How would you describe the foundational beliefs of a Christian?

1. How would you describe the foundational beliefs of a Christian? • Everyone has built a foundation for their “Christianity.” But what kind is it?

2. How would you describe the foundational beliefs of a Christian? • Everyone has built a foundation for their “Christianity.” But what kind is it? • There were two kinds of foundations describes in the Sermon on the Mount. (Mt 7:24-27)

3. How would you describe the foundational beliefs of a Christian? • Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV) - “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

4. How would you describe the foundational beliefs of a Christian? • 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

5. How would you describe the foundational beliefs of a Christian? • To build a foundation on Christ is to emphasize the relationship! (1 Cor 3:11)

6. How would you describe the foundational beliefs of a Christian? • 1 Corinthians 3:11 (NKJV) - For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

7. How would you describe the foundational beliefs of a Christian? • What kind of material are you using? (1 Cor 3:11-15)

8. How would you describe the foundational beliefs of a Christian? • 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (NKJV) - For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

9. How would you describe the foundational beliefs of a Christian? • 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

10. How would you describe the foundational beliefs of a Christian? • Understanding the nature of God to the point you are willing to trust Him and build your life on Him is the essence of our foundation.

11. How would you describe the foundational beliefs of a Christian? • Understanding the nature of God to the point you are willing to trust Him and build your life on Him is the essence of our foundation. • We are rooted in Christ! (Col 2:6-7)

12. How would you describe the foundational beliefs of a Christian? • Colossians 2:6-7 (NKJV) - As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

13. How would you describe the foundational beliefs of a Christian? • We are rooted in His love! (Eph 3:17-19)

14. How would you describe the foundational beliefs of a Christian? • Ephesians 3:17-19 (NKJV) - that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

15. How would you describe the foundational beliefs of a Christian? • Is this your foundation? How would you know that?

16. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • If we do not understand God’s forgiveness we have no foundation!

17. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • If we do not understand God’s forgiveness we have no foundation! • In order to understand forgiveness we need to know the righteousness of God! (Rom 11:22; Rom 1:16-18)

18. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • Romans 11:22 (NKJV) - Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

19. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • Romans 1:16-18 (NKJV) - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

20. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

21. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • What are we saved from?

22. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • What are we saved from? • If we do not understand the bad news, then we can never appreciate the good news! (Jn 8:21, 24)

23. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • John 8:21 (NKJV) - Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.”

24. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • John 8:24 (NKJV) - Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

25. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • The contrast of two individuals. (Lk 7:36-39)

26. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • Luke 7:36-39 (NKJV) - Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,

27. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

28. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • Simon, the Pharisee, saw his personal righteousness and knowledge and considered his efforts to place him well before God.

29. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • Simon, the Pharisee, saw his personal righteousness and knowledge and considered his efforts to place him well before God. • He viewed others sins as a means of comparison and would exalt himself in this as well as even put Jesus down.

30. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • Simon and others like him looked to the outward and would use peer pressure to control and run off the imperfect. They could not understand Jesus and his work of changing the heart. (Mk 2:15-17; Jn 9:40-41)

31. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • Mark 2:15-17 (NKJV) - Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”

32. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • 17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

33. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • John 9:40-41 (NKJV) - Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” 41Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.

34. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • Now consider this humble woman. (Lk 7:40-50)

35. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • Luke 7:40-50 (NKJV) - And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” 41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

36. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.

37. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • 45You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” 48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

38. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • 49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

39. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • Do you know that you have been forgiven? (2 Pt 1:9)

40. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • 2 Peter 1:9 (NKJV) - For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

41. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • The power of real forgiveness is so great that it will result in a heart of praise! (Rev 1:5-6)

42. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • Revelation 1:5-6 (NKJV) - and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

43. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • This becomes the basis for our talking to others! (Ex. Work – Why are you happy? (Psa 51:10-15)

44. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • Psalm 51:10-15 (NKJV) - Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.

45. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

46. God’s forgiveness is the first step in building a foundation • If thanksgiving and praise is not a characteristic of you life, then look at your foundation.

47. God’s forgiveness is free but costly! • How can a man be just before God?

48. God’s forgiveness is free but costly! • How can a man be just before God? • Any man who sees the true God will be terrified at his own sinfulness. (Isa 6:1-7)

49. God’s forgiveness is free but costly! • Isaiah 6:1-7 (NKJV) - In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”

50. God’s forgiveness is free but costly! • 4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.”