The 4 Foundational Cornerstones of the Christian Faith

The 4 Foundational Cornerstones of the Christian Faith

ROMANS is the foundation book in Paul’s epistles. It is the book that firstly, establishes 'the faith', the doctrine that provides us with a fundamental knowledge of God's will and purpose for us as grace believers today, and secondly, that 'stablishes' a grace believer, meaning that it lays a foundation of truth, or principle, that helps us to be grounded and stable in our faith, and guides our walk to complement Gods will and purpose for us, not only here on earth, now, but also in the life to come, our heavenly destination as the Body of Christ.

If one takes a step back from the details in the Roman epistle, and looks at the contents from an overview perspective, one will see four key principles emerge. These four key principles are of great importance. As the title of this post suggests, they are the four cornerstones that keep the foundation of our faith stable. Without any one of these cornerstones, our Christian faith will be unstable and ineffective. Anything that we build upon this foundation will be shaky and problematic, and our growth in the doctrine of 'the faith', will be hindered, weakened, or even completely stunted. Needless to say, recognizing these four key foundational principles, and gaining an intimate knowledge of them, are crucial.

Before I expound on the four principles, it is worth noting, if one looks at the image uploaded, that 3 of the 4 principles (or 75% of our foundation) pertains to KNOWLEDGE. The other 25% applies to exercising that knowledge, in DOING it. This is in total contrast when compared with general Christianity today where, in observation, one can estimate that in churches today, only 5% of the focus is on KNOWLEDGE, and a staggering 95% of time is focused on all kinds of DOINGS, (observances, rituals, traditions, works of law, and various performance and acceptances, to try to justify themselves in the eyes of men and God).

Many Christians today do not understand half of the absolute foundational principles of 'the faith'. The two principles that are in want, that are terribly misunderstood and misinterpreted, are God's grace, and God's dispensational wisdom. If only one of these four cornerstones is missing, it causes great distress on the foundation, but with two missing, it is a disaster. It is no wonder that so many professing Christians are still babes in their knowledge of the Word, unstable in their faith, unsure of God's will, and ignorant of their purpose in Christ, not only here, but in the ages to come.

So, what are the four critical cornerstones? Let me provide a brief summation of each.

God's Righteousness (Romans, chapters 1-3)

God is absolutely righteous and just. This is in utter contrast to the unrighteousness and ungodliness of men. Humanity is on a downward spiral to the pits of hell. Even the righteousness of the most celebrated humans amongst us are like filthy rags before God, (Isa.64:6). We are in desperate need of redemption, yet none of us can even save ourselves, no matter how hard we try.

This foundational key is of GREAT importance to know and accept. The reason why, is because it helps us to comprehend, even just a little, and then accept in gratefulness, God's incredible grace. The fact that many Christians cannot accept, or even fathom God's grace, but fight against the truth, believing that they can work for, or earn their justification, is proof that they completely lack the comprehension of God's righteous position versus their utter destitution and hopelessness.

God's Grace (Romans, chapters 4-8)

The cross is the shining jewel of God's grace. EVERYTHING, absolutely EVERYTHING about grace, is embodied in the cross. Paul proclaims that his boast is in the cross. Similarly, everything that we as humanity receive from God, freely, and without constraint, is in Christ, or through Christ, or by Christ, and even, of Christ. If we are not associated with God's Son, by faith in Him, we are objects of His wrath and doom. Our hope is in the glory that God pours out towards His Son. Our acceptance, our salvation, and our adoption, exist in the love that God has for Jesus Christ. Do you get it! Without Christ, we are less than nothing, lower than the worms, kindling for the eternal fire.

BUT,

• Titus 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 
• Rom 3:21  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
• Rom 6:22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

God's grace is a FREE gift. We do not, and cannot work for it. It is available because of the cross of Christ. The righteousness of God is imputed upon anyone who believes in Jesus Christ. 

• Rom 3:22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: ...  24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
• Rom 4:5  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

To understand God's grace depends on a firm grasp (understanding) of God’s righteousness. These two cornerstones are connected. To comprehend God's grace, you must understand His righteousness (and your utter depravity). To comprehend God's righteousness, you must understand how that His grace is your ONLY hope of atonement.

One last point on this fundamental key, since it is so utterly misinterpreted by the church,

Paul asks, and answers, the two questions that every babe in Christ asks, when confronted by God's overwhelming grace. Notice the following verses,

• Rom 6:1  [Q] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  
• Rom 6:2  [A] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 
• Rom 6:15  [Q] What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
• Rom 6:16  [A] Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 

Without getting into details here, I'll simply say that God's grace is FAR greater than sins, and God's grace is FAR superior to the law. Once you have been justified, sealed by that verdict of God, because you believe in His Son, any sins you commit cannot come close to overwhelming God's grace for you, (Rom.5:17). You are dead to that nature in the eyes of God, (Rom.6:2), and are also compelled to reckon yourself dead to sin too, (Rom.6:11). In addition, your new spiritual nature will start to stir your conscience to righteousness, and this change will become more effective in curbing sin as you grow in your knowledge and functional understanding of God's Word.

