The Concept of the Foundation

No superstructure can be built, spiritually speaking, so that it can withstand the spiritual torrents it will face without a proper foundation. The ABCs form the solid foundation we need. But this is just another of those word pictures used in the New Testament to teach us how vital it is that we lay a sound doctrinal foundation. A couple of passages illustrate this:

Matthew 7:24-27
24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock.
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock.
26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand.
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall.

In conclusion to his teaching in this passage, Jesus presented the two options open to His listeners. They were now responsible for what they had heard and must make a choice. Note the element of personal responsibility here-they could build on one of two foundations.

One foundation was likened to a big rock and the other to sand. The point is that a foundation determines a structure's ability to withstand the storms we all face in life as illustrated by the words rain, floods, and winds. The rock foundation not only represented the Lord Himself but also the truths He had been teaching, especially the truth concerning a righteousness through faith which also produces an inner transformation through spiritual growth.

The sand, by contrast, spoke of Pharisaic righteousness, an external and hypocritical righteousness of human works. The people were well acquainted with the so called righteousness of the Pharisees and many were basing their hopes on this kind of righteousness.

In the storms of life (the winds and the torrents of rain) the first foundation, the rock would give stability; the sand would result in destruction or ruin.

Thus, those who hear and heed words of Jesus are wise; those who do not are foolish. Only two courses of action are possible-two kinds of roads and gates (Matt. 7:13-14), two kinds of trees and fruit (Mt 7:15-20), two kinds of foundations and builders (Mt 7:24-27).

Once the foundation has been laid, we need to continue to grow and go on to greater maturity. When we fail to do this, we will regress and become hardened in our hearts (Mt 3:7f). Other passages that use the foundation metaphor are 1 Corinthians 3:10-12; Ephesians 2:20. Hebrews 6:1.