First Things First: Establishing the Right Foundation
Most people are familiar with the saying, “first things first.” The principle is simple: whenever we undertake an important task, we should begin by establishing the proper foundation.
A builder constructing a home does not begin with the roof. Before the walls, windows, and roof can be added, the builder must establish strong footings and a solid foundation upon which the entire structure can rest.
The same principle applies to education and intellectual study. Every field of knowledge has foundational truths upon which more advanced understanding is built.
Biology, for example, begins with an understanding of life at the cellular level. Chemistry builds upon foundational concepts involving atoms, protons, neutrons, electrons, and the elements of the periodic table.
But what about Christian theology?
What should serve as the proper foundation for understanding the Bible, Christian doctrine, and the purposes of God?
This question has produced considerable disagreement throughout the history of Christianity. While Christians generally agree that humanity is sinful and in need of redemption through Jesus Christ, there has often been significant disagreement concerning which biblical truths should receive primary emphasis.
The result has been a complicated theological landscape containing numerous traditions, denominations, interpretations, and doctrinal systems.
So how can we determine the proper foundation for Christian theology?
Perhaps we should begin with the Person Christians claim to follow above all others: Jesus Christ Himself.
Jesus Identified the “Weightier Matters of the Law”
One of the most significant passages for establishing a biblical theological foundation is found in Matthew 23:23.
Jesus confronted the scribes and Pharisees and said:
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
This statement deserves careful consideration.
Jesus referred to certain matters within Scripture as “the weightier matters of the law.” In doing so, He indicated that while all of God’s Word is important, some matters carry greater weight and significance than others.
Jesus specifically identified three:
- Judgment
- Mercy
- Faith
If we take Christ’s words seriously, these subjects deserve particular attention when establishing a framework for understanding Christian theology.
Among these three, judgment deserves special consideration because Jesus mentions it first.
The biblical text itself gives us reason to pay attention to the order in which important concepts are presented. Paul provides an interesting example when he writes:
“And now abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
— 1 Corinthians 13:13
Paul explicitly identifies love as the greatest of the three. Likewise, when Jesus identifies judgment, mercy, and faith as the “weightier matters,” His statement provides an important starting point for examining the biblical foundation of theology.
Why Judgment Matters to Christian Theology
If “first things first” is applied to the study of Christian theology, we should begin by examining what the Bible teaches about judgment.
The importance of judgment becomes particularly apparent when we consider the entire biblical story.
Scripture describes a final judgment at the conclusion of human history. Revelation 20:11–15 describes the Great White Throne Judgment, while Hebrews 9:27 states:
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
The biblical narrative therefore points toward a future moment when humanity will stand before God.
This raises an enormously important question:
On what basis will God judge mankind?
Understanding the answer to that question may provide an important key to understanding God’s purpose for humanity and, consequently, the foundation of Christian theology itself.
How Should We Understand Biblical Judgment?
Consider a simple example from everyday life.
A billfold can perform several functions. Its primary purpose is to hold things such as money, identification, and credit cards. Yet someone might also use a billfold as a paperweight or to prop open a door.
When the owner evaluates the billfold, however, he is unlikely to judge it primarily by how well it held open a door.
He will judge it according to the purpose for which the billfold was created.
How well did it perform its intended function?
This illustrates a broader principle: things are naturally evaluated according to the purpose for which they were designed.
If that principle is applied to humanity, an important theological question emerges:
What purpose did God have in creating man?
If God created humanity with a specific purpose, then understanding that purpose becomes extremely important when considering biblical judgment.
In other words, if God ultimately judges humanity, it is reasonable to ask whether that judgment is connected in some way to the purpose for which humanity was created.
This brings us back to the principle of “first things first.”
Before we can fully understand biblical judgment, we must seek to understand God’s purpose for mankind.
And before we can establish a comprehensive framework for Christian theology, we must consider what Scripture says about that purpose.
The Ultimate Purpose of Man: To Please or Glorify God?
One of the most fundamental questions in Christian theology is:
Why did God create mankind?
What is humanity’s ultimate purpose?
Two answers are frequently presented within Christian theological thought.
One is that mankind was created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
The Westminster Shorter Catechism famously expresses this idea by stating that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
Another commonly expressed understanding is that mankind’s ultimate purpose is to please God.
Both concepts have significant biblical and theological support, and determining precisely how they relate to one another is an important task.
If the purpose of humanity is connected to God’s eventual judgment of humanity, then discovering the biblical answer becomes more than an academic exercise.
It becomes foundational.
Why the Purpose of Man Is Foundational to Christian Theology
If judgment is one of the “weightier matters of the law” identified by Jesus, then understanding the nature and basis of God’s judgment should be central to Christian theological study.
And if God’s judgment is connected to the purpose for which humanity was created, then discovering that purpose becomes equally important.
This leads us toward a foundational question:
What does the Bible reveal about God’s purpose for creating man?
Rather than beginning with the theological systems of later thinkers, perhaps the better approach is to begin with Scripture itself and examine this question from multiple biblical perspectives.
The goal is not simply to develop another theological theory.
The goal is to determine, as carefully as possible, what the Word of God actually teaches.
Seven Biblical Approaches to Discovering Man’s Purpose
To answer the question of humanity’s ultimate purpose, we can examine Scripture from seven different angles.
Each approach can help us understand the relationship between:
- God’s creation of mankind
- Humanity’s purpose
- Biblical judgment
- God’s expectations for human beings
- The teachings of Jesus Christ
- Salvation and redemption
- The ultimate destiny of humanity
By examining these subjects together, we can begin constructing a theological framework from the foundation upward rather than starting with secondary theological opinions and attempting to work backward.
The central question is therefore not merely “What do theologians say?”
The more fundamental question is:
“What does God say about why He created us?”
That is where the principle of “first things first” becomes essential.
If we want to understand Christian theology correctly, we must begin with the proper foundation.
And if Jesus identified judgment, mercy, and faith as the “weightier matters of the law,” then understanding judgment—and the divine purpose behind humanity’s creation—may provide an essential starting point for discovering that foundation.
The Search for a Biblical Foundation
Christian theology encompasses an enormous range of subjects, doctrines, traditions, and interpretations. Yet beneath all of them lies a more fundamental question:
What is God’s purpose for mankind?
Answering that question may help us better understand biblical judgment, the teachings of Jesus, the nature of salvation, and ultimately what it means to live according to God’s will.
The journey toward understanding Christian theology should therefore begin where all good foundations begin:
with the first things first.
The next step is to examine the biblical evidence from seven different perspectives to determine whether Scripture provides a clear answer concerning man’s ultimate purpose and his relationship to God.
