My Hope is Built

The Foundation of Christianity

A key element in how Christianity has survived the test of time and how those who follow Christ can withstand the challenges of the world is the foundation upon which Christianity is built. Instead of a mere philosophy, codified book of rules, lotus of common interests, transitory fad of popular culture, etc. that binds other social groupings together, Christianity is based upon the very real sacrifice of the very real Son of God.

Jesus Christ came and walked this earth to literally die as a sacrifice for sins, and to literally rise again on the third day (1 Cor. 15:1ff). Through Him in obedience to the Gospel we can have forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and be made a new creation (Rom. 6:3, 4; Gal. 3:26, 27; 2 Cor. 5:17). Those who obey that Gospel are added to the body of Christ, which is made up of the adopted sons and daughters of Christ. All these things are realities, and form the basis for Christian faith.

Placing Faith in the Wrong Foundation

The danger exists when, although such things have been taught ever since the church began 2000ish years ago, people choose to instead place the foundation of their faith in places other than these important ones. For example:

Emotional appeals

There is great joy to be found in Christ and in the sharing of fellowship one with another in the body of Christ. To say one’s entire hope is built upon the “good feelings” of Christian living is, however, to miss the point…

Tradition

It is true of any social structure that something that is done the same or similar way for a longstanding period of time faces the danger of becoming relevant based upon how things were done, more than why they were done. To say one’s entire hope is built upon doing things “the way we always do them” is to miss the point…

What is comfortable

In probably one of the most enticing temptations to younger generations in particular is the modification of Christ’s message whatever is passable or acceptable to the culture du jure. While it is loosely based upon Christ, the foundation is not built upon Him or what He did, but instead upon what modern/post-modern man has decided that He did. To say one’s entire hope is built upon what someone else says Jesus “really” meant is to miss the point…

Other examples can be used, but the point should be made that to say one’s hope is built upon anything other than the original foundation of Christianity, specifically the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the inspired apostles and prophets (Eph. 2:19-22), then it is not Christianity. Is your hope built on anything less than Jesus Christ and His righteousness?