The Foundation of Christianity- Part 1

What is the foundation of the Church? Most Christians would readily say Jesus Christ without hesitation and they would be right at least superficially. However there are truths about Jesus and his, identity that tell us clearly what the foundation of Christianity and the Church is. Did you know that almost all denominations don't preach or teach what the true foundation of the Church is? You might be confused by that statement. As noted above, most Christians will readily say Jesus is the foundation of the Church.

So what gives? Let's look at a few of the denominations and see what the foundation of their Churches are in regards to how they present the gospel of our Jehovah Jesus Christ.

Reformed Churches - Emphasis on John Calvin and his systematic theology of Calvinism, they also teach Jesus as the second member of a trinity god.

Lutheran Churches - Emphasis on Martin Luther and his teachings on Justification by Faith. They also emphasize the eucharist meal. They teach that Jesus ia the second member of a trinity god.

Anabaptists - Emphasis on insular communities with little modern amenities, pacifism, outward piety, social gospel, they also teach that Jesus is the second member of a trinity god.

Jehovah Witnesses - emphasis on the divine name "Jehovah", anti nationalism, authoritarian leadership, anti holidays, promotion of Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, they teach that Jesus was created by Jehovah and almost eqaute him to an angelic being.

Roman Catholicism - emphasize Mary the Queen of heaven, eucharist meal, Mass, pagan holidays, veneration of dead saints, praying for and to the dead, hierarchical church government with adoration of the Pope as an almost god like figure, other various sacraments, celibate preisthood and Nunery. They teach that Jesus is the second member of a trinity god.

Church of Latter Day Saints - emphasis on Joseph Smith their prophet, emphasis on the book of Mormon, baptism for the dead, they teach that Jesus was a Spirit brother of Lucifer and that he came into existence due to sexual relations between Elohim and Mary.

Dispensational Churches (Calvary Chapel, Four Sqaure, Assemblies of God- Emphasis on Geo-Political Israel as God’s chosen nation and ethnic Jews as God’s elect. Heavy involvement in politics, supports right wing conservative Republicans. Secret pre Trib Rapture, complicated teaching of several dispensational ages. They teach that Jesus is either the second member of a trinity god or the second member of a tri theistic god.

Pentecostal Churches - Emphasis on signs and wonders most notably speaking in babbling tongues. Also believe in secret pretrib rapture and dispensational theology. Emphasize emotional experience over sound doctrine. Some teach oneness doctrine of Jesus being the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (modalism), most teach Jesus as the second member of a trinity god.

Seventh-day Adventist General Conference churches - Emphasis on end times prophecy, vegetarianism, healthy living, emphasis on salvation being dependent on Church membership, heavy emphasis on the Sabbath. They teach that Jesus is the second member of a tri theistic god.

These are just some of the denominations/church movements of Christendom. Some of the above teachings of these denominations are good and some are downright heretical. However, not one of them teach and preach the very foundation of the Church which Jesus said the gates of the grave would not prevail against.

So what is this foundation of the Church? The answer is easy, so easy that the devil has deceived most of Christendom and their eyes are veiled to this simple yet beautiful truth.

Matthew 16:13-20 (KJV)

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Peter makes the declaration that once and for all determines the foundation of Christianity. When Jesus asked the disciples, who do men say that I am? They responded with a number of speculations. When Jesus turned to them for their view, Peter answers "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Notice Jesus response to Peter, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."

When we truly believe that Jesus is the Christ (anointed one of Jehovah) and the Son of the living God, then that means the Father has revealed it to us. So many today in Christendom have lost sight of this and refuse to believe that Jesus is the literal Son of Jehovah God. They preach another Jesus and the implication of their denial of the literal Sonship of Christ is that the Father has not revealed to them the truth. Flesh and blood has revealed to them "another" Jesus. Whether it is a trinity Jesus, tri theism Jesus, Unitarian Jesus, a created Jesus, a Jesus who is all 3 (oneness), it denies the literal Sonship of Christ. The bible is very clear and very serious about denying the literal Sonship of Christ. We will get to that later. Let's continue looking at this passage.

In verse 18, Jesus tells Peter that upon this rock the Church will be built upon. What rock was Jesus talking about? The word for "Peter" in the greek is "Petros" and means "a piece of a rock". However this isn't the rock Jesus was talking about, when Jesus uttered the words "upon this rock" he didn't mean Petros "Peter" as the greek word for "rock" is "Petra" and means "a mass of rock". So in this verse there are two rocks mentioned, the first one is Peter (Petros) and the second one is rock (Petra). So the Church was not to be built upon Petros (Peter) but rather upon Petra (Rock) which is Jesus Christ. Jesus was talking about himself being the Petra (rock) that the Church would be built upon.

