Tenets of the Christian Faith, Part 2
Central Thought: The articles of the Christian faith are simple, scriptural and apply for all ages.
Hymn: My Hope is Built on Nothing Less.
Text: 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 14-17; Jude 3-4
In the first part of this study, we stated that tenets are principles, beliefs or doctrines generally held to be true and accepted by members of an organization. A Christian is someone who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and whose life is based on the Bible as an inspired Scripture that regulates the activities of mankind. The Christian belief-system is made up of provisions that are Bible based and by which a Christian is properly instructed and guided in his quest to please God.
In summary, the last study presented the tenets of our faith to include the supremacy of God (Jehovah), belief in the God head (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit), the deity of Christ, new birth experience, salvation by grace, the gospel message, the death and resurrection of Christ, righteousness and holy living, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, existence of Heaven and hell, the second coming of Christ and the final judgement.
We concluded that these truths were irrepressible and indestructible, and should be known and upheld by all believers.
In this concluding part we shall examine the implications and consequences of upholding the tenets of our faith in this present life.
Lesson Objectives:
- To explain how believers can uphold the tenets of the Christian faith.
- To identify threats to the tenets of our faith.
- To list the consequences of not upholding the tenets of our faith.
- To list the benefits in knowing and upholding the tenets of the Christian faith.
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How do we as believers uphold the tenets of the Christian faith? Psalm 1:1-2: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17; 1 John 4:1; Hebrews 10:25; Mark 16:15
There are basic habits and attitudes of our faith. One of such is the regular study of the word of God in private and during fellowship meetings. His word is empowered to illuminate and provide direction; it is also to build us up in all truth regarding our faith. No believer should be passive in the study of God’s word. We should be actively involved in both learning and the dissemination of what we have learned.
The next is the importance of fellowship, Proverbs 27:17. When believers gather for the purpose of worship, the presence of God comes with His power to minister to the diverse need of His people. In fellowship we learn the tenets of faith and we are blessed when we share positive experiences of God’s mercies.
The role of prayer is important. The enemy of the church is Satan who prowls about, seeking whom to devour. This underscores the need for vigilance and prayers. The admonition in Scripture is “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you”, James 4:7. The believer must also be very discerning. We are to judge every spirit and manifestation to confirm if it is of God. This is because Satan is known for camouflage in godly matters with the intent to deceive. A child of God should be wary of strange propositions and should even examine the intentions of familiar but suspicious moves. We are called to be light bearers through the proclamation of the good news. Evangelism is the sacred duty of every believer. We must use every opportunity to present Christ and the message of salvation. This is the best way to confront the agents of darkness.
Every believer must keep the return of Christ in view and consciously strive to be ready at all times. This is the great hope that motivates us to persevere in the face of obstacles. We must have nothing to do with unfruitful works of darkness and the spirit of error. Our duty is to sharply rebuke them so that those who hear us may take heed.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, the Teacher, the Comforter, the guide into divine truth and our partner in this race. Every believer must be filled and must be sensitive to the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Church leaders are admonished to exercise caution in whom and what they introduce into the congregation, so that they will not be unwittingly used by the enemy. A genuine believer should beware of false prophets/teachers who lay claim to signs, wonders and miracles because these are the major baits used by Satan. A life in the Spirit will make us to draw a godly balance between our faith and material aspirations. Also, our ability to patiently wait for God’s timing is very necessary if we are to uphold the tenets of the Christian faith.
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What are some of the things that threaten the tenets of our faith?
There are so many things that pose real threat to the tenets of the Christian faith. The rise of satanic agents using the platform of the church is on the increase. False prophets and anti-Christs who demonstrate lying wonders are deceiving multitudes and leading them into destruction. They patronize Satan secretly, profess God openly and point to their miracles for credibility. Many have been genuinely snared and deceived. The rise of the gospel of materialism is a threat to the tenet of our faith. By it wrong people are projected into spiritual leadership with no foundation from God. This is the reason for the rise in patronage of motivational speakers in the church whose lives show no fruit of the Spirit. Globalization and increased means of knowledge is posing a serious threat to the tenets of the Christian faith, especially among the youth. Easy access to materials on crime and immorality which are massively and indiscriminately displayed via print and electronic media is a challenge to contend with. The concept of human rights and democracy as presently propounded in Europe and America is threatening the tenet of the Christian faith. The church must stand against sexual depravity and the erosion of the family institution. Persecution of believers in several parts of the world including Nigeria is threatening our faith. Of recent many believers have been murdered by Islamic extremists, and this has brought fear on others. Economic hardship is also making some believers to accept sharp practices in church and society against the tenets of the faith. Outright disobedience, pride and freedom without bounds among believers are not helping matters. All these and many more are knocking destructively on the foundations of our faith as Christians.
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What are the consequences of not upholding the tenets of faith?
The consequences are very many and grievous. The rise of large congregations with few believers is on the increase, with some unbelievers finding their way to positions of leadership. The rise of Satanism, increase in error and upsurge in crime in our churches and society are part of the consequences. Anti-God policies are on the increase in international settings, despair and grief among genuine believers is on the increase. The end point of it all is gross darkness upon the earth, rejection by God, apostasy and eventually destruction of those who are caught up in this wind of evil.
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What are the benefits of upholding the tenets of our faith? Proverbs 14:34, Romans 13:11, 2 Timothy 2:12, 1 Peter 1:4, John 10:10b
Among the benefits of upholding the faith we have the following:
- We shall have eternal life and eternal inheritance in the kingdom of God.
- We shall reign with Christ in glory for upholding the faith.
- We will be blessed in every way.
- There will be true fellowship among believers.
- Believers will be more intimate with God and His power.
- There will be less crime in the society.
- Believers and the church will be able to fulfil their mandate on earth.
Daily Living Application:
Listening to good sermons and expositions of the word of God can be rewarding. This is so if we participate actively and prayerfully. Our faith is a target for satanic distortion. Let us be determined to know the principles which our faith teaches, be resolved to propagate them and be inclined towards upholding them.
Memory Verse:
Hebrews 10:23 – “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering: for He is faithful that promised.”