Foundation Stones of Living for Jesus Christ:
Part 1 Repentance From Dead Works:
No builder takes lightly the foundation of their project.
A baker of cakes, doesn’t begin the project with rancid flour,
but seeks the best quality flour that is suited for the type of cake
that they desire to bake.
The construction foreperson on a building project,
takes seriously the laying of the foundation of the building,
knowing that it greatly influences every step that follows,
and the overall safety and quality of the finished product.
So too, we as Christians should take seriously
the founding principles of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are cautioned in Scripture to be diligent
in out pursuit of understanding the Word
and the principles that the Spirit has given us.
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God
as a workman who does not need to be ashamed,
accurately handling the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15 NAS
The writer of Hebrews addresses this problem in the early church writing:
“Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ,
let us press on to maturity,
not laying again a foundation of
repentance from dead works
and of faith toward God,
of instruction about washings
and laying on of hands,
and the resurrection of the dead
and eternal judgment”
Hebrews 6:1-2 NAS
Here are six (6) foundation stones that each of us should thoroughly understand that we might be effective for the building up of the kingdom of God
here upon the earth:
“Your kingdom come
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:10 NAS
The challenge is as relevant today
as it was in the first century when it was first penned.
The Kingdom must be established in Christ,
not in the opinions and philosophies of men…
but through living experience of the Word of God – Christ in us.
For we only believe those parts of the Scripture that we live out day by day.
The Apostle Paul put it this way:
“For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
According to the grace of God which was given to me,
like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it.
But each man must be careful how he builds on it.
For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid,
which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man builds on the foundation
with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
each man's work will become evident;
for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire,
and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.
If any man's work which he has built on it remains,
he will receive a reward.
If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss;
but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
1 Corinthians 3:9-15 NAS (my emphasis bold)
In actuality, everything we do is building a foundation in life –
the only question will be: what kind of building materials will we use?
Our spiritual foundation is built in our lives
through the faith we live out in obedience
to the living Word of God
and the living Word inside of us, Jesus Christ.
As we learn better to listen to the voice of Christ,
we will be better established upon the Rock who is our foundation.
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish;
and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”
John 10:27-28 NAS
This foundation will provide us with a solid launching pad
for the work of the Kingdom,
and will serve to adjust our life’s course –
a ‘spiritual GPS’ (God Positioning System).
A life built upon this foundation will enhance the new life that God desires for us, that will bring God glory, and allow us to fulfill our divine destiny in Christ Jesus.
Jesus desires to do an extreme makeover in each of our lives,
so that the character of Christ in us
can be displayed to everyone in our sphere of influence.
Let’s take a closer look at six (6) of these foundation stones
that are outlined in Hebrews 6.
“Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ,
let us press on to maturity,
not laying again a foundation of
1. repentance from dead works
2. and of faith toward God,
3. of instruction about washings (baptisms)
4. and laying on of hands,
5. and the resurrection of the dead
6. and eternal judgment”
Hebrews 6:1-2 NAS (numbers and bold my addition)
Elementary teaching (principles NKJ):
G746 archē {ar-khay'}
a commencement, first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.
A starting point – like the starting line in a race
Maturity (perfection NKJ):
G5047 teleiotēs {tel-i-ot'-ace}
(the state) completeness (mentally or morally): - perfection (-ness).
Completion – like a house that is completely finished
Foundation:
G2310 themelios {them-el'-ee-os}
something put down, a substruction (literally or figuratively) foundation.
Everything is based upon and built upon these truths.
Doctrine:
G1322 didachē {did-akh-ay'}
instruction (the act or the matter): - doctrine, has been taught.
doctrine is always based upon
what the teacher lives… it is the truth lived out
Instruction/ doctrine (KJV)
G1322 didachē {did-akh-ay'}
instruction (the act or the matter): - doctrine, has been taught.
A structure to put things into.
We are instructed by the Word of God…
Within this structure we live and understand life
through spiritual eyes.
1. Repentance from Dead Works:
• Turning away from sin, with a commitment not to go back
• Turning away from any attempt to “pay” for our own salvation.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God”
Ephesians 2:8 NAS (my emphasis bold)
Repentance:
G3341 metanoia {met-an'-oy-ah}
compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication reversal, repentance.
To turn and change one’s mind or course of action.
• Repentance means a change of direction –
• a spiritual 180o change,
from the wrong direction, to the right direction
• It is deeper than an apology:
Apology: “I am sorry.”
I feel bad about the effects or consequences of my action.”
Repentance: “Please forgive me.
I never intend to do, or think that way again.”
