Matters of Faith
In our last study we look at the idea of one becoming weak in the faith because they failed to study more deeply what God had revealed. It is necessary then for us to consider the difference between a matter of judgment and matters of faith. If a Jewish Christian thought that Gentiles should observe the law of Moses, he was wrong. However, if he did not press the matter on the Gentiles, his soul could certainly be saved. When Jerusalem fell in A.D. 70, these matters were forever settled in as much as the whole Jewish system came to an abrupt end.
Each generation of Christians must involve themselves in the growth of their faith. There will be issues that arise that require us to study and make application of what we have learned. The key in such issues is that we do not cross the line and make binding on others that which we have no authority from God to do. The language in Acts 15:1 was that the Gentiles could not be saved unless they complied with the law of Moses regarding circumcision. It was only certain Jewish Christians who were pressing the point. Their efforts, however, were affecting at that time the whole of the Gentile world who had come to faith in Christ.
Paul, in teaching the Gentiles, had to remind them that they trusted in Christ, and not Moses, when they heard the truth, the gospel of their salvation (Ephesians 1:13). Likewise, he would tell the brethren that we are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26). When the Gentile obeyed the gospel he became Abraham’s seed and heir according to the promise made to Abraham (Galatians 3:29). Paul spoke about who was a Jew today. It is the one who is a Jew inwardly who has been circumcised in his heart and not his body (Romans 2:28,29).
What this does is raises questions about our life in Christ. Our faith is to grow. That faith comes from the Word of God. Each individual Christian must spend time investigating the truth to know if what he has been taught is right or not (Acts 17:11). Our efforts with those of the religious world is to get them to search the Scriptures, daily to verify what they have been taught. If in their search they find they have not done what God said, then we can teach them the way of the Lord. When Jesus reveals that He is the way, then such a revelation implies both direction and restraint, direction in the sense of righteousness and restraint in the sense of staying in bounds of God’s Word.
Those who would preach another gospel will face the condemnation of God (Galatians 1:8,9) . If there is another gospel then there must be a true gospel. The truths that make up the true gospel from God are matters that we must all agree on. Going back to the example of the Gentiles as recorded in Galatians 3. If anyone taught that the Gentile was not a Christian on what basis would he make such a claim? Baptism is for remission of sins. Those Gentiles who were baptized into Christ put on Christ (Galatians 3:27). If someone tried to change that meaning, they would in effect be preaching another gospel.
There are those today who have been drinking too long from denominational wells who are trying to convince everyone that baptism is really not for removing of sins. Max Lucado’s teaching of the sinners’ prayer over his radio program (December 1996) is a prime example of tampering with what God has revealed. There is no prayer that can fall from the lips of humanity that will cause one to become a Christian. One becomes a Christian by being baptized into the death of Christ for the remission of sins (Romans 6:3,4; Acts 2:38). Matters that deal with salvation, whether in obedience to the primary facts of the gospel or in public worship, those who change God’s truth will face condemnation from God. Yes, there are issues that all Christians must investigate, study and apply to their daily growth in faith. Those matters that do not deal with salvation are judgment matters that can be studied and taught out of.
When an individual tries to make mechanical instruments of music in public worship, matters of judgment, he fails God and himself. It is a matter of faith. One must worship God in spirit and in truth. We have no right to tamper with matters of faith. Those things God has spoken about and settled for all those of good and honest hearts. In all other things let us have a good attitude as the weak brother studies more and more. None of us go to heaven alone. Let us work together, strong and weak to build faith.