Foundational Truth!

This post is a continuation of the previous post entitled, ‘Foundational Thoughts!’

I encourage you to read the previous post if you have not read it so that you have the background thinking for this post.

At the close of the previous post, the following verse was quoted.

1 John 5:21, NKJV, reads, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

The Amplified Bible reads, “Little children (believers, dear ones) guard yourselves from idols–[false teaching, moral compromises, and anything that would take God’s place in your heart.]

Q: Why do you think the Apostle John closes his first epistle with these words?

Q: Are these words of admonition applicable to the Church today?

If so, then why?

Let’s start with reading 1 John 5:18-20, NKJV.

“We know that whoever is born of God does not sin*; but he who has been born of God keeps (guards) himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” {boldness mine} (marginal note)

*NKJV Bible commentary found on page 1790; 5:18, Does not sin: See note 3:6-9, when John teaches that anyone whose life is unrepentantly characterized by sin does not belong to the family of God. The reason that a Christian does not persist unrepentantly in sin is that he who has been born again of God keeps himself, or as may be also be translated, “He (Jesus) who was born of God keeps him (the believer) from the relentless temptation and snare of the wicked one. {Who is the wicked one? Satan}

The Amplified Bible reads, We know [with confidence] that anyone born of God does not habitually sin; but He (Jesus) who was born of God [carefully] keeps and protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know [for a fact] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] lies in the power of the evil one [opposing God and His precepts]. And We [have seen and] know [by personal experience] that the Son of God has [actually] come [to this world], and has given understanding and insight so that we may [progressively and personally] know Him who is true–in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life (please read John 17:3) [boldness mine]

Q: What do these verses tell you personally about your/our Foundational Truth?

Q: What does the Apostle John share that ‘we know‘?

If you are ‘ok’ with underlining words, phrases, scripture in your Bible, then underline the words, ‘we know‘; followed by, underlining ‘what we know‘.

I encourage you to read, reflect, and respond personally to each of your ‘we know‘ underlinings.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you, the truth of these words and how they personally apply to your life, today.

I encourage you to journal your thoughts.

Q: What is the overall ‘Foundational Truth’ of these verses?

A. Our spiritual foundation of truth is a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus Christ is “…the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20b)

How incredible is this: The Apostle John was chosen by God, under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to write about His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

John composed one Gospel, three epistles, and The REVELATION of Jesus Christ.

Beginning with the Gospel of John:

John 1:1-5 NKJV, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness and did not comprehend it.” {The Amplified Bible reads, “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it].}

Throughout the Gospel of John, his words are focused on accomplishing one thing–Jesus Christ is our Foundational Truth.

Near the conclusion of his Gospel account, John writes:

John 20:30-31, NKJV, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you have life in His name.” (boldness mine)

In the first Epistle, the Apostle John writes:

1 John 1:1-5, NKJV. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us–that which we have seen and heard we declare to you that you may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”

Reading these words, we understand that John ‘knew’ what he was talking about; why he knew what he was talking about; and wants you to ‘know’ too, and says, just as ‘we know’, you too, can know. And he tells us why he wants us to know? underline these two words, ‘fellowship’ and ‘joy’.

Q: Where is that fellowship and joy found? with other believers, and “with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

King David said it this way:

Psalm 16:11, NKJV, “You will show me the path of life; In your presence is fullness of joy; At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Selah.

In John’s second epistle, he declares:

II John 9, NKJV, “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.”

And in John’s third epistle, he rejoices:

III John 3,4 NKJV, “For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”.

The essence of John’s written words are that ‘we may know‘ Him, who is Foundational Truth, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostle John’s last composition is: The REVELATION of Jesus Christ.

Q: What thoughts come to the forefront of your thinking regarding the last book of the Bible?

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ is the ‘capstone‘ of the Foundational Truth found in the Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, throughout the entirety of Scripture.

Throughout The REVELATION, the Lord Jesus Christ is worshipped,exalted, extolled, and declared worthy to be praised.