But what about the law? The law, although holy and good was given for one purpose alone. It was to spotlight your sins and unrighteousness, (Rom.7:7-8). It was to show your need for a Redeemer. Once justified, being under the law is the LAST place you want to be!!! The law kills! The law condemns. It nullifies grace and renders Christ's cross in vain, (Gal.2:21). Putting yourself back under law in order to serve God better is the WORST action you can EVER do as a believer. Let me confirm it with scripture,

• Rom 3:31  Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. [How? By the fruit of the Spirit. When you bring forth the love, joy, peace, etc through walking in grace, the law is satisfied. There is no law against the fruit of the Spirit. As you start to bring forth this fruit, the law is established. You don't establish the law by practicing it, you establish it by practicing grace.]
• Rom 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
• Rom 7:4  Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.  5  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.  6  But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
• Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
• Rom 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

The letters to the Corinthians and the Galatians illustrate what happens when one veers off into sin or under the law. Sin and law are the two devastating ditches along the road of grace. If one reads the letters to Corinth and Galatia, both of them being letters of correction and reproof, one will notice that the saints at Corinth, who were carnal, and in sin, were actually better off than the Galatians who placed themselves under the law. In other words, sin, being vanquished by grace, is of less consequence to a believer than to be in self-righteousness, thinking one can make oneself righteous under laws, so as to serve God.

• Rom 7:5  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
• Gal 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

God's Dispensational Wisdom (Romans, chapters 9-11)

Paul writes about Israel in Romans 9-11. The context however is to provide us an understanding regarding the blinding of Israel, (Rom.11:7,25). All through prophecy we hear of Israel as God's holy nation, a special people, separated unto God as priests (Exo.19:6). Prophecy continues to outline the preeminence of Israel in the Millennial Kingdom, how that they will be the head and not the tail (Deu.28:13), how that they will be utterly blessed by God, and that their blessings will overflow to the Gentile nations. Jerusalem will be the focal point on earth from which the law and reign will extend. Men of every nation will hold on to the skirt of a Jew to receive blessings from the Lord (Zec.8:23). 

However, this program was put on hold due to Israel's belief and their rejection of the Holy Spirit. At this time, God raised up Paul and sent him to the Gentiles (Rom.11:13) with a completely different message, one of grace and mystery instead of law and prophecy. Paul was writing not to Israel, but to a new body of people, the Body of Christ. He writes that old things have passed away, and that all things have become new, (2Co.5:17). He writes that we know not Christ after the flesh, (2Co.5:16). He writes that we are not under law, but grace, (Rom.6:14). Paul's new doctrine was in complete contrast to what Jesus taught. Why? Well, a new dispensation had begun. God was not saving the world by means of Israel, as prophecy predicted. (That would come later in the Millennial Kingdom). But now, at this time, the world would be saved without the means of Israel. 

How can one merge or blend these two programs? Well, this is exactly what the churches teach today. They mix up all scripture, blending promises of Israel with Paul's grace program, creating a false doctrine and harming the faith, and foundation, of believers today. 

This fundamental principle has been greatly abused and twisted by the pulpit. It is a of critical importance that these programs and people groups remain separate. The whole Bible clears up and becomes comprehensible when viewed as two separate and distinct doctrines. Blending it creates a diluted and distasteful doctrine that brings confusion and contradiction. It is a primary reason why Christians are so lost in faith, babes in understanding, and blown about by every imagination of the minds of carnal men. Maintaining sound scriptural context by rightly dividing the truth is the purpose of this third cornerstone. 

God's Mercies (Romans, chapters 12-16)

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

What makes the mercies of God a cornerstone of our faith? Let me explain this with memories of my youth. I attended a number of evangelical rallies in my younger days, and the predominant means by which evangelists encouraged their converts to come to the 'alter' was by preaching about the fires of hell. Now, this is not by any means a false teaching, but the motivation set forth to be saved was one of fear. When you try to scare someone into faith, they may concede to the strength of your argument, but faith was not produced. Similarly, if Paul had to beseech one to serve God, ...or else..., well, it might work to get that person to concede in that moment, but there would be no motivation, no heartfelt commitment, no endurance or desire to serve. It would be like the Sowers seed falling into the rocky ground, (Matt.13:1-9). The plant that sprouts would soon wither away quickly without good rooting.

Offering oneself on the basis of God's mercies, or compassion, does the exact opposite of fear and threats. It brings a person to a commitment out of their own will and desire instead of from mental force or intimidation. In turn, this ensures that the commitment is genuine and lasting, producing a sweet fragrance of service. This cornerstone does not only apply to our relationship and service to God directly, but also to our brothers and sisters, our fellow members of the Body of Christ. We serve each other from a labour of love, not from a position of force or fear. When it comes to our deeds, whether to God, or within the Body of Christ, or in the world, let it be by the mercies of God, by His compassion and love working within us and out of us.

We walk by faith, not by fear. We should walk in the liberty of the Spirit, not by rules or laws or traditions. Our living should come from a heart that is persuaded by what we believe is right. Romans 14 tells us to walk by our own faith before God, being compelled to act out by that which does not condemn us, but by that which we believe is approved by our conscience, and with consideration that does not cause our brother to fall or come into bondage. If we are compelled by the mercies of God, then our deeds, thoughts, and words should be by the mercies of God. This is the fourth cornerstone of our faith.

Conclusion

This is a long post, but the content of this post should provide you with the motivation to go and prove this information in the Word. Open up the book of Romans and go and study this to see that it is true. It is my firm belief that once you become intimately knowledgeable of these cornerstones, it will produce a solid foundation in your life and in your faith. Having these four cornerstones engrafted in your mind, and operational in your life, will provide you the stability to continue in the faith, building upon this foundation with the knowledge from the other epistles of Paul. The goal is a renewed mind to the will of God, and to have Christ formed within you, attaining to the perfection that God seeks and desires (Eph.4:12-13; Col.1:28; Col.4:12; 2Tim.3:17), of His servants, to the glory of Christ.