Your Most Holy Faith

by G. Prasher | Category: General | Jul 1943

The faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints is also referred to by Jude as "Your most holy faith" (see verses 8, 20). Though not delivered all at once 4t has- been delivered once for all, that is to say, there will be no new' revelation of the will of God, since the Holy Scriptures are now complete. As the law of Moses was the essence of all the teaching in the Psalms and Prophets, and at the close of the Old Testament the LORD said "Remember ye the law of Moses My servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and judgements" (Malachi 4.4), so the "things that Jesus began both to do and to teach" (Acts 1. 1) have in essence what is contained in the epistles and these with the Gospels.- complete the canon of inspiration and contain the faith once for all delivered unto the saints.

The faith then was set forth by the Lord Jesus; the law and the prophets were until John It makes an interesting contrast the manner in which the law was given and that which the faith came the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ The law had its association with the mighty thunderings at Horeb, and the voice from heaven concerning which Israel requested that no word more should be spoken to them for they could not endure that which was enjoined" but the manner in which the faith came through the Lord Jesus had no such terrifying association. When He began to teach it is recorded that "All bare Him witness, and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of His mouth" (Luke 4 22)

Gently and tenderly as men were able to hear and receive came the doctrine of the Lord. His speech was indeed refreshing like the dew, and His- doctrine such as would penetrate the hearts and consciences of the hearers. The Holy Spirit, too, followed up the good work commenced by the Lord and brought to the remembrance of the apostles what He had said He also showed things to come. It was through this inspiration of the Holy Spirit that the Gospels and the Epistles were written.

While, generally speaking the faith includes the entire revelation conveyed through the New Testament i.e. the truth concerning salvation from the penalty of sin through faith in the finished work of Christ, together with the will of God for the daily guidance of His redeemed and gathered together people it should be noted that it is also spoken of as something distinguishable from our common salvation. Jude says :-" Beloved while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints" (verse 3).

Here it is apparent that "our common salvation" has reference to what we have termed above salvation from the penalty of sin. This is the common portion of every' true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. A salvation not common as to quality, but common only in the sense that each one who trusts the Saviour has the blessing m common and-what a blessing it is! eternal life, eternal sanctification and eternal glory. But there is more than all this. There is something that has its bearing upon present and progressive sanctification, upon doing those what things that are pleasing to ,the Lord upon the earth. This is Jude refers to as the faith.

One outstanding feature of the faith is, that it can be held or kept only by a separate and gathered together people: the early churches of God in apostolic times being the ensample for the remaining part of the age. Individuals as such cannot keep the faith, nor can it find expression in sectarianism rather it is denied therein. Baptism in water in obedience to the Lord is an integral part of the faith, and yet in how many places this is rejected. The same is true of the remembrance Of the Lord in the breaking of the bread. These ordinances of the Lord require that the disciple should find himself in association with others whose hearts have been reached and softened by the distilled dew of divine speech, and whose beings have been saturated by the showers of divine doctrine. Thus together we may grow till we "attain' unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of- God, unto a full grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."

The faith then, is something wherein we may be weak (Romans 14. 1), or strengthened (Acts 16.5). The mind of the Lord, as conveyed by Paul, Silas and Timothy, resulted in the churches being strengthened in the faith, and Timothy is reminded how he could be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which he had followed. We may turn aside from it, or we may continue in it (Acts 13.8; 14. 22): we may be obedient to the faith (Acts 6.7), or we may deny the faith (1, Timothy 5.8). There is sad and solemn possibility of making shipwreck concerning the faith. To avoid this it is ever needful for us to give due heed to the words of divine warning which will guide us past the shoals of men's opinions, and the rocks of unbelief.

The range and scope of the faith is very large. It has been well said that "the Person and work of Christ is the central truth of the faith, but, within its circumference are truths many and varied, embracing every responsibility both individual and collective. The doctrines of the faith reach up to the divine heights, of the Deity and atonement of Christ, and come down even to matters of temporal support, as in 1 Timothy 5.8." This passage reads: "But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith,- and is worse than an unbeliever."

The faith once for all delivered unto the saints, like the law in the past dispensation, gives instruction to regulate the lives of God's "people in every phase of life, and incorporates in the main the moral law of the LORD. The duties of parents to children, and children to parents: responsibilities of masters towards servants, and servants towards masters: the believer's attitude towards the powers that be, and his rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's: his position generally towards all men as to walking humbly and living soberly righteously and godly: his life in the assembly of God both toward God and the brethren every relationship in life is provided for m the faith once for all delivered unto the saints. If we want to live well pleasing to God in the home in the House of God, and in the world we must necessarily keep constant contact with the Book, the Holy Writings, every word of which is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3. 16, 17)

Probably among many of the children of God the principal departure from the faith is in matters pertaining to every day living. Maybe to-day more than ever there is need for the clarion call to believers to give heed to what might be termed the small items of the faith which will curb the activities of the little foxes that spoil the vineyards Not infrequently the vineyards beautiful with blossom are spoiled by these destructive creatures We may be wonderfully clear on the great truths of the Deity of the Christ the value of His atoning death and His triumphant resurrection but if these great central truths fail to captivate the heart for the One who died and fill us with the constraining love of Christ that will force us to seek and do His will in the smaller details of life, we may become the barren vines that disappoint the owner, and are fit only for the burning.

Let us listen carefully to Jude's exhortation "But ye, beloved building up yourselves on your most holy faith praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (verses 20, 21) Thus only may we escape the snares that would lead us to deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Thus only will we at the close of the pathway be able to say, "I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4.7).

G. Prasher | Jul 1943
General