455. ISA 28:16. CHRIST THE FOUNDATION

Isa_28:16. Christ The Foundation

"For a foundation."’97Isa_28:16.

The prophet is clearly referring to the Messiah in the text. The apostle Paul, speaking of the believer, likens him "to a house, and as an habitation of God through the Spirit." He is also likened to a temple, "know ye not that ye are the temple of God." Now these metaphorical statements show the connection and propriety of Christ being set forth as a foundation, see 1Co_3:11.

I. Let us then notice of what Christ is the Foundation.

1. Now Christ is the foundation of the sinner’s acceptance with God.

God cannot be merciful to man, consistently with the demands of his holiness justice, and truth, except in and through Jesus Christ. Christ’s holiness, obedience, and merits, are the only grounds on which God is propitious to the sinner: so that Jesus is the only foundation of pardoning mercy, and justifying grace.

2. Christ is the foundation of the believer’s peace.

Hence he is called, "Our peace," Eph_2:14. Jesus came and preached peace. When he arose from the dead, he imparted peace to his disciples. "And being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ." He is the foundation of all sorts of peace. By him, angels are at peace with us. God is at peace with us. And we have peace with conscience, the peace of God within us, which passeth all understanding.

3. Christ is the foundation of hope.

We are begotten again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Christ’s blessed gospel has brought life and immortality to light. Christ’s merits have laid a solid and honorable basis for their bestowment. And his great and precious promises respecting them, give the believer a hope unspeakably bright, and full of glory.

4. Christ is the foundation of eternal life He died, rose again and ascended into heaven, that we might obtain eternal life. He gives unto his sheep eternal life. We have eternal life in his name. "And this is the record that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."

5. He is also the foundation of his collective and universal church.

The church is likened to a temple and to a city, of which Jesus is the glorious basis. He is the rock on which his church is built, and against which the gates of hell shall never prevail. Holy men, and prophets, and apostles, are all stones in this superstructure, but Christ alone is laid, as the foundation, who bears all its massy weight,’97on which it entirely rests. And whether we consider the church, in its militant state on earth, or in its glorified and triumphant state in heaven, Christ is the basis of the whole. Each and all of God’s spiritual family, from the new-born babe on earth, to the most exalted beatific spirit in glory, rest wholly upon Christ as the foundation.

II. What are the distinguishing Characters of this Foundation?

1. Christ is God’s elect and precious foundation.

He is the select and chosen of God; and he is essentially and infinitely precious.

2. He is a strong foundation.

Omnipotence is one of his attributes. He is the Almighty: both the wisdom and power of God. So strong that it is probable that myriads of worlds are upheld by him. He is a suitable foundation. In him God is glorified, and the sinner honorably saved. He is high enough to shed eternal lustre on all the perfections of the Deity, and low enough to meet the sinner’s state, and amply to supply all his exigencies.

3. He is a universal foundation.

Hence a guilty world is to be directed to him, and every creature invited to build upon him.

4. He is a perpetual foundation.

In all ages believers have rested upon him. Our parents were directed to him in he first promise; Abel built upon it, and lied a martyr for his faith in him. Abraham built upon him, and seeing his day, though afar off, rejoiced and was glad. Prophets and all the holy men of old rest-ed their hopes on him, who in the fulness of the times should come, who is the Chris of God, blessed for evermore. And through all the ages which have passed since his actual appearance to the present, and through all the periods which shall elapse, to the grand and final consummation, he is, and shall be, the one great, and only foundation. As a foundation Christ comes to us,

5. As having been tried, and as always sufficient.

How many have built upon mere doctrines and sentiments, upon creeds and systems; but in the day of distress, when they wanted comfort, their foundation being only nominal, merely theoretical, they have been left in wretchedness and despondency. How many have built on the abstract mercy of God, but when their foundation was tested, they have found out that Jehovah is just as well as merciful, and he will by no mean, clear the guilty. How many have built upon their own works, upon their self-righteousness, and have only been awakened time enough to discover, that all their goodness is as filthy rags. But all who have tried Jesus have found him a sufficient foundation. And how extensively has he been tried. In all ages thousands have rested all their hopes upon him. He has been tried by all classes and grades of men. By the rich, and by the poor; by the learned, and by the illiterate; by the savage, and by the refined; by the moralist, and by the profligate; and they have all realized in him, an all-sufficient foundation. He has proved all-sufficient, for all times, and places, and occurrences,’97he has been tried in prosperity, and in adversity,’97he has been tried in youth, and in old age,’97he has been tried in health, and in sickness,’97he has been tried in life, and in death. And in all diversities of state, they who have trusted in him have never been confounded. His sufficiency has been tested, under reproach, persecution, distress, at the stake, and at the block; and so strong has it been, that pain has been found as ease, and death in its most terrific forms embraced, in the hope of a better resurrection

APPLICATION

1. Let the Christian abide on this foundation; be not moved from the hope of the gospel.

2. The sinner’s peace, happiness, and sternal well-being depend upon the acceptance or rejection of this foundation.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS