Under Construction: The Foundation

Our theme for November is "Under Construction: The Foundation." Pastor Todd De Rooy shares his thoughts on Jesus being our sure foundation in this, our third post in the series "Under Construction."

1st and 6th graders practice "building" on Jesus Christ, our firm Foundation, as they prepare to lead chapel on Tuesday, November 20. 

“According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder, I laid a foundation, and someone is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” 1 Corinthians 3:10-11

You have maybe never thought of the foundation of your house, or of your church building, or of the building where you work. We know the foundation is there, underneath, supporting, keeping the building on top stable.

Jesus Christ is our spiritual foundation. He is the Son of God, the Word made flesh, as the One who is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature” (Heb. 1:3a). At OCCS, we ought to be touching on all aspects of Christ’s glory, not only His hands and feet. Jesus was made “to be sin, who knew no sin, that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). Do you know your sins and weaknesses, your need for forgiveness, and are you “dying to sin” daily? Jesus “made peace by the blood of His cross” (Col. 1:20), so we’re comforted in God’s love and mercy. 1 Cor. 3:10-11 is also about the unity of God’s people (against rising factions; “I follow Paul, I follow Apollos”; 1:12). How is OCCS promoting unity in Christian teaching and work?

Jesus Christ is the foundation for the Church and for Christians in at least four ways:

1. Jesus Christ is the exact and precise foundation we need. A foundation must support the whole building, or cracks will soon form, and the building could perhaps collapse. When Jesus Christ came in our flesh to die in our place upon the cross, He paid for all our sins, not only some (see Col. 2.13-14; Eph. 2.1-10).
2. Jesus Christ is a perfect foundation. A foundation has to be level in order to properly support a building or structure. We need Christ’s righteousness, or perfect obedience to be right with God (see Ps. 15; Rom. 3.21-25). 
3. Jesus Christ is a never-changing, never-moving foundation (see Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8).
4. Jesus Christ is a strong foundation. In order to support a building, a foundation has to be strong. Jesus Christ is Almighty, “our ever-present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1); He “upholds the universe by the Word of His power” (Heb. 1:3b); and “in Him all things hold together” (Col. 1.17). 

While we may not think of the foundations of the buildings and structures we live and work in, we ought to consider the grace and majesty and wonder of the foundation that God has laid for our faith and life in Him, namely, His own Son, Jesus Christ! With this foundation graciously laid, God gave us what we need for fruitful, joyful, hopeful work as Christians and as the Church!

Pastor Todd De Rooy

Pastor, Redeemer URC

OCCS Parent

To read the other posts in this series, click on the following: Under Construction: The Need and Under Construction: The Blueprint.