Therefore, not only is Jesus the cornerstone (Matthew 21:42, 1 Peter 2:6) of scripture; but He is also the capstone of scripture.

(See Got questions: What is the significance of a capstone in the Bible?)

“Theological Significance: In biblical theology, the capstone represents the culmination of God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ. As the capstone, Christ is the essential and final piece that completes the spiritual structure of the Church. His role as the capstone signifies His authority, preeminence, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. The imagery of the capstone also serves as a reminder of the rejection and subsequent exaltation of Christ. Though initially dismissed by the religious leaders, Jesus’ resurrection and ascension affirmed His position as the cornerstone of faith. Believers are called to build their lives upon this foundation, ensuring their spiritual edifice is aligned with the truth and grace found in Christ.”

“Practical Application: “For Christians, the concept of the capstone is to recognize and honor Jesus as the central figure in their faith journey. It encourages believers to rely on Him as their source of strength and stability in their spiritual lives. By acknowledging Christ as the capstone, Christians are reminded of the importance of aligning their lives with His teaching and example, ensuring their faith is built on a solid and enduring foundation.” (Topical Bible:biblehub.com, Capstone)

The entirety of John’s writing, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was to explain, exalt, and exemplify, the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

Pastor Jack Hayford, in his teaching of The REVELATION of Jesus Christ, encourages us to focus upon Jesus, the Lamb of God, and the worship of Him in heaven that permeates this last book of the Bible.

Yes, there is an abundance of eschological substance in the last book of the Bible regarding end times; but Pastor Hayford reminds his audience not to lose the primary focus of ‘Who is returning?’; ‘Why is He returning?’; ‘When He is returning?’; And what will be accomplished because He returns?

(See Revelation 1:7,8; Revelation 21:1-8, 22-27)

I submit to you, our understanding of the answers of these questions explain Christ as our ‘capstone’.

Quoting GotQuestions: “The capstone, like the cornerstone, is an important metaphor for Jesus and His prominence as Head of the Church and the kingdom of God.”

[Note: I recently read a statement by Pastor Mike Woodruff that said, if you want to understand what happens throughout the entirety of scripture, then you must clearly understand Genesis 1,2 and Revelation 21,22.]

What was originally created by God was desecrated by Adam’s disobedience; and Christ’s obedience at the cross destroyed the source of the desecratration by His death(See Romans 5:12-21).

The cross is the place chosen by God the Father to satisfy His wrath against sin.

The cross is the place where judgment and love collide taking away the sin of the world; the place where death died; and the place where Satan’s authority is disarmed.

Christ’s death, burial and resurrection declares His victory over the power of sin, death, and Satan’s authority; and His ascension signifies that His earthly work was completed; and He was restored to His original glory with His Father.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, was the promise of the Father validating that the ‘work of the cross’ was finished; and now the ‘way of the cross’ was governed by the Holy Spirit, according to the Word of God, in accordance with the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Head of the Body of Christ, fulfilling God, the Father’s plan of salvation until the end of the age.

Basking in the Foundational Truth that resonates in the Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle John concludes his first epistle with these words.

1 John 5:21, NKJV, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (emphasis mine)

In all of John’s writings, the word ‘idol’ is only used once, in this verse.

I find that remarkable; yet extremely profound.

Why?

Because an ‘idol’ is the absolute antithesis of everything that John has written about finding the absolute real truth in the Person, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, 5/15/2026, I read the following in Mike Woodruff’s, ‘The Friday Update’:

“A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting the truth; this has been exactly reversed.” G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6, NKJV.

Q: Do you believe that?

Looking forward to the next post, I offer this acronym for the word idol.

I. D. O. L. — (an) Idol Desecrates Our Life

The first post was entitled, Foundational Thoughts!

This post is entitled, Foundational Truth!

The next post will be entitled, Foundational Treason!

Yes, treason is a strong word, but it fits.

a brother in Christ, deo