“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know
ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be
reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5
“The Faith” is the
truths taught by Christ and His apostles. It is the fundamental truths of
Christianity which cannot and should not be changed or altered. This is
different from the adulterated gospel that is being peddled around today. It is
important for us to be aware that just like Jude the brother of James wrote
(Jude 1:4), a lot of heresies and errors are creeping into the Church of Christ
with the aim of distorting the truth of the gospel.
This distortion of
the truth of the gospel comes from two sources. First, from agents of the devil
who are simply wolves in sheep’s clothing. Secondly, from ignorant men who are
not well built or matured in the word of truth but are leading the flocks of
Christ. This is why Apostle Paul spoke against giving spiritual leadership
position to novice and people who are not well grounded in the word of truth (1
Timothy 3:6).
As Christ’s representatives,
we should be aware that it is our sole responsibility to defend the faith. We
shouldn’t relegate that responsibility to any man or generations after us. If
we think “it doesn’t matter”, we should remember that we have God to give accounts
to. Secondly, we stand the chance of handing over a distorted gospel to the coming
generation.
We must first of all
ensure that we are holding on to the faith, then can we be able to propagate
and defend the faith. And we are to defend the faith with all the strength and
resources at our disposal through the act of proclamation and by our good
example. We should not be coward to think that we are not qualified to do that.
TWO FACTS ABOUT THE FAITH ACCORDING TO JUDE 1:3
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you
of the common salvation, it was
needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once
delivered unto the saints.” Jude 1:3.
1.
IT IS A COMMON SALVATION
The salvation we have in Christ is a common salvation,
implying that the salvation that is found in Jesus Christ is the same
irrespective of persons, personality, tribe, colour, denomination, age, status,
spiritual gift or generational gap. This is reiterated by some apostles like
Peter and Paul (2 Peter 1:1, Titus 1:4).
We all share the same salvation. Nobody’s salvation is
more superior or less. We have the same salvation that the Apostles had. The
difference between believers is what we make out of the Salvation.
No man has the monopoly of faith that we share in
Christ Jesus. Although, in different generations, God raises men who He made
custodian of the faith but not the owners of the faith.
There can be difference in administration and in the
operation of the gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-6), but when it
comes to the foundational doctrine of Christ, it should be the same. Our faith
is the same!
2. IT WAS DELIVERED ONCE AND FOR ALL
The faith and fundamental
doctrines we have received were delivered to us once and for all: so as not to
be changed,
altered, improved-on or modified. No new rule of faith is ever to be
expected or accepted. The faith and doctrine that was passed from the Apostles
are to remain unvaried forever. This is why Apostle Paul wrote by the Holy
Spirit that, “But God's truth stands firm
like a great rock, and nothing can shake it. 2 Timothy 2:19a TLB.
The doctrine of a progressive revelation after the
apostles is not found in the New Testament (Revelation 22:18). It should be discarded.
When you accept such, you open yourself to sliding away from the faith into
error.
Anything different from what the Apostles practiced
after the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ should be discarded. Our
faith (The Faith) is build and should be built upon the foundation of the
Apostles and Prophets with our Lord Jesus Christ’s teachings and instructions
as the bearing.
And are built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; Ephesians 2:20.
It is the duty of
every Christian at all times and in all generations, but most especially in
times like this were errors and heresies is on the increase, to contend
earnestly for that pure and uncorrupted faith which is contained in the new
covenant.
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