A SURE FOUNDATION

ISAIAH 28:1

A. "THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION FOR A FOUNDATION A STONE, A TRIED STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNERSTONE, A SURE FOUNDATION" 1. How much there is in the Scriptures concerning this stone:
  1. The patriarch Jacob referred to it when he spoke of "the shepherd, the stone of Israel" - Gen. 49:24
  2. Paul writes about "that spiritual Rock was Christ" - 1 Cor. 10:1-4
  3. Moses points to this Rock with these words, "He is the Rock, His work is perfect" - Deut. 32:4
  • Christ is that cornerstone:
    1. Peter speaks of the Messiah as the chosen and precious cornerstone - 1 Pet. 2:6
    2. Paul refers to that same stone - Eph. 2:20; 1 Cor. 10:4; Rom. 9:33; 10:11
    3. See, also, Matthew 21:42; Luke 20:17-18. There can be no question about the chosen cornerstone which is indeed, Christ B. LET US NOTE THE NATURE AND PURPOSE OF THAT STONE
  • The nature of the God chosen stone:
    1. It is a tried stone; the word which is used here is applied commonly to metals which are tried in the fire to test their quality - Job 23:10; Ps. 46:10; Jer. 9:6; Zech. 13:9. The idea is that God would lay for a foundation not a stone whose qualities are unknown, but He would use a stone fully known for its solidness and dependability
    2. A precious cornerstone - the word "precious" refers to the fact that a stone would be used that sustains the weight of the superstructure of the building - 1 Pet. 2:6
  • The Son of God - the Messiah of Bible prophecy meets every qualification of the God-chosen cornerstone:
    1. His person is the embodiment of truth - John 14:6; John 8:32-36
    2. Christ, in His redemption, is a sure foundation upon which we can rely - Rom. 10:11; 1 Cor. 3:10-16
    3. Christ, as the captain of our salvation, made our faith sure with His glorious triumph over Satan and sin - Rev. 5:6-9; 12:7-9 C. WHAT GLORIOUS ASSURANCE TO ZION - THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD
  • God is the great Architect of the structure of its faith in redemption:
    1. Note the assurance and boldness of Paul, when writing about our redemption - What shall we then say to these things" If God be for us, who can be against us?" - Rom. 8:31-39
    2. God chose to five the best of heaven to make our redemption sure - John 3:16
  • Jesus Christ the chosen and precious cornerstone meets every need to make Zion as enduring as the mountains:
    1. Writes the Psalmist, "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people from henceforth and forever" - Ps. 125:2
    2. The Son of God assures Zion, the church of the living God - "upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall no prevail against it" - Matt. 16:16-18
    3. He is in truth the Alpha and the Omega the beginning and the end of that which pertains to the assurance and security of the redemption of Zion
  • The challenge comes to us as individuals:
    1. Are we building upon that God-chosen foundation?
    2. Or are we building on a foundation laid by sinful erring human beings?
    3. Do we support our faith by living the truth we profess to believe?
    4. Let us heed the solemn warning of our Lord in Matthew 7:21-28
    5. What materials are we using in building upon God's foundation? - gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble! - 1 Cor. 3:12
    6. Do we make a "Thus saith the Lord" a must in our faith?
    7. These are no idle questions - but a real challenge to us to make sure of building our lives upon that which is enduring


    • Design © John Bryant 2011