Teaching the Faith

MEMORY SELECTION: “In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned.” —Titus 2:7-8

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: I Thessalonians 1:1-5; Titus 1:1-4; 2:11-15

ACCORDING to the 1979 Reader’s Digest Almanac and Year Book, there are 135 different religious denominations in the United States. Each one of these professes to be teaching the faith. And yet even a superficial comparison reveals very great differences in doctrines, even though doctrines are the foundation of faith. The dictionary defines doctrine: “A principle or position, or the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief.” We might wonder how there could be such a wide difference in basic doctrine when ostensibly the basis for all Christian belief has but the one source, the Bible. Much of the difficulty has resulted from a private interpretation, which becomes a source of pride and prejudice that spreads to others and eventually isolates them from other reasoned viewpoints.

God, in his dealings with the nation of Israel, remonstrated with them because they fell into the same pitfall. They began to adopt ideas and concepts of their neighbors, which included, in many instances, idolatry. In Isaiah 29:13 we read: “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.”—Isa. 28:9-11; Matt. 15:8,9; Rom. 10:2,3

The Apostle Jude realized that these problems were still present among the Jews of his day, and it was his desire to identify The Faith, the true faith, when he said in verse 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.” This means that if we would really know the precepts of God we should put aside our prejudices and pride and go to the only true source of knowledge and wisdom, the Bible.

The Faith involves first knowing something of God, who is the Author of all things. Since he is a great spirit being, we cannot literally see him or converse with him, but we are permitted to discern his character by the things the Bible reveals about him. His own words in this connection are beautiful: “Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”—Jer. 9:23,24

As we look to the Bible to learn something of the great Creator, we find there is one golden thread that is woven throughout, from Genesis to Revelation, and that is the promise of God to send a Redeemer, who would willingly and without coercion give his perfect life for the forfeited life of Adam, who also was perfect before he sinned. This provided a ransom for Adam and all who were condemned in him. The Apostle Paul in Romans 5:12 states, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin: and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Then in verse 18 we read that by the righteousness of Jesus adamic condemnation will be lifted from the human race in due time. (I Tim. 2:3-6) This act of lovingkindness is expressed by Jesus in John 3:16,17.

Then, upon further investigation of the Bible, we find how God will exercise judgment and righteousness in the earth. This we find to be through his kingdom. The promises concerning the kingdom are also a golden thread throughout the entire Bible. It is during the kingdom that God will judge righteously among the people and will write his law in their hearts.—Ps. 98:9; Isa. 26:9; Isa. 2:4; I Chron. 16:31-34

For a complete study on this subject, we invite you to read “The Creator’s Grand Design.”

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