3/1 Challenges to the Foundations of Christian Faith
In this series for Christian Foundations, we will look at the Challenges to the Christian Faith. What forces are working for remove Christianity from our society? ….of what forces are trying to replace or to prevent Truth from being shared?
Of course we know that behind the negative actions of people in society that are trying to remove Christianity as Jesus taught it are not human in origin. “We fight not against flesh and blood but against….” 2 Corinthians 10:4-6
However, we need to be on guard against those who would change the basis of our faith, who would change the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ. In order to understand the challenges to the Christian faith, we must first understand what the Christian faith is all about. In this series, we plan to set out the foundations of our Walk as Jesus Followers and how the counterfeits – Humanism, Evolution, the New Age, Cults and False Religions – relate to Christianity.
So, let’s begin our first post on an overview of the basics of our Beliefs. We will discuss who the Lord Jesus is, the place of the Bible, about the Trinity, The Holy Spirit, ‘End Time’ events and the coming judgements. Some of these topics, we covered in our Second series on ‘The Foundations of our Faith’ so we will refer you to some of those posts as well. (You can check the blog out here: www.hearinggod.mentorsnotebook.com.blog )
There are many different voices and views on the Purpose of Life. Some are ‘old views dressed in new clothes’, but all claim to have valid answers to Life. It is not only important for us, as Jesus Followers, to know what we believe, but also why we believe what we do. 1 Peter 3:15. Only then can we share with others what we have found in Truth, peace and true love.
A. JESUS IS GOD’S THEME THROUGH OUT TIME
Creator God has had an eternal purpose in all the He has done on the Earth even before time began. Everything that has happened, from Adam to the date of Jesus’ birth, has been done for a reason.
Father God has always wanted relationship with Mankind but the Fall brought a separation between a holy God and wilful us. The breech required our loving Creator to become Solution to this separation. Jehovah Creator God broke through time and space and entered out world. Creator God became the Answer to sin’s penalty as Jesus, the Christ.
Only Jesus could be totally sinless and completely right with God to the extent justice required. Therefore God became flesh. Christ was fully God yet fully man. The Holy Spirit can reveal this truth to our spirits today.
1. Why is doctrine important?
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Doctrine is the essential truths of God’s Word, the Biblical foundations upon which we build, 2 Timothy 2:15-16, 3:15 –17. The purpose is to set out in systematic order, the teachings we need to hold to as believers. |
Luke 1:3-4 “Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you….so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” |
Not only do we need an intellectual understanding of Theology, we also need to grow our knowledge and relationship with God. Such an understanding is essential when we are being used of God, to uphold His truth and to refute the lies and deceptions that are rampant in our generation. Our own view of doctrine will be outworked in our own lives as the truth we really believe in will show through our actions. Having this Faith is what ‘purifies’ us until the end. What a challenge for us Christians today!
Christianity is a religion of Revelation. God’s Truth is ever progressive. The 66 books in the Bible only begin to show us His creativity and wisdom. However, He will never reveal any doctrine outside of the written Word, Revelation 22:18-19. It is this Word that we need to know so that our faith is based on a firm foundation.
Today, there is an attack on sound doctrine. Many are turning away from time honoured teachings of the Bible, instead turning to ‘doctrines of devils’ (1 Timothy 4:1 KJV) and the philosophies of the world. In an age where there appears to be no absolutes, we certainly need firm foundations. Even the Apostle Paul said, “For the time will come when they will not put up with sound doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:3)
2. The Bible is a Foundation of ALL Truth
All forms of illumination must be measured against the Truth found in the Bible. “…but Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit”, (2 Peter 1:20-21 NKJV). The Bible is completely reliable and is worthy of our reading, believing and obeying.
3. The amazing unity of the bible
a) The 66 books of the Protestant Bible are written by some 40 authors, in three main languages, from many different cultures and countries, over 1600 years – all without any hint of disagreement with any other part. The writers came from all walks of life, from kings to fishermen, farmers and tax collectors, yet without contradiction in their essential doctrines.
b) There is also unity in the variety of themes in the Bible, between the Old and the New Testaments, all centring on the person and work of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
c) “God said…” is used over 3,800 times. The human writers all testified that it was God’s inspiration and they were merely His ‘scribes’. Jesus quotes from almost every O.T. book, adding more authenticity.
d) Since King James, over 100 different English versions of the Bible have become available. The changing use of words have has spawned paraphrase versions, while other versions, have developed with the help of newly developed manuscripts – again without any unexplainable disagreement with the original manuscripts!
e) The Bible has recorded prophecies, especially those about the Messiah, proven historic or archaeological facts.
f) We are to base our doctrine, teaching and our instructions in the faith on the Bible. “All scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and for instruction in righteousness….” 2 Timothy 3:16.
g) The Word will judge us at the final judgement. “There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word that I spoke will condemn him on that last day.” John 12:48,
Over the last 3,500 years, the Bible is the most loved and the most hated book in existence. Roman emperors issued edicts for its destruction. Untold numbers of Bibles have been burned. Countless Christians have been executed for possessing a copy.
Yet the Bible has survived violence, opposition, corruption and destruction. It remains the most significant book in human history because of God’s divine protection.
C. IN CONCLUSION
As we can see from history and from our own belief in Truth, The Bible stands alone for its relevance to our world today as well as preparing us for the future. In our next post, we will look at the evidence for what Theologians call ‘The Trinity’, the existence of One God but with three distinct functions and roles in our Christian faith.
Join us then,
Susanne Fengler, Blog Author
www.christianfoundations.jesus-treeoflife.info
Tags: #3 intro to Challenges
Filed under: Challenges to the Christian Faith
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