LESSON 13
How Many Faiths Are Mentioned
In The New Testament?
Only One Faith Is Mentioned And Accepted
One of the things that we hear almost daily is that there are
many faiths. In fact, should you ask most religious people if they believe in
“many faiths” they would answer, “Yes!” When people want to know about your
religious beliefs, they ask, “Of what faith are you?” Man has invented many
faiths, but the Bible speaks of only one.
To
the Ephesian Christians, Paul wrote: “There is one body and one Spirit, just
as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism”
(Ephesians 4:4-5). There are those who would be upset if anyone suggested more
than ONE LORD, but they are not disturbed to hear about more than ONE
FAITH! However, the same Holy
Spirit who guided the writing of one Lord guided the writing of one faith!
Not
only does Paul declare that there is only ONE FAITH, but he called upon
Christians to strive together for it.
“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that
whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you
stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the
gospel,” (Philippians 1:27). The concept of many faiths came many centuries
after Paul lived and wrote his letters.
When
Paul and other workers planted congregations in the known world, they often
returned and strengthened them. Luke, the historian of the spread of the gospel
wrote: “So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in
number daily” (Acts 16:5). These workers strengthened new Christians in the faith
and not in many
faiths. Why? Because even the
apostles obeyed the one faith. To the Roman Christians, Paul wrote, “Through
Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations
for His name,” (Romans 1:5). What faith was this? It was the ONE FAITH
mentioned by Paul (Ephesians 1:5). There is not a single Scripture that says
that God accepts the idea of MANY faiths!
After
Paul had almost finished his life and great ministry on earth, he wrote in his
final words: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have
kept the
faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). Paul did not know about many faiths, as they
exist today. In fact, when he saw such forming in the church at Corinth, he
told them: “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among
you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same
judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). Shouldn’t we strive for this “one faith”
also?
Our
goal must be to please God, and when we find something that is different from
His will, we must change!
This One Faith Was Once For All Given.
There Have Not Been Other Faiths Given
Over the years, there
have been those who have become dissatisfied with the “one faith” of the New
Testament, and have invented others. However, when one studies the “one faith”
of the New Testament, that is it, and there will never be another one given.
This led Jude to write in his little book: “Beloved, while I was very
diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary
to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which
was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3). God did not deliver
his will over many centuries, but Jude says that the faith was once for all
delivered.
There
are those today who claim that they have received latter day revelations.
However, if this were so, this would make this statement made by Jude false.
John wrote, “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came
through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). He did not say that it would come, but that it came through Jesus Christ.
Before
leaving the earth, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would bring truth. “However,
when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not
speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will
tell you things to come” (John 16:13). Did the Holy Spirit come? Yes. Did He guide
them into all truth? Absolutely so! Did God give men in future generations the
right to add new faiths? Not at all, but chose ONLY to use the holy men of old
to be moved by the Holy Spirit. The apostle Peter wrote: “knowing this
first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for
prophecy never
came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved
by
the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21). Therefore, those who claim later revelations
are false.
When Other Faiths Are Added By Man, They
Pervert The Gospel Of Christ
And Bring A Curse
It is a serious thing
to change God’s will by adding other faiths. Those who do so, think they are
helping to make religion more attractive, but God does not see it this way. In
fact, He sounds powerful warnings in His word. Paul wrote: “But even if we,
or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have
preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8). How can anyone change
the word of God and not be afraid of His wrath?
One
of the things that bothered Paul was the fact that in latter times some would
leave “the
faith”
to
follow false doctrines. Therefore, he warned: “Now the Spirit expressly says
that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to
deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,” (1 Timothy 4:1). History reveals that
this happened, and continues to happen today.
Paul
also wrote of those who would not care for their families, and plainly told
them that such actions would cause them to deny the faith. “But if anyone
does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has
denied
the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8).
