by J. K. Gossett [Note: This is a reprint from J.K. Gossett's book The Gospel in Newsprint]
In previous articles consideration has been given to the one body, one Spirit, one hope, and one Lord. Today our focus is upon the one faith. This one faith is in the context of six other subjects, each one being preceded and defined by the word one. The full text states: “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one FAITH, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:4-6). These seven ones combined are characteristics of true Christianity and of no other religion.
CONTEND FOR THE FAITH
Jude wrote, “Beloved, while I was giving diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3 ASV). The faith in this passage is the gospel. All that men are to believe and obey is found therein.
The word faith is in some Scriptures a reference to personal faith. Here, however, in Ephesians 4:5 and Jude 3, “the faith” is put objectively for that deposit of divine truth, called the gospel. This faith is to be preached. Paul preached “the faith” which once he destroyed (Galatians 1:23).
Not only is “the faith” to be preached, it is to be obeyed. In the early days of the church the following things occurred: “And the word of God increased: and the number of the disciples multiplies in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were OBEDIENT TO THE FAITH” (Acts 6:7).
“This faith has once for all (hapax) not simply formerly as the King James Version implies, but for all the time been delivered for all time; it is a permanent deposit, it will never be superceded, amended, or modified. As it now stands it is a perfect, adequate, complete, and inviolable deposit of truth, providing the means with which to confute the gainsayer, and resist the advocate of false doctrine. The deposit of truth was infallibly delivered through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 1:11; 2 Peter 1:21), and no part of it is superfluous or unnecessary” (Woods, Jude 3).
No comments:
Post a Comment