No Other Foundation Can Be Laid
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
On what is the Christian life built? Is the hope resting in financial security or job status? If all of that came crashing down, would Christians have something to fall back on? In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 3:10–11, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the importance of foundations for the Christian life. Houses require proper foundations in order to secure their safety and structural integrity for the many years to come. Though it takes time and effort to lay a good foundation, it is absolutely necessary to ensure a building remains safe. By themselves, humanity is incapable of providing the foundation needed because all the typical “foundations” are changing and temporary— sex, money, and power are here one moment and gone the next. There is no other foundation that will stand the test of time than that which is built on a relationship with Jesus Christ. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones asks this most important question: Is the Christian’s life built on the foundation of Jesus Christ? Without this foundation, joy will rise and fall with the changing seasons of prosperity and difficulty. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches on why lives must be built on the eternal, unchanging truth of the gospel.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians to warn them about sliding into worldly wisdom and philosophy which interferes with the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ.
- The foundation is the most important part of any structure. Without a proper foundation, the entire structure will collapse.
- Man is incapable of providing a proper foundation for life by himself. All of man's efforts end in failure and confusion.
- Man is too hasty and seeks instant solutions which do not work. A proper foundation requires time and patience.
- A proper foundation requires knowledge of oneself, God, the meaning of life, how to handle trials and difficulties, and how to face death. Man cannot provide answers to these on his own.
- Civilization and human progress have failed to provide meaning or purpose. The state of the world proves man's inability and the need for a true foundation.
- The foundation must be strong enough to support the weight of life's trials and difficulties. Man alone does not have the strength, so God provided the foundation in Jesus Christ.
- Jesus Christ is the only foundation. He is the exclusive way to God, salvation, and purpose in life.
- Jesus Christ is a definite, concrete foundation. He is fully God and fully man. As God, He has the strength to support us. As man, He understands our weaknesses.
- God Himself laid the foundation of Jesus Christ. It is eternal, immovable, and the only foundation that will stand.
- Jesus Christ meets all of our deepest needs and provides wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. No one else can meet these needs.
- We must make sure we are building our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ. All other ground is sinking sand. Jesus Christ alone will stand every test and trial.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon
What does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones identify as the greatest need in the modern world?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the greatest need in the modern world is a true foundation. He states, "This is undoubtedly the greatest need at this present time, the need of a foundation." He explains that all the problems of the world - industrial, economic, social, moral, and political - stem from a lack of a true foundation. He describes how people are merely "plastering over the cracks" rather than addressing the fundamental issue.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say that man is incapable of providing a foundation for life?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that man, by his own unaided efforts, is completely incapable of providing a foundation because he cannot answer the fundamental questions of life. He cites Jesus' words that "with men it is impossible" and points to the failure of civilization, philosophy, and human wisdom throughout history. Despite all advances in education, science, and culture, humanity remains in a state of moral confusion and spiritual emptiness, proving that man cannot create his own foundation.
What is the only true foundation according to the sermon?
The only true foundation, according to the sermon, is Jesus Christ. Dr. Lloyd-Jones quotes 1 Corinthians 3:11: "For other foundation can no man lay than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ." He emphasizes that this foundation is exclusive ("there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved"), definite (not vague but clearly defined as the God-man), and has been laid by God Himself, not by human invention.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the concept of "reinforced concrete" in relation to Christ?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses the analogy of reinforced concrete to explain Christ's unique nature. Just as reinforced concrete is stronger than concrete alone because steel strengthens it, Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. Lloyd-Jones states: "In the incarnation, God has reinforced humanity with the deity. He's God and men." This dual nature makes Christ strong enough to bear the tremendous weight that any spiritual foundation must carry. He is "God and men. Two natures in one person, unmixed and yet together."
What four things does Christ provide as our foundation according to the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones references 1 Corinthians 1 where Paul states that Christ is made unto us "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." Christ provides: (1) Wisdom - true knowledge of God and of what man is meant to be; (2) Righteousness - removal of guilt and the gift of His own righteousness; (3) Sanctification - power over sin and a new nature; and (4) Redemption - victory over death and ultimate salvation.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the state of the modern world without a true foundation?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes a world in confusion and crisis, drifting helplessly toward calamity. He points to the prevalence of "permissiveness" where everyone does what is right in their own eyes, without principles or foundations. He mentions drug addiction, alcoholism, divorce, and other social problems as symptoms of this foundational lack. He also notes that even scientists are alarmed at the world's direction, and that people are responding with nihilism: "Let us eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die."
What is Dr. Lloyd-Jones' critique of how people deal with life's problems today?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones criticizes the modern approach of treating symptoms rather than addressing root causes. He states that people are "busy plastering over the cracks, putting a bit of paint on" while ignoring the fundamental problem with the foundation. He describes how politicians and others offer "instant solution after instant solution" but the world continues "from crisis to crisis" because they fail to address the foundational issues of human nature and our relationship to God.
What is the ultimate message or call to action in this sermon?
The ultimate message is for listeners to ensure they are building their lives on the only true foundation - Jesus Christ. Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by asking, "Are you on this foundation?" and explains that one gets onto this foundation "by seeing and recognizing your own failure, your own utter inability. And then, in simplicity, casting yourself upon him, asking him to receive you." He emphasizes that "all other ground is sinking sand" and urges hearers to "make certain while there is still time that you're on this only foundation."
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.