The
principle here seems to be one that would apply to all areas. God’s word has
assigned parents to provide for their children, and to fail to do so (Paul
says) would cause them to deny the faith. To make this even more serious, he
said that they were “worse than an unbeliever.”
What
about those who change other teachings of the word of God? Surely such is not
right in God’s sight. To illustrate, Paul also taught that to love money causes
one to stray from the faith. To Timothy he wrote: “For the love of money is
a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their
greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10).
How
are some of the ways that many stray from the faith today? It is done by
singling out one of the commandments for a sinner to be saved, and ignoring the
others. Those who teach “faith only” for salvation ignore repentance,
confessing Jesus to be the Christ, and baptism. In New Testament times, “the
faith” included all of these. Those who add things to worship instead of
worshiping in “spirit and truth” (John 4:24), have changed “the
faith.”
Those
who change the way a Christian is to live have changed “the faith.” Christians
of the first century were taught a special moral code to follow. Paul even
classifies evil practices as the works of the flesh. “Now the works of the
flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish
ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and
the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past,
that those
who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians
5:19-21).
Today,
many do not think of some of these things as being wrong. However, they must
ignore Paul’s last statement in the above reference: “those who
practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
But, someone may say,
“Times have changed, and almost everyone is doing these things.” They seem to forget that the majority
(according to Jesus) will be lost (Matthew 7:13,14).
Therefore,
we must accept the fact that the Bible approves only “the faith,” and we must
make every effort to follow it!
1. “One Lord, one
--------, one baptism” (Eph. 4:5)
(a) Heart (b) Love
(c) Faith
2. That which happened as
to number when churches were strengthened in the faith (Acts 16:5)
a) Decreased (b) Remained Steady
(c) Increased
3. That which some had
done from the faith because they loved money (1 Tim. 6:10)
a) Quit (b) Strayed (c)
Fallen
4. One from heaven who
cannot preach any other gospel (Gal. 1:8)
a) Messenger (b) Cherub (c)
Angel
5. Other than grace, what
came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17)
a) Truth (b) Peace (c)
Joy
6. How did Jude command
his readers to contend for the faith? (Jude 1:3)
a) Daily (b) When Attacked
(c) Earnestly
7. That which must be
done together for the faith of the gospel (Phil. 1:27)
a) Hoping (b) Striving
(c) Longing
8. That which was done to
the faith among all nations? (Rom. 1:5)
a) Obeyed It (b) Refused It
(c) Shared It
9. One who is associated
with truth as to guidance (John 16:13)
a) A Prophet (b) A Preacher
(c) The Spirit
10. Something Paul did not
want to find among Christians at Corinth (1 Cor. 1:10)
a) Mistakes (b) Divisions
(c) Bad Feelings
11. Something of God that
will not be inherited by those who practice fleshly things (Gal. 5:19-21)
a) Earthly Favor (b) The Kingdom (c) Protection
12. That which some would
do in latter times toward the faith (1 Tim. 4:1)
a) Accept It (b) Mock It (c)
Depart From It
Once You Have
Completed This Lesson, Go To Last Page For Grading Key. For Your Score, Take
From 100, 8 Points For Each One Missed.
Score for
Lesson 13 =
SHARING GOD’S TRUTH
LESSON 14
What will Happen When Jesus Returns?
There Will Be The Resurrection Of The Dead
There are millions who say that they do not believe in life after
death. These are joined by other millions who say that they believe in life
after death, but then they live as though they don’t. The Bible declares in
vivid and forceful language that Jesus will return in the clouds, and that
there will be a resurrection of all the dead. Jesus, God’s Son, taught and
foretold what would happen sometime in the future.
“Do
not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves
will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the
resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of
condemnation” (John 5:28-29).
Did
you notice in this Scripture that Jesus said “all who are in the graves will
hear His voice and come forth?” This statement includes you and me! (If we
have died). We will be among those who will be resurrected to life or
resurrected to condemnation.
