Introduction
There are special foundation stones that set the standard for our daily living and serve as spiritual markers:
It is equally important in our lives to have “spiritual markers,” which is a point of reference, so that whenever we are confused, discouraged, or disoriented we can go back to solid ground.
In Hebrews 6:1-3 the writer cautions us from only dwelling on the building blocks of our faith and never experiencing the fullness that our relationship with Christ has to offer.
Scripture
Stand with me as we read from God Holy Scripture. If you would please turn to Hebrews 6:1-3 and follow along as I read.
Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
2of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3And this we will do if God permits. Hebrews 6:1-3
Prayer
Father we address you this morning the best way that we know, praising your name and awesome power. We acknowledge your greatness and embrace your grace.
Father we come before your presence today and seek your will in our lives. Father teaches us to walk in your light and be a light to others.
Open our eyes O’ Lord so that we may see the need for a firm foundation in our lives.
Father as I stand before your presence this morning, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your site O’ Lord.
For I ask these things in the name of your son and my redeemer, the name that is above all names, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
AMEN!
Salvation
You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:24-26
Let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. James 5:20
There is one thing that is certain you cannot have “spiritual markers,” which is a point of reference unless you first have set them.
You cannot use “spiritual markers,” which is a point of reference that someone else has set.
There is something that you need to know about markers, if you do not anchor them down, they will disappear.
When a person makes a profession of faith in Christ Jesus, at that point they have set “a spiritual marker,” which is a point of reference.
That “spiritual marker,” which is a point of reference is the place, time, and date of your salvation.
After your “spiritual marker,” has been set then there is a need to move on to that second foundation stone.
2. Baptism
Baptism is one of the greatest spiritual markers in the life of a believer.
Illustration: Little girl asked her mom why she cut off the ends of the ham before she cooked it. She said, Well, I don’t know. My mommy just always did it. Let’s call grandma and ask her.ยจ So they did and grandma said,
Well, I don’t know. My mother just always cut the ends off. Why don’t you call and ask her?”
So they called her great-grandma and asked her, Granny, why did you always cut the ends of the ham off before you cooked it?
Granny laughed and said, “Because my pot was too small.”
Baptism establishes a pattern to follow in our daily living:
Obedience to the Word of God is a good habit to develop.
It is the first step of obedience in your new life.
We ought to take the Word of God seriously and follow it, not just the parts we like.
Baptism represents being set apart for Christ in salvation. See Romans 6:3-11.
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
4Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
7For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.
10For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
11Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:3-11
3. Spiritual Growth
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:11 “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
In this passage, we find six close-fitting stones that form a firm foundation for spiritual growth.
1. A foundation is not an end in itself.
It is designed to be built upon.
2. The size of the house is limited by the size of the
foundation.
Repentance and Faith are two foundation stones that enable you to bear the load in your life.
3. A firm foundation sets the standard for what you
build upon it.
If your foundation is unleveled or faulty, no matter how much money you spend on building, the house will never be straight. Let’s look at Amos 7:7-8
Thus, He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. 8And the LORD said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said: "Behold, I am setting a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore. Amos 7:7-8
4. We will be held accountable for how we live our lives
and use God’s blessings.
5. Our standard better be God’s standard, or else our
lives will be out of line with God’s will.
Although you made a good start, your life can stray from God’s plan, if you compromise your standard.
6. If your spiritual foundation is substandard, your daily
living will not meet God’s standard.
That is how we know where we are in relation to something else.
