Philippians 1:7, 17
To defend our glorious Gospel, contending earnestly for the Faith, is the bounden duty of every servant of Christ. In the midst of a pagan world and now a prisoner of Rome, Paul was “set for the defence of the Gospel.”
It is important to distinguish between “The Faith”, and faith. Faith is the act of believing while “The Faith” is what we believe. It refers to all the great doctrines and foundational truths as we find them in the Word of God. It is that great body of truth given by God which forms the historic Christian Faith of which the Christian has complete trust and confidence.
Many years ago, at a church congress in Plymouth, during the days of the British Empire, the Mayor of that city stated: “If we want to maintain England and the great Empire in the future we can only do so as we bring up our children in the Faith of our fathers.” The Mayor’s words held forth a far – reaching message for these current times. Today atheism is the way, even the mind-set of the great majority. The Faith is pulled down and ridiculed as something that belonged to an antiquated religious age. To the Christian however it is his meat and drink, the basis of all that he believes and lives for.
The Bible gives frequent mention to the Faith calling for diligence, care and awareness on the part of every believer. It is not an optional matter but rather a duty to defend and maintain our glorious Faith.
WE MUST BE ESTABLISHED IN THE FAITH, ”Rooted and built up in him and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, ”Colossians 2:7.
Under the threat of false teachers, Paul reminds the Colossians, to be “stablished” in the faith and rooted in the Word of God. The true Christian has his roots in the grand doctrines of the Faith and would therefore challenge anything that threatens the Gospel. Our precious King James Bible uses the term “stablished in the faith,” which refers to the process of being constantly established. A “stablished” believer is one who is spiritually advancing and sees his spiritual life as being above all other things. The wording of the text infers personal application. The words, “rooted and built up” calls for some effort to ever remain confirmed in the faith, 1 Corinthians 9:24-25.
WE MUST STAND FAST IN THE FAITH, ”Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong,” 1 Corinthians 16:13.
The Corinthian church had many irregularities. Some had been corrupted in the areas of virtue and godliness. The apostle’s command was to watch and stand fast in the faith. His concern was that they remain true to the word of God. They must stand fast or hold their ground in the faith of the Gospel. He said “quit you like men and be strong,” which means act like men, be firm and resolved and remain steadfast by sound judgement and firm resolution.
WE MUST CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel,” Colossians 1:23.
The New Testament constantly tells us that a Christian can never lose his salvation, a saved man is a man who is saved forever. To continue in the faith shows that we are truly the Lord’s and that our salvation is very real. It is a word that means to persist in and adhere to and abide by. We are grounded and settled on an impregnable foundation. If we read the word of God and delight ourselves in it and depend upon it there will be a firm a firm structure to our faith. There will always be that assurance of our salvation. We remain unmoved from the hope of the Gospel.
WE MUST BE SOUND IN THE FAITH, “… rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith,” Titus 1:13.
To reprove heresy is biblically correct. False teachers and those who listen to them must be reproved and rebuked “sharply” which means, decisively. The reason is given in the text, “that they may be, or (become) sound in the faith.” It means to be sure and certain of the truth which is revealed in Christ. To be sound in the faith is to remain in the one TRUE FAITH and to be certain in the things we have believed, not to be pulled or influenced away or to be tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine,” Ephesians 4:14.
WE MUST EARNESTLY CONTEND FOR THE FAITH, … earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,” Jude vs.3.
In the book of Jude vs.3, the church is called to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. Jude was referring to Christianity in its doctrines and life – giving salvation. He speaks of a vigorous defence and intense effort to defend Biblical Christianity. It was “once delivered,” Jude tells us. There is not a new Faith to come. A preacher once described The Faith as the mould that shapes us. It shapes the lives of all who come to believe, indeed societies and nations which stand by the timeless message and principles of the Bible. Its doctrines are not merely to learn for the sake of learning, but designed to change the whole life bringing us salvation through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Its holy principles and rules for individuals, societies and nations, when observed, have brought happiness, stability, wellbeing and peace. Whole nations have prospered and continue to prosper when the truths of this God given Faith are acknowledged and upheld.
Below is a group of headings which give a brief summary or outline of The Faith to indicate the magnificence of its truth. The scripture references are given for you to search and there are many others which could be added to each heading. The list is by no means exhaustive and only refers to some of the cardinal doctrines of the faith.
OUR HISTORIC FAITH
GOD IN THE REALITY AND TRINITY OF HIS BEING, 1Timothy 4:10; 2 Corinthians 13:14.
CHRIST IN THE MAGNIFICENCE OF HIS PERSON, Isaiah 7:14; Hebrews 7:26; 1 Timothy 3:16.
SALVATION THROUGH CHRIST AND HIM ALONE, Acts 4:12; John 10:10; John 3:16; John 14:6.
THE ATONEMENT OF CHRIST IN THE BLOOD OF HIS SACRIFICE, Romans 5:10-11.
CHRIST IN THE MIGHT OF HIS RESURRECTION, Ephesians 1:19-20; 1 Corinthians 15:20-25.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BLESSING OF HIS SANCTIFICATION, 1 Peter 1:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:13
THE DEVOTION OF CHRIST IN THE WORK OF HIS MINISTRY, Acts 10:38.
THE WORD OF GOD IN THE PRINCIPLES OF IT’S TRUTH, Psalm 119:142,151; John 17:17
THE RETURN OF CHRIST IN THE GLORY OF HIS POWER, 2 Peter 1:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.
THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL AND ETERNITY TO COME, Psalm 90:2; John 5:24; Ezekiel 18:4; Matthew 10:28; Ecclesiastes 12:7.
THE BEAUTY OF THE FAITH ONCE BELIEVED
When it comes to religion the strangest things are desired and deemed beautiful. We will come across incense and the jingling of bells (smells and bells as we used to call them). There will be pomp and ceremony, statues and icons, candles and beads, minister’s robes, and high and lofty services. We can go to some grand and glorious cathedral where the architecture and richness astounds and captivates but the Faith once delivered knows no such things.
The Faith has its beauty in the unrivalled system of its truth. When believed it brings about a great change in the hearts of men and women. It moulds us and shapes us in godliness and righteousness. The old life of self, sin and pride fades away and a new life comes in. It is a life which knows the Lord and understands His plans and purposes and the eternal blessings to which he has called us. The Faith is the most precious thing we can possess.
To have it “alive” in our hearts is the greatest of all treasures. To recognise and to acknowledge the one true living God for who He truly is, is of boundless worth. To be acquainted with His attributes and to know the nature of His being, His character and person, is more than all we need. To understand the plan of salvation, and God’s free gift of eternal life for all who repent of sin and receive Christ as their Saviour, is to have the greatest of all knowledge. All this and more are to be discovered in this most glorious Faith. What floods of light and volumes of truth we are missing if we have not yet encountered it. It is all at our finger tips.
John Tonks (May 2023)