Jesus
taught His good friend Martha about the reality of the resurrection. “Jesus
said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to Him, ‘I know that
he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I
am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he
shall live’ ” (John 11:23-25).
How
could anyone read this statement and say there will not be a resurrection? To
do so, is to deny the teaching of God’s Son.
Paul
also taught (as he was guided by the Holy Spirit) that the dead will be raised.
To the Christians at Thessalonica, he wrote these words: “But I do not want
you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you
sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we
say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the
coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep” (1
Thessalonians 4:13-15).
Therefore,
whether already dead or still alive when Jesus returns, all must experience the
return of Jesus and the powerful resurrection.
Burned And Consumed
There
are those who teach that when the Lord returns, that all will be given a second
chance. However, this is not the teaching of God’s word. When Jesus returns to
bring forth the resurrection, this old earth and all in it will be destroyed.
The apostle Peter describes this in his second letter:
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night,
in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will
melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in
it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be
dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and
godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of
which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt
with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new
heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:7,10-13).
God
did not intend for the earth to stand forever. After sin was introduced, He
guided the Psalmist to write: “Of old You laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will
endure; yes, they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You
will change them, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your
years will have no end” (Psalms 102:25-27).
Even
though the earth will be burned and consumed, God is forever. Therefore, those
who are right with God will be raised to eternal life—to a place that will last
forever. Jesus came to earth to give His life so that those who will obey Him
and live for Him will be saved. Therefore, because of Him, all who choose to do
so can have the gift of eternal life. In Paul’s words: “For the wages of sin
is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
All Will Personally Face Christ
In Judgment
Please
note further that Paul believed and taught that both the just and the unjust would be raised, and
that all would face Christ in judgment. When giving his defense before Felix, a
Roman ruler, he said, “I have hope in God, which they themselves also
accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the
just and the unjust” (Acts 24:15). Paul had spent his
life (after conversion) telling others of this hope. Paul also believed in the
reality of the Judgment Day. To the Christians at Corinth, he reminded them: “For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may
receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether
good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). You can note that
Paul did not say, “We may” or “It is possible,” but rather “We must all
appear.” There was absolutely no doubt with Paul, and must NEVER be any doubt
with us!
The
author of the book of Hebrews (probably Paul) wrote, “And as it is appointed
for men to die once, but after this the judgment, (Hebrews 9:27). Most all people
accept the fact that sooner or later we must ALL keep our appointment with
death. However, many of these reject the reality of an appointment for the Day
of Judgment.
Paul
also wanted the Christians at Rome to know that they would all face the
judgment seat of Christ. “But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you
show contempt for your brother? For we shall all
stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Romans 14:10). Again, there was no
doubt with Paul!
The Saved Will Be Separated
From The Lost
Once
the fact of the Judgment Day is established, the natural question that follows
is, “What will take place at the Judgment?” Jesus chose to reveal the actual picture of that important
day. Please hear His words: ”When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all
the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the
nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from
another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set
the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will
say to those on His right hand, `Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:’“ (Matthew 25:31-34).
What
will happen to those on His left? He tells us in verse 46: “And these will
go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life”
(Matthew 25:46).
Therefore,
only the saved will receive His blessing and glory. “When Christ who is our
life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4). These had obeyed the
saving gospel of Christ, and were awaiting eternal life. What about those who
have NOT obeyed the gospel? Paul answers this question: “and to give you who
are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His
mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know
God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8).
Jesus
has made it possible for all who will, to obey Him and be saved. However, the
majority will choose the broad way to destruction (Matthew 7:13,14). Thus, we choose the
side on which we will be placed at the Judgment.
When
the Lord returns, eternity will begin, and all will spend eternity either lost or saved. First of all, let us
consider what Jesus said about the lost. “So it will be at the end of the
age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and
cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of
teeth” (Matthew 13:49-50). Surely, no one wants to experience this.
