The rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock ~ Matthew 7:25
Throughout the New Testament, Jesus insisted on using the rock, the cornerstone and always trying to simplify God's Word - but why? He knew how important it is to always stick to the right foundation. As long as you build your house on a foundation of rock, your house shall not fall (Matthew 7:25).
Jesus also pointed out another huge benefit of having a strong foundation - growth! "But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 13:8-9)
Whether we talk about Jesus or just simply want to grow our relationship with God, keeping our foundations of faith in check are key. So what are these foundations and can the average Joe or Jane find them? Of course!
ONE GOD
I, I am the LORD, and besides Me there is no savior. - Isaiah 43:11
SALVATION THROUGH FAITH BY GRACE ALONE IN JESUS CHRIST
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. ~ Ephesians 2:8-9
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ~ John 3:16
HOLY TRINITY
One God, three distinct but equal persons.
And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.” ~ Matthew 3:16-17
HOLY SCRIPTURE
The Holy Bible is the infallible Word of God; that the sixty-six books comprising the Old and New Testaments were verbally inspired in all parts and therefore wholly without error as originally given by God.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness ~ 2 Timothy 3:16
MANKIND AND SIN
Mankind was created directly by God; that through personal disobedience became a fallen creature, thus incurring both physical and spiritual death upon the human race. Being then totally depraved, we are dependent upon the mercy of God.
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned ~ Romans 5:12