Why I Am A Member Of The church Of Christ

Lesson # 3

The Pattern Of Faith

Introduction

            In our study we have noticed that Christianity is ordered after a pattern & is distinctive in its identity. In this lesson we want to pursue this thought of an identifiable pattern as it relates to the faith. We will concentrate on two aspects of the faith – 1st that the faith is singular & 2nd that the faith is distinctive.

 

1. The singular nature of the church

            a. Notice that way the church is described - singular

                        1) Eph.3:10,11 – through the church

                        2) Mt.16:18 – build My church

                        3) Acts 8:1-3 – against the church

                        4) Eph.1:22,23 – head over the church

            b. Are times church is plural – referring to several congregations

                        1) Rom.16:16 – all churches send greetings

                        2) 1 Cor.14:34 – as in all the churches

            c. Yet nature is singular – one church, one body – Eph.4:4

 

2. The singular nature of the faith

            a. The faith – a body of truth that is taught that produces faith in Jesus

            b. The faith can be obeyed – Acts 6:7

                        1) Great company of priests obeyed the faith

                        2) The faith = what was taught & what was believed

            c. The faith can be continued in – Acts 14:22

                        1) Note “the faith”, not just any faith

                        2) If any faith good enough – how know which faith to continue in?

            d. The faith is what was preached – Gal.1:23

                        1) What Paul taught he referred to as “the faith”

                        2) He did not feel that one faith was as good as another - Gal.1:7-9

            e. Christians exhorted to strive for “the faith of the gospel” – Phil.1:27

                        1) If any faith good enough – how know what strive for?

                        2) What believed had to be distinctive

            f. Christians exhorted to contend for the faith – Jude 3

                        1) The faith was once for all delivered – not many

                        2) How contend for unless can identify?

            g. Christians can abandon the faith – 1 Tim.4:1

                        1) Means the faith is distinctive & identifiable

                        2) 1 Tim.5:8 – the faith can be denied

                        3) The faith requires certain behavior; when fail do this we deny the faith

            h. 1 Tim.6:19,20 – some wandered from the faith

 

3. Eph.4:1-13

            a. One faith – not many

            b. Gave leaders so be rooted in the faith – understand alike & unite around

2

4. Christianity is ordered after one body of truth

            a. Jn.8:31,32 – know truth & made free

                        1) Refers to the word (teachings of Christ)

                        2) Unless one remains in Christ’s word – not know or follow truth

            b. Jn.12:48 – word I spoke judge you

                        1) Standard of judgment – words (teachings) of Jesus

                        2) Not just following any teachings is OK

            c. 1 Pet.1:22 – purified soul in obeying truth

                        1) Obedience to a certain truth purifies (not just any teaching)

                        2) We must distinguish God’s truth from all other truth

            d. Rom.6:17,18 – obeyed from heart teaching delivered

                        1) Obedience to truth freed them

                        2) Was a certain form (identifiable mold) of truth

                        3) Changed from slaves of sin to slaves of righteousness by obeying a

certain body of truth

 

5. The truth by which Christians walk is the word of God

            a. Gal.5:7 – were running well – what hindered you?

            b. Jn.17:17 – God’s word is truth

            c. God’s word like seed reproduces after it’s kind

                        1) Seed brings forth after it’s kind – cotton; okra; watermelon etc.

                        2) When God’s word sown in the heart it produces Christians

                        3) His word produces the same kind of Christian today as in 1st century

            d. Rom.6:17,18 – not till obey form of teaching that one is freed from sin

                        1) See this in Acts over & over – Pentecost; Samaritans; Eunuch; Paul;

Cornelius; Lydia; Jailor; Corinthians

                        2) All heard same message & responded to same truth

 

6. What truth must be taught to be obedient to the faith?

            a. The truth about Jesus

                        1) Who He is – God’s Son; The Messiah; God in the flesh; Lord of all

                        2) What He accomplished – paid penalty for sin; satisfied God’s justice

                        3) His position – savior; Lord; King; Judge

            b. How we must respond to these truths

                        1) Believe – accept wholeheartedly

                        2) Respond in repentance; confession & baptism

                        3) Wholehearted obedience in everyday life