Then
Paul describes the hope of Christians when the Lord returns: “For we know
that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a
building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1). What a pleasant thought to spend eternity
with God! This leads us to consider the place that is being prepared for those
who love and obey Jesus.
The Saved Will Spend Eternity
To
the lost, there awaits eternal death, but to the saved, eternal life. John wrote:
“And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life” (1 John
2:25). Jesus came to earth to pay the price of salvation by giving His
blood. Then He returned to His Father to prepare a place for the saved. Listen
to the promises He made to His disciples: “Let not your heart be troubled;
you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions;
if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare
a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again
and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be
also” (John 14:1-3).
Can
you think of anything more beautiful than to spend eternity in mansions with
the Lord? Even those who have already departed this life in death will be
received by Him. Some must have been fearful t hat the Lord might not find them
after their death, but Paul reassures them with these words: “For the Lord
Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel,
and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in
Christ will rise first. Then we who are
alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall
always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
You
can be assured that when you obey the Gospel, God’s power to save (Romans
1:16), that your name will be written in the Book of Life. And those
whose names are written in the Book of life will be saved. However, those whose
names are not found in it, will suffer eternal punishment. We close this series
of sharing God’s truth with what the apostle John saw in a special revelation
from God.
“And
I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened.
And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were
judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the
dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of
fire” (Revelation 20:12-15).
Are YOU ready for that DAY to come?
TRUE
OR FALSE: (Circle “T” for true; “F” for false)
T F 1. The Bible declares
that Jesus will return in the clouds.
T F 2. When Jesus returns,
only the saved will rise from the dead.
T F 3. Jesus said that the
angels are the resurrection and the life.
T F 4. Those who are alive
on the earth when Jesus comes will precede
those
who are asleep.
T F 5. The early Christians
looked for a new heaven and a new earth.
T F 6. God’s greatest gift
is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
T F 7. Both the just and the
unjust will be raised from the dead.
T F 8. John said there would
be a few saved who were not in the Book of
Life.
T F 9. Jesus promised to
prepare a place for the saved (John 14:1-3).
T F 10. The power of the
Gospel saves.
MULTIPLE
CHOICE: (Circle letter for Correct answer)
1. When Jesus returns, (a) some in their graves
will hear His voice (b) All in their graves
will hear His voice (c) all will remain
asleep in the grave.
2. At the return of
Jesus (a) He will reign on the earth (b) He will give all a
second chance (c) the heavens and the
earth will burn.
3. At the Judgment Day (a) only Christians will
be judged (b) the just and the unjust will face
Christ (c) only those alive on the earth will be judged.
4. Each facing the Judge
(a) will receive the good or bad things done in the body
(b) each lost person can
receive mercy (c) can hide from God.
5. At Judgment Day (a) all the good and bad
will face eternity (b) only the saved will
face eternity (c) only the lost will
face eternity.
6. When Jesus sits on
the throne of His glory (a) He will place the goats on His right
hand (b) will place the saved
or sheep on His right hand (c) will let the saved
and lost live together.
7. When Jesus appears,
He will (a) forgive the lost (b) take vengeance on
those who did not obey the gospel (c) reign upon the earth.
Once You Have
Completed This Lesson, Go To Last Page For Grading Key. For Your Score, Take
From 100, 6 Points For Each One Missed.
Score for
Lesson 14 =
Note: After you have completed this course and you desire
to obey the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, please contact the nearest CHURCH of
CHRIST.
GRADING KEY
Lesson 13
Review – (1 C) – (2 C) – (3 B) – (4 C) – (5 A) –
(6 C) – (7 B) – (8 A) – (9 C) – (10 B) – (11 B) – (12 C) *
Lesson 14
True
or False
– ((1 T)
– (2 F) – (3 F) – (4 F) – (5 T) – (6 F) – (7 T) – (8 F) – (9 T) – (10 T)*
Multiple
Choice
– (1 B)
– (2 C) – (3 B) – (4 A) – (5 A) – (6 B) – (7 B) *