Most Christians would have no problem acknowledging Jesus being the Rock (foundation) of the Church. However it isn't just that Jesus is the foundation of the Church, it is a divine knowledge of His identity that is the rock that the Church would be built upon. It is Peter's confession that is the rock upon which the Church would be built. His confession is that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of the living God. Most of the Church has the first part right, however they error badly on the second part which is that Jesus is the Son of the living God. This Jesus rarely gets taught in the Churches of Christendom. When is the last time you heard a message from the pulpit about the Sonship of Christ? It almost never happens. Why is this?

Because the Churches have left the foundation that Jesus affirmed, which is His Sonship. They removed the Sonship of Christ as their foundation and instituted a faulty foundation built on sand called the "trinity" doctrine. The proof of the trinity doctrine being a false foundation is the confusion it has generated in the world of Christendom. You can ask 10 Christians to explain the trinity doctrine and you could easily get 9 different versions explained to you.

Why is this? It's because the trinity doctrine is convoluted and unbiblical. It breeds confusion and remember Jehovah isn't the author of confusion. The word for confusion in Hebrew and Greek is "Babel", "Babylon". Remember in Revelation 17, it says the Great Whore has "Mystery" written on her forehead. If the Great Whore is the Catholic Churh then it makes sense that the doctrine she claims as hers is called a "Mystery". Catholicism and Protestantism call the trinity doctrine "the Mystery".

1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV)

33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

By theologians and pastors own admission, the trinity doctrine is impossible to understand and explain.

Revelation 17:5 (KJV)

5 And upon her forehead was a name written,Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth.

The Catholic Church admits the trinity as their central doctrine from which all other doctrines come from. Let's get back to the text in Matthew 16:13-20.

So, we know that Jesus says that Peter's confession that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of the living God is the Rock that the Church will be built upon. What does Jesus say in verse 18 about the Church that is built on this Rock, that Jesus is the Son of God? Jesus says something very telling and encouraging to those of us who believe in the literal Sonship of Christ. Jesus says:

"and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it"

Wow! A powerful statement from our Jehovah Jesus Christ. The gates of hell may prevail against Babylon and her harlot daughters who have all abandoned the Rock of Christianity which is that Jesus is the Son of God but it won't prevail against the true Church. This true Church believes that Jesus is the Son of the living God. Is it any wonder that this precious truth is being restored in these last days whereas many of the trinitarian Churches are joining the ecumenical movement which is led by the Catholic Church. It only makes sense that the trinitarian churches are going back to Rome as that is the Church that gave birth to the trinity doctrine as we know it, circa 381 AD.

Let's look at what John the beloved disciple says about those who believe in the Sonship of Christ:

1 John 4:15 (KJV)

15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

This passage goes along perfectly with what Jesus told Peter in Matthew 16:17 when Peter confessed Jesus Sonship:

"for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."

It's very simple, those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have been revealed this by Father. They also have the Father dwelling in them which is the Holy Spirit. According to Jesus and John, those then who don't believe and confess that Jesus is the Son of God don't have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. Very sobering when you think about it as most of Christendom denies the literal Sonship of Christ. When they say that Jesus is the Son of God they don't really mean it. Many believe it is just metaphorical (tri theism) or they believe He is the Son of God in some mysterious eternal generation from the Father and that He is consubstantial with the Father as one being (trinitarianism). These concepts are huge error and deny Christ's literal Sonship. There are other errors taught about Christ such as he was created (Jehovah Witnesses) or not pre existent and His origin was at Bethlehem (Unitarian).

The errors taught about Christ are numerous and we can on and on about them. The literal Sonship of Christ was what the apostles believed, the early Church and even many in the wilderness Church. The Seventh-day Adventist Pioneers restored the precious truth about the Sonship of Christ however deceivers came in the Church in the early 1900's and didn't spare the flock. As the Pioneers started dying off the trinity doctrine became more prominent in the Church. It appears that around 1930 we see the trinity doctrine start to take a more visible standing in the Church. Of course, many in the Church still held on the the beliefs of the Pioneers. In 1980, the trinity doctrine became the official Godhead teaching of the Church as it was added to their fundamental beliefs. Since 1980, the once remnant Church has steadily declined into apostasy. It is really in full blown apostasy minus a few present truth Churches. However, even those present truth Churches tow the company line when it comes to denying the literal Sonship of Christ. The Church is an entirely different organization than the one established by the Pioneers in the 2nd half of the 1800's. Ellen White prophesied this very thing:

"The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of re-organization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religionwould be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath, of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teachthat virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand,and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure.

