was a precious corner stone. What a wonderful graphic picture of what Christianity is all about. A builder will use the largest and strongest blocks to place in the corners of his building. This word precious, according to Strong’s:

H3368
יקר
yâqâr
yaw-kawr’
From H3365; valuable (objectively or subjectively): – brightness, clear, costly, excellent, fat, honourable women, precious, reputation.

It is safe to conclude that the best and strongest stone was used in Isaiah’s depiction of the foundation that Jesus Christ was to lay for us.

Thirdly, Isaiah refers to Jesus’ foundation as a sure foundation.

H3245
יסד
yâsad
yaw-sad’
A primitive root; to set (literally or figuratively); intensively to found; reflexively to sit down together, that is, settle, consult: – appoint, take counsel, establish, (lay the, lay for a) found (-ation), instruct, lay, ordain, set, X sure.

There is no other foundation that can be as perfect as the foundation that Jesus Christ has laid for us. He is the Chief corner stone.

~1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Yes, the Apostles helped to lay this foundation but we cannot forget that Christ is still the Chief corner stone. He is the Head – it is His work that paid the price, not ours. It is because of His strength as the Chief corner stone that we are able to stand as His church. It is not religion – it is not the catholic church – it is not Judaism. It is all Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ only.

The Apostles and early church disciples always pointed others to Christ. When they encouraged others to follow their example, they always ended by pointing their followers to Christ!

~1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Many religions use this verse as their basis for church tradition and following after the Apostles, i.e. Apostolic succession. However, note the latter part of the verse: even as I also am of Christ. In other words, follow after me because I follow after Christ. But it stands to reason that if the one you are following strays from what Christ taught or laid in His foundation, you should not follow him any longer. Christ has the final word.

Cults begin and end with following after men who lay another foundation. Mormonism, catholicism, Jehovan’s witnesses, etc. They add to the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

~2 Corinthians 11:3-4 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (3) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (4)

The devil’s subtleties crept into some of the early churches and men adopted heresies as a result of their fleshly desires. The catholic church is famous in this area for it has been building on a foundation laid in sand. Their doctrine is quite contrary to the foundation that Christ laid. Christ makes no mistakes. Christ’s words are final as He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the End. Let’s take a look at some of the dogmas and sacred traditions the catholic church requires of its members:

• Celibacy of its priests
• Nuns
• Praying and worshipping Mary, Queen of Heaven
• Mary’s sinless beginning and sinless life
• Baptism of babies
• Praying to the dead and to the saints and saying the rosary
• Purgatory
• Indulgences
• The saying of masses for the dead
• The Lord’s supper administered only in bread and not grape juice
• The seven sacraments
• Only the catholic can be saved because salvation is only in the catholic church

These are just a few – I could keep on going but my point is made. IF these traditions and dogmas are true and are so important that people are cursed if they don’t follow them, then why are they not recorded in God’s Word – especially that of salvation found in only the catholic churh. This is not the foundation that Christ laid. In fact, there are no Scriptures to be found that describe these traditions or dogmas.

There is no other foundation than that which Christ laid for our salvation. There is nothing to be added, no matter what people tell you. Everything we need for salvation is found in Christ and in His Word. If we needed more, God would not have us in the dark but He would have told us in His Word.

~John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.