Christ the Foundation

A Sermon on 1 Corinthians 3:11

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Scripture

1 Corinthians 3:11 ESV KJV

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Sermon Description

What is the foundation in this life? Is it personal possessions or sense of security? People put their hope and base life on many things. In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 3:11 titled “Christ the Foundation,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that any foundation in life that is not Jesus Christ is doomed to fail. All other foundations are passing and transient; they satisfy, but only temporarily. Jesus Christ is an eternal foundation that can never be shaken. He is a foundation that never leaves His people wanting for more. Christ alone can satisfy one’s deepest needs and desires. It is only Christ who can take away sin and make one a child of God. The greatest tragedy is that many reject Christ as their hope, and turn to everything else that is vain and passing away. Christ calls His people to turn away from the world and trust solely in His work on the cross for salvation. All other foundations are like sinking sand, but Jesus Christ is God’s appointed means of salvation as the only sure and steady foundation for all who believe.

Sermon Breakdown

The sermon begins by introducing 1 Corinthians 3:11 as the main text and focus. The verse establishes that Jesus Christ is the only foundation for the Christian faith.
The sermon then provides context for why Paul wrote 1 Corinthians. False teachers had arisen in Corinth and were teaching a different message, leading to confusion in the church. Paul wrote to lay out the foundational truths of the faith.
The sermon emphasizes that the false teachings were undermining the gospel itself, not just minor issues. The teachings made void the cross of Christ.
Paul keeps repeating the foundational principles of the faith to combat the false teachings. He does this out of pastoral concern for the souls of the Corinthians.
The sermon then transitions to discuss the message of the gospel for all people. The first point is that people need a foundation in life to build upon. Without a foundation, there is no meaning or purpose.
The second point is that humans cannot provide an adequate foundation for themselves. They do not have the wisdom, knowledge, or capability to do so.
The third point is that Jesus Christ alone provides the foundation, as stated in 1 Corinthians 3:11. No other foundation can be laid.
The sermon explains that the gospel is exclusive - it is the only message, not one among many. The gospel is also definite and unchanging. It does not shift based on the times.
The sermon states that God himself laid the foundation of the gospel, not any human. The Bible has proclaimed this message of salvation through Christ from the very beginning.
The sermon then examines the adequacy and perfection of the foundation of Christ. The foundation consists of Christ's dual nature as God and man. It has depth to handle humanity's sin and guilt. It has height to satisfy God's perfect righteousness.
In Christ, we have wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Christ defeats all enemies - sin, Satan, death. He provides all we need and makes us perfect before God.
The sermon concludes by asking if we are built upon the foundation of Christ. We must rely on Christ alone, not ourselves or anything else. Christ is the solid rock, all else is sinking sand. We find lasting joy and treasure only in Zion, the city of God built upon Christ.

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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.