Who has authority to begin such a movement? We have our Bibles. We have our experience, attested to by the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit.We have a truth that admits of no compromise. Shall we not repudiate everything that is not in harmony with this truth?"

Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, Book 1, pages 204, 205.

Many in the Seventh-day Adventist Church lament over it's spiritual condition and wonder why it is apostasizing at an alarming rate. Many in the Church will cite everything from a lack of dress reform and health reform and the bringing in of spiritual formation and women's ordination. May I suggest something else? Let's go back to Jesus word's in Matthew 16:18:

"and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Remember what the Rock was that Jesus is referring to? It was Peter's confession as stated below:

"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God"

According to Seventh-day Adventist General Conference doctrine, Jesus is not the literal Son of God. In fact, in their 28 fundamental beliefs, the call Jesus "God the Son" which is a term that is not in scripture and they don't call Jesus, the "Son of God" which is said of Jesus close to 50 times. Remember, it's Jesus as the Son of God that is the rock of the Church not Jesus as "God the Son".

The gates of hell are prevailing against the Seventh-day Adventist Church because they removed the Rock of the Christian Church as their foundation. They have put in it's place a faulty foundation known as the trinity or in reality the tri theist doctrine. Do you notice that all the trinitarian churches are falling like domino's in this ecumenical movement? Many are lamenting this and cite a multitude of reasons why, yet like the Seventh-day Adventist Church they are blind to the most obvious and real reason behind their apostasy. They deny the literal Sonship of Christ and have embraced Rome's Mystery doctrine. They either hold to trinitarianism or worse yet tri theism.

If these Churches would have held on the the truth about Jesus being the true Son of God, it would have been an automatic protection from uniting with Rome. Rick Warren himself identified the trinity doctrine as a reason why Protestants and Catholics should unite and hold hands. My brothers and sisters, do you see what is happening in the world of Christendom right now? Even moreseo than Sunday, the Churches of Christendom are finding common ground with each other based on their mutual belief in the trinity.

Why is the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference Church lacking the power of the Holy Spirit? Look at Jesus word's below in Matthew 16:19

"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Remember, Jesus said this in reference to the Church that was built upon the rock. This Rock is Jesus Christ as the Son of the living God. Once a Church removes this Rock as their foundation they are no longer privy to having the keys to the kingdom and the honor of loosing and binding.

Is it any wonder the Churches of Christendom are devoid of life and spiritual morturaries!

The message of Jesus being the literal Son of God is essential to Christianity. The denial of this renders John 3:16 void.

John 3:16 (KJV)

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The above scripture is arguably the most well known scripture in the world. Why is this? Because, it is most important scripture to give when evangelizing unbelievers. This is the scripture that is often seen in the crowd at sporting events. However, the importance of this scripture has been dramatically down played in evangelism efforts. Nowadays, many skip over this verse and tell people you have to believe in the trinity to become born again or that you have to believe Jesus is God Almighty himself to be accepted into the Kingdom.

Satan has used the churches to render the most beautiful passage in scripture almost null and void. This is the scripture that shows us how much the Father loves us. Yet, when you hear people evangelizing unbelievers the Father nary gets mentioned. This passage also shows the love that our Divine Saviour Jesus Christ has for us as he denied himself and went to the cross for us as a ransom sacrifice.

Many deceivers are claiming that begotten doesn't mean "born, brought forth, came out from" and they say it mean "unique". By doing this they deny the literal Sonship of Christ. What does Jesus beloved disciple John say about these false teachers?

1 John 2:18-26 (KJV)

18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

Verse 22, John calls those who deny the Father-Son relationship of Jesus and Jehovah antichrist. Some may say "well, there is some truth in the trinity doctrine", What does John say about that in verse 21?

"that no lie is of the truth"

Did you read that? No lie is of the truth! So even though there is some truth in the trinity doctrine because it does have some error it is not of the truth. And in verse 22, these doctrines that have lies in it about Jesus and the Father are antichrist. In verse 23, John says those who deny the Son have not the Father. You can't have one without the other. You have to go through the Son to have access with the Father. The denial of Christ's Sonship is denying the Son thereby you don't have access to the Father.

Verse 24 is very revealing, John makes a clear statement that the original doctrine of the apostles that was taught to the Churches from the beginning, was that Jesus and Jehovah have a real Father-Son relationship. Look at his word's below:

"If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father."

