Christ; the Only Foundation
A Sermon on 1 Corinthians 3:11
Scripture
11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Sermon Description
Why is the heart divided by following the words, thinking, and philosophy of others? In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 3:11 titled “Christ: The Only Foundation,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones teaches that all must have a foundation for everything they do, say, and think. Issues in this life are the result of a lack of a solid foundation. Desire has replaced principle, truth, and morality. Many call themselves Christians while denying the very being of God. Everything is in a state of flux and uncertainty. Are Christians supposed to “hope for the best and expect the worst”? The Bible’s message is emphatically concerned about this. Unaided, no one can build the necessary solid foundation. No one knows how to live or how to die. What is a person? Who is God? What is life? Learn the definitions for each of these and how to handle the stresses and strains of this world. Death is not the end; everyone will have to give an account before God. Look to the one who is truly man and truly God. No one at their greatest is enough. The ultimate sin is godlessness. The chief end of man is to know God and glorify Him forever.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is addressing the church in Corinth. He is concerned about divisions and quarreling in the church.
- Paul says the Corinthian believers are acting like "babes in Christ" and are not spiritually mature. They are still "carnal" or worldly in their thinking and behavior.
- The Corinthian Christians are dividing themselves up and boasting about following certain leaders like Paul, Apollos or Cephas. But Paul says they are all just "ministers" or servants of God.
- Paul says he planted the seed of the gospel in Corinth, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither the one who plants or waters is anything, only God gives the increase.
- Paul says there can be no other foundation for the Christian life than Jesus Christ. He is the only sure foundation, all else will fail.
- Paul says that if anyone builds on the foundation of Christ with gold, silver and precious stones (works of lasting value) they will receive a reward. If they build with wood, hay and stubble (superficial works) their work will be burned up, though they themselves will be saved.
- Paul reminds the Corinthians that they are God's temple, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy them.
- Paul tells the Corinthians not to deceive themselves by thinking they are wise by worldly standards. The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.
- Paul says that all things belong to the Corinthians as believers - whether Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, the present or the future. They belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God.
Itinerant Preaching
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.