Colossians 2:5–8 (KJV)
For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
Paul was writing to the Colossians, saying that although he was absent from them physically, he was present with them in spirit. Even while he was absent, he had a clear expectation of them.
He was rejoicing to see their good order and the steadfastness of their faith in Christ. He longed to see them established, disciplined, and firmly grounded in their faith.
Colossians 2:6–7 (KJV)
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
Paul wanted to be able to rejoice when he saw their disciplined commitment to Christ.
He instructed them that, just as they had received Christ Jesus the Lord, they should also walk in Him. They were to be rooted in Him, built up in Him, and established in the faith, just as they had been taught.
And not only were they to be established in the faith, they were to be abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Now, look at verse 8.
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
In this verse, Paul shows us that there are different foundations upon which a person’s faith can be built.
He warns us that if we build on the wrong foundation, we will not produce the desired outcome, which is steadfastness of faith.
Therefore, as a believer, your responsibility is to discern the foundation upon which your faith is being built.
Your Faith Is Standing on Something
1 Corinthians 2:1–5 (KJV)
Paul said that when he came to the people, he did not come with excellence of speech or human wisdom.
Take note of this: someone can come with eloquence, intelligence, and high-sounding words, yet still be building on the wrong foundation.
Paul said, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”
The goal was clear: their faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Your faith will always be standing on something. The question is: What is your faith standing on?
The Foundation Determines the Structure
«1 Corinthians 3:10–11 (KJV)
“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”»
Every preacher, every ministry, and every church is built upon a foundation.
And that foundation determines what flows out of that ministry. No one will consistently sound different from their foundation.
Paul was not leaving the people to guess. He showed them the real foundation. Jesus Christ is the foundation.
If you are genuinely built on Christ, there should be evidence of that foundation in the way you live, think, believe, and conduct yourself.
There should be discipline. There should be commitment. There should be spiritual stability.
Paul was speaking about two things: the foundation and the outcome.
You cannot consistently produce the right outcome if you are building on the wrong foundation. Your Work Will Be Tested
You have a responsibility before God to examine what you are receiving and to ensure that you are building correctly.
It is a sobering thought that someone could do ministry for thirty years, or even a hundred years, and yet their work could eventually be burned. The person may be saved, but they will suffer loss. This shows us something very important:
A bad work does not necessarily mean loss of salvation, but it can certainly result in loss of reward.
Therefore, we must pay attention to what we are building and, more importantly, what we are building upon. Beware of Itching Ears
2 Timothy 4:3–4 (KJV)
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
Sound doctrine is not always “sweet.” Sometimes, sound doctrine must be endured.
There are things God will teach you that may challenge your desires, confront your habits, correct your thinking, and demand a change in your life.
Many believers today have multiple pastors and teachers, each seemingly operating from a different foundation.
Even among those who claim Christ as their foundation, some are not truly grounded. They shift between grace and legalism depending on what suits the moment. One way to discern a foundation is to watch for consistency over time.
Do not judge an entire ministry based on one statement or one two-minute clip on the internet.
Watch the pattern. Watch the message. Watch the fruit. Watch the consistency.
If a preacher continually changes their message simply to manipulate people, collect money, or satisfy the desires of the audience, then something is wrong. Test the Spirits
1 John 4:1–4 (KJV)
The Bible does not tell us to believe every spirit. It tells us to test the spirits. This does not mean that we should become people who constantly attack preachers. I am not the judge of the preacher. Every preacher stands or falls before his own Master. But I have a responsibility to examine what is coming out of the preacher, because I am responsible for my own soul.
The true operating system of a genuine teacher must be the Spirit of Christ. Do Not Be Deceived
«Matthew 24:4–5 (KJV)
“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”»
Jesus Himself warned us about deception.
Therefore, simply saying, “Jesus is Lord,” or appearing to be Christ-centered, is not enough.
You must watch for the consistency of the truth.
Do not cancel a preacher based on one two-minute clip you saw on the internet. Follow the body of knowledge. Listen carefully. Study the Scriptures. Watch for stability. Examine the message over time.
Some False Foundations to Watch For
1. Human Philosophy
Be careful of preachers who use secular research, human philosophy, psychology, science, or even concepts such as the “laws of motion” as the primary basis for how a believer should operate.
These things may sometimes be useful as illustrations or points of reference. However, they must never replace the Word of God as the foundation of our faith.
The believer’s faith must ultimately be rooted in Christ and His Word.
2. Religious Legalism
Religious legalism can be extremely dangerous. It can make a preacher unstable—promoting liberty one moment and fear-based control the next.
Sometimes, Scripture is used to manipulate people, especially when it comes to offerings and giving. The message becomes:
“If you don’t give, God will punish you.” “If you don’t give this amount, something bad will happen.”
That is not how we should handle God’s people.
3. Worldly Values
Another dangerous foundation is the world’s definition of success.
When wealth, possessions, titles, cars, houses, and outward appearance become the measure of spiritual success, believers can begin to feel like failures simply because they are not rich. That kind of teaching can trigger greed, comparison, desperation, and unhealthy competition.
The world says, “You are valuable because of what you possess.” But Christ teaches us something different. Giving Without Manipulation
Malachi 3:8–10 (KJV)
Giving should never become a tool for manipulation. Your Worth Is Not in Your Possessions
1 Corinthians 15:19 (KJV) “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are all men most miserable.”»
And Jesus said:
Luke 12:15 (KJV)
“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”»
Your importance and self-worth should not come from material possessions. Your value is not determined by your bank account. Your significance is not determined by the car you drive.
Your identity is not determined by the clothes you wear, the house you live in, or the things you own. We are not men after the flesh. Our values are in Christ.
And because our foundation is Christ, we cannot allow ourselves to be pushed into doing things that contradict Him simply because somebody says it is the pathway to success.
Examine Your Foundation. The question this morning is not simply, “Do you believe in Jesus?” The deeper question is: What is your faith built upon? Is it built on Christ?
Is it built on the Word? Is it built on the power of God?
Or is it built on human wisdom, traditions, fear, legalism, worldly success, greed, or the opinions of men? Paul told the Colossians to be rooted, built up, and established in Christ. That is the goal.
Because when the foundation is right, the structure can stand.
When the foundation is Christ, your faith can remain steadfast even when circumstances change.
So, discern your foundation. Test what you hear. Study the Scriptures. Watch the fruit. Look for consistency.
Do not be carried away by eloquence, popularity, miracles, wealth, titles, or emotional preaching. And above everything else, make sure that your faith is standing where Paul said it should stand: Not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
And remember:
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
— 1 Corinthians 3:11 (KJV) Jesus Christ is the foundation.
Build on Him. Remain rooted in Him. Be established in Him. And let everything you believe, teach, and live flow from Him.