Straight from the beloved disciple of Jesus!  The original doctrine of the apostles was the literal Sonship of Christ. As long as we hold onto this original doctrine? then we will remain in the Son and in the Father. Once we depart from it, all bets are off! Notice that we remain in two divine beings not 3. This verse is a real problem for trinitarian's and tri theist's. It is clear that the true Godhead teaching of the bible is that there are two divine beings which are a real Father and a real Son. Do you see why the Churches of Christendom have fallen so hard? It's because they have not let the original doctrine of the apostles abide in them thereby they are not remaining in the Son and in the Father.

1 John 3:23 (KJV)

23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

It is the commandment of Jehovah God that we believe on the name of His Son. This doesn't mean just to believe in the actual name "Jesus Christ", that is a big part of it, but also means to believe in the identity of Jesus name which is that he is the Son of God. See how Jesus is called God's Son in this passage? Are we to believe this is metaphorical? Does God play games with us and say things He doesn't really mean? Of course not! God cannot lie, either can His Son. If they both affirm their Father-Son relationship then who are theologians and pastors  to try and pervert this truth? Remember the word's in the book of Romans:

Romans 3:4 (KJV)

4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

A solemn warning for those who believe men over God:

1 John 5:9-13 (KJV)

9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Do you see the pattern here? The Sonship of Christ is vitally important to Christianity  even moreseo that Jesus is God. Sadly many Christians today have esteemed the witness of men above the witness of Jehovah. How is this? Because they have trusted the theologians and pastors who say that Jesus isn't the literal Son of God and they have rejected the very word's of the Almighty God himself. These so called Christians make God a liar! A very serious offense. They believe their pulpit preachers instead, trusting man's wisdom over God's wisdom. Many are scared to rock the boat and go along to get along. Many others are so entrenched in their denomination that they just refuse to against anything their creeds teach. Some have been so indoctrinated with their denominations traditions that they can't fathom that their denomination could be wrong.

These people put their eternal life into hands of imperfect men instead of God who inspired His perfect word, the Holy Bible. The scriptures affirm the Sonship of Christ and the Father-Son relationship of Jesus and Jehovah. These scriptures were breathed by Jehovah's Spirit.

Even the requirement to get baptized necessitates that one confess that Jesus is the Son of God.

Acts 8:36-37 (KJV)

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

This is how deceptive satan is, rarely do you hear in the Churches this confession being taught as the requirement for baptism. Sure they teach that you have to accept Jesus as your personal Saviour, but do they tell you which Jesus to accept? In fact, many times they require you to confess that God is a trinity in order to get baptized. This is outright unbiblical and is a tradition of man. Also, many churches add other requirements to get baptized such as membership in their denomination, agreement to keep the Sabbath and dress reform. However, these are all things that are to come after one gets baptized not prior to it. Adding these things is unbiblical. The only requirement for baptism is the confession that Jesus is the Son of God and repentance.

Do you see how Jesus being the Son of God is the root of our Faith?

John 3:17-18 (KJV)

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Prior to being sent into the world, Jesus. was God's Son. God had a Son to send. It's through the Son of God that those in the world can be saved. It's not through "God the Son" or any other of the false Jesus's that are preached throughout Christendom. Verse 18 says that "he that believeth on him is not condemned." Who is the person who is condemned? It's the person who has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God!

Do you see that Jesus name is inseparably connected to Him being the only begotten Son of God? This doesn't just mean believing in the actual verbiage of His name "Jesus", but also believing the character and identity of His name which is tied to His literal Sonship.

You must no only believe in the actual name "Jesus" but also in his identity as the only begotten Son of God.

The word only begotten comes from the Greek word "monogenes" and means "only born, sole child, only (begotten) child."

This means that Jesus is the only born child of God. Some will say this was at his birth in Bethlehem, however the scripture above clearly says that God sent His Son into the world. You see here in John 3:17, that God already had a Son to send into the world. This means that Jesus Sonship didn't begin at Bethlehem but in heaven in the ages of eternity as we know Jesus is preexistent. Let's look at John 3:16 again:

John 3:16 (KJV)

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Again, we see here that God had a Son to give to the world. Only begotten means "only born". If Jesus was already God's Son before being sent into the world then His being begotten "born" was in heaven in the ages of eternity. Jesus was the only begotten Son of God before being sent by God into the world. Let's look at an old testament passage that alludes to Jesus being brought forth from Jehovah in the ages of eternity.