• Godly repentance/sorrow vs. worldly repentance/sorrow
“For the sorrow that is according to the will of God
produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation,
but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
2 Corinthians 7:10 NAS (my emphasis bold)
• Repentance was Jesus’ first call to His disciples:
“From that time Jesus began to preach and say,
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Matthew 4:17 NAS (my emphasis bold)
• Without repentance from sin,
there is no beginning our walk or experiencing intimacy with God
• Repentance is Liberating
“I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.
Psalm 32:5 NAS
• Silent hidden sin hurts us on the inside
“When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.
Psalm 32:3-4 NAS
• Hiding sin: what Adam and Eve tried to do in the Garden of Eden
Genesis 3:6-13
• They hid from one another, then from God and blamed everyone but themselves.
• Becoming free in Christ means that we can
“remove the fig leaves.”
• Walking in the Light of Christ:
“…but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light,
we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves
and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:7-9 NAS
• Walking in the light means that we are not hiding anything
• God’s love toward is frees us to live without fear of punishment
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear,
because fear involves punishment,
and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”
1 John 4:18 NAS
• The family of God is a safe place to bring sin into the light
• Every one of us knows that we are apart of the family,
only because of God’s grace and mercy. (James 3:2)
• The best thing we can offer to God is a humble heart,
and a teachable spirit that is willing to be transformed
by His love and grace.
• The most important thing to God
is a “broken and contrite heart.”
“For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”
Psalm 51:16-17 NAS (my emphasis bold)
• There is no penance in the family of God…
penance means you are trying to pay the price for your sin
• God’s desire is truth on the innermost parts… (Proverbs 20:27)
• True repentance means you are changed from the inside out.
• This is what the New Covenant life is all about
Transformation into the image of God
“…but speaking the truth in love,
we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ”
Ephesians 4:15 NAS – [see in context 4:11-16]
• When we are born again,
our lives will bear the “fruits of repentance.”
"Either make the tree good and its fruit good,
or make the tree bad and its fruit bad;
for the tree is known by its fruit.
Matthew 12:33 NAS
• We don’t work to produce fruit…
but our lives bear His fruit because of His presence in us.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh
with its passions and desires.”
Galatians 5:22-24 NAS
• When we love God
and spend quality time with Him in the Secret Place,
these fruits will supernaturally become natural in us.
• Walking in the Spirit is the antidote against continuing in sin
• Holy Spirit Baptism is not an option:
“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation,
but be filled with the Spirit”
Ephesians 5:18 NAS (my emphasis bold and underlined)
“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;
and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
Acts 1:8 NAS (my emphasis bold)
• Power to be witnesses for Christ
• Power over the enemy Psalm 149:6-9
• This means we don’t put ourselves back under the law.
• We learn to live by the Spirit of God in us
Demonstrated by our faith in God
and our obedience to the Word
and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
• NOT BY WORKS least any man should boast
“But God, being rich in mercy,
because of His great love with which He loved us,
even when we were dead in our transgressions,
made us alive together with Christ
(by grace you have been saved),
and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him
in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
so that in the ages to come
He might show the surpassing riches of His grace
in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:1-9 NAS (my emphasis bold)
• Trying to earn our own salvation is dead religion
• Religiosity is worthless:
• It can harden our hearts toward God
and cause us to miss out on living the Kingdom life
of righteousness, peace and joy in the Spirit. (Romans 14:17)
• The Parable of the Prodigal Sons:
• Younger Son – dead works of sin
• Wasted living in sin, but repented
• He returns to the father’s house
• Notice his initial desire:
“I will work as a slave for my father to repay what I owe.”
• Older Son – dead works of religion
• Lived in the father’s house,
but rejected him – had no intimate relationship.
• Thought he has earned the right to be there.
• Outwardly the older son seems faultless.
But when confronted by the father’s joy
at the return of his younger brother,
a dark power erupts in him and boils to the surface
• Suddenly, there becomes glaring visible a resentment that is filled with selfish pride that results in his judgment, condemnation, prejudice and anger toward his own brother.
• Such an attitude holds him prisoner and he finds it increasingly difficult to feel comfortable at his father’s table
• We are left to examine which does more damage.
• the in-your-face lustful explosion of the younger son
• or the hidden resentment of the outwardly obedient son.
• The repentant sinner is accepted back into the father’s embrace
“Father I have sinned against you and heaven.”
• The elder son who stayed at home is filled with complaint, from a heart that feels it never receives what it is due. “Look how hard I worked to gain your acceptance.”
• We must recall
that Jesus addressed the Pharisees with this picture
• They finally had to face their own complaint and self-righteousness and choose how they would respond to God’s compassionate heart toward sinners…
…so must we
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