What Are You Building On

The first place that we must start in building any theology or doctrine in the church, must come by-way-of carefully observation of the life and ministry of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Any theology that does not find itself built upon the foundation of Christ, will not clearly express the will of the Father, God. The Apostle Paul tells us, "According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:10-11)

This verse clearly shows us why we have so much "differences of opinion" when it comes to the various doctrines in the church today. Unfortunately, in much of the church, we can find numerous doctrines in which Christ has been either minimized or He has been completely ignored. To use any part of the New Testament to build a theology without building upon Christ first, would be like a Christian attempting to form a theology of salvation through the Law of Moses. Although the Law of Moses is God's Word, the Law itself cannot be understood or taught properly without Christ being considered. The Law does not save people, only faith in Christ can. The Apostle Paul  confronted the church at Galatia due to this very problem. He says, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified." (Galatians 2:16)  

So before we dig into the"Good News" of the New Testament, I would like to propose a challenge to you, the reader, concerning our topic. Did you ever notice while watching a Major League Baseball game or an National Football League, football game on television as the camera pans through the crowd of fans that their is usually at least one fan that is holding up a sign that references a particular verse of scripture? You know what verse I am talking about don't you? Why of course, it is John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." This verse of scripture is probably referenced more than any other verse of scripture in the Bible, so let's honestly consider what it says; "For God so LOVED the world..." Love is God's most potent characteristic and for Christians to fully grasp this, they must step away from the natural type of love that every person has and look at the God kind of love.

"Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]..." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMP)

This is agape. This is the love that emanates from our Heavenly Father to a world filled with people under a system influence by Satan. Although "all have sinned" the love of our Father is greater. Now let's look at the next verse in John's Gospel. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. " (John 3:17) Take note, Jesus did not come to earth to condemn, we were already under condemnation, but to save. The word "saved" in this verse means to deliver, protect, heal, preserve, to make whole. Oh, what love. So, when considering how God sees you, it is not through the eyes of disappointment, but of surrounding abounding love. His love toward us is not contingent on what we do or don't do, it is simply because He chooses to love.

So, if you let it, the Word of God will begin to assault and tear down much of the unbiblical theology that has been taught by faithless teachers who have inoculated Christians with doubt, fear, unbelief, insecurity, unworthiness, inferiority, shame and guilt. Why? "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) Therefore, I am confident that the Word of God will grow your faith and give you a correct perspective of God's true nature, that of Love. So, do not build your life on the sands of theology and doctrine built on religious law and principles by man, "...but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God."(Matthew 4:4)