▪ Class Orientation "Christ the Rock"

The foundation matters for it supports everything the Believer does, (with this in mind)  it is very important that we begin this series by laying a sound doctrinal foundation.

 Many Christians have gathered a lot of material for the building - yet never build a successful Christian life.

 There is a specific foundational Biblical truths listed in Hebrews 6:1:2 that are necessary to lay in your life before you can build.  

 Hebrews 6:1:2 “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”

A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE

1.  Old Testament
      Thirty-nine books written in Hebrew - a small portion in Aramaic (air-a-may-ic)

2.   New Testament – 27 books – written in Greek.

3.   Old Testament – Genesis, Chapters 1 through 11:
        Creation of the world – Adam and Eve’s disobedience.

4.   Old Testament – Genesis, Chapter 12:  Abraham, father of a special people to provide redemption for the human race as a whole.

5.   Israel: God’s dealing with her (Abraham’s descendants) for over two thousand years.

6.   Shows God’s justice - His judgment, His wisdom and power.

7.   God made a covenant with Israel.

8.   God shows His faithfulness in keeping that covenant.

9.   The Covenant was that He would send them a deliverer who would redeem them and all mankind from the sin of rebellion and restore them to God.

10. The Messiah - the anointed one: promise and preparation for the Messiah.

11. New Testament is about the promise of Jesus of Nazareth: Greek word Christos meaning the same as Hebrew “anointed one.”

THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

 “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ”
1 Cor. 3:11

A.  The Bible compares the life of believers to the construction of a building.
“You are God’s building.  As a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation.”
1 Cor. 3:9-1

“You also are being built together for a habitation of God in the spirit.”
Ephesians 2:22

B.  The most important factor in building is the foundation.
      1.  It sets limits to the weight and height of the building.
      2.  Illustration:  Building People’s Church later Farm Fleet in Hudsonville
      3.  It lies under the mass of ruin in our lives (failure to lay a strong foundation).

 C.  The foundation is Jesus Christ the Rock

          “No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11

D.  1 Peter 2:6:  “Behold I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious"
                  quoting  Isaiah 28:16).  Old Testament and New Testament agree.

E.  Jesus confronts His disciples at Caesarea Philippi
      Matthew 16:13-18  (verse 13) “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi,  
      He asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?

     1.)  Peter (Petros) a small stone or pebble
     2.)  Petra (a large rock)
     3.)  Psalm 18:2 “The Lord is my rock… in whom I will trust”

 "Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.” Psalm 62:1-2 

“My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him.  He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense; I shall not be moved.” Psalm 62:5-7 

          THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE TRUE ROCK - THE ROCK OF AGES

            A rock we can build upon - “He only is my Rock” Psalm 62:6

F.  How does a person build upon this Rock Jesus?
     1.) A direct, personal confrontation.  “Who do you say that I am?”
     2.) A direct personal revelation “flesh & blood has not revealed this to you but my Father”  (Matt 16:17).
    3.) A personal acknowledgment of the truth revealed.
   4.) An open and public confession of the truth acknowledged 

Luke 6:47-48 - How do we build on the foundation?  Once the foundation is laid we build upon it by hearing and doing the Word of God.

 Matthew 6:47-48 – Studying and applying the Word will build a strong faith.

Matthew 7:24 – “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 and the rain descended, the flood came, and the wind blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.  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:  The rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell. . .”

Luke 6:46-48 - “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do the things which I say?  Whoever comes to me and hears my sayings and does them, I will show you whom who he is like.  He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock…”

We build on the Rock by hearing the Word of God AND doing it.