Everyone has a foundation of some kind that they stand upon. That foundation is the load bearing and underlying strength and support for their life. The Psalmist spoke with great clarity about this.
Psalm 46:1-3 NKJV God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
As we consider the foundation of our faith, Hebrews shows us that our faith and hope are closely related and integrated together.
Hebrews 11:1 NIV84 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 6:19-20 NKJV This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever…
The hope that we have is not only for this life but also for eternity. Think about the security that God has given us in this. Our hope is the foundation for our strong faith. We must do everything we can to build up our hope and trust in Christ our Lord and Savior. Our hope finds its substance outside of this world. The eternal God of the heavens is basis for everything that we have hoped for.
Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for… Watch how faith gains strength and substance by hope. Faith provides the basis for trust, reliance, confidence and assurance.
What is the foundation of your faith?
The foundation of your life gives you strength, purpose, and support.
Galatians 2:20 NKJV I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me. As an illustration of the life of faith, the text immediately refers to Abraham.
Galatians 3:6 NKJV Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
We know how Abraham believed God and walked by faith. Because Abraham believed God, he stepped out of his past life and walked in obedience to the faith.
2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Think about the hope that Abraham had that strengthened and stabilized his faith. After God spoke to Abraham and gave him promises of things that he did not see, he believed God. God promised Abraham that he would be great and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars of heaven. Genesis 15:6 says, “And Abraham believed the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” He accepted God’s word and promise as the foundation for his life. Throughout his life, he was strengthened by that enduring hope and strong faith in the integrity of God’s word. He believed God and did not waver in his faith.
Hebrews 11:1 NIV84 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
To establish and strengthen our faith, God set before us a strong and trustworthy hope that is the anchor for our souls. The ANCHOR for our soul is in God’s presence in heaven.
What is the anchor for our souls that is in the very presence of God?
Hebrews 9:24 NKJV For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
Hebrews 6:19-20 NKJV This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus.
Think about this. Jesus Christ has entered into God’s presence for us. He has become the foundation for our strong faith. Our faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation of our trust, reliance, confidence and assurance in this life and in eternity. As the foundation and anchor for our faith, consider what Jesus Christ is constantly doing for you in heaven. He has entered into God’s Presence in heaven as a faithful High Priest.
Hebrews 8:1 NKJV Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
Hebrews 8:6 NKJV He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
What does that mean?
Our life of faith is established on the fact that our Mediator is in the presence of God. He is at the right hand of the Father interceding and petitioning on our behalf. He is mediating for us through a better covenant, which is established on better promises. This covenant has been sealed with the blood of Jesus Christ. The promises of God in Christ Jesus are far greater.
We should consider all of the promises of God that are in Christ Jesus.
- The promises of this covenant are the foundation and anchor of our faith.
- They give us the trust, reliance, confidence, and assurance to live.
- They enable us to face the troubles and trials of this life.
- They give us boldness in the face of adversity.
- They strengthen us in the midst of the tribulation and persecution of Satan.
We have strong hope and enduring faith as a result of this better covenant and these better promises.
Hebrews 7:25 NKJV Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Think about the power of the blood of Jesus Christ.
- The blood of Christ cleanses your conscience and makes you clean before God.
- His blood makes it possible for you to serve the living God with boldness and without condemnation.
- The blood of Jesus Christ is the blood of the covenant that makes us heirs of this eternal promise. (Hebrews 9:11-15)
Think about the victory that you have by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ.
How does this strengthen your faith?
- We know that we have been made right before God and His blood has made us clean.
- We have a guaranteed eternal inheritance in our heavenly home which has been secured and made ready.
- We know that our hope is not in vain and that we are covered and protected.
- We know that the life we now live is by faith in the Son of God, Who loves us and gave Himself for us.
Now, consider the intercession of Christ for us.
We do not have an earthly high priest, but we have Jesus who has passed into heaven for us. Do you see how this strengthens the foundation of our faith? Since the blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son has cleansed us of our sins, we have been made an overcomer. Watch this.
1 John 5:4-5 NKJV For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Our faith in Jesus Christ makes us an overcomer. Since we have put our trust in Him, we are covered, cleansed and protected by His blood.
1 John 5:13 NKJV These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
Now watch how this faith in Christ gives strong confidence.
1 John 5:14-15 NKJV Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
How strong is your foundation? Do you have complete confidence in Him? When you do, the foundation of your faith is changed.
- You know He hears you.
- You know that your petitions have been heard in the presence of God.
- You know that the covenant and promises are sure.
- You know that answers are coming.
- You know that your anchor holds within the veil.
- You know that your trust, reliance, confidence and assurance in this life and in eternity will not be in vain.
- You know that His blood covers and you are clean, protected, and helped.
