~ 7 Responses To The Faith ~
Key Passage (one
grace delivered to believers) ~ “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 3).
One New To The Faith
~ “This
is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband
of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to
teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not
covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission
with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how
will he take care of the church of God?); not
a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same
condemnation as the devil. Moreover he
must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into
reproach and the snare of the devil” (1 Timothy 3:1-7).
One Weak In The Faith
~ “Receive one who is weak in the faith,
but not to disputes over doubtful things.
For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only
vegetables. Let not him who eats despise
him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for
God has received him. Who are you to
judge another's servant? To his own
master he stands or falls. Indeed, he
will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand” (Romans
14:1-4).
One Who Kept (guarded) The Faith
~ “For
I [the Apostle Paul] am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the
time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have
finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that
Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2
Timothy 4:6-8).
Some Who Erred From The Faith
~ “O
Timothy! Guard what was committed to
your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what
is falsely called knowledge — by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen” (1 Timothy
6:20-21).
Some Depart From The Faith
~ “Now
the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits
and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own
conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to
abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those
who believe and know the truth. For
every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received
with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1
Timothy 4:1-5).
Some Deny The Faith
~
“Honor widows who are
really widows. But if any widow has
children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to
repay their parents; for this is good and
acceptable before God. Now she who
is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications
and prayers night and day. But she who
lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.
And these things command, that they may be blameless. 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 5:3-8).
Some Overthrow The Faith
~ “Be
diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more
ungodliness. And their message will
spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed
concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the solid foundation of God
stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let
everyone who names the name of Christ depart
from iniquity’” (2 Timothy 2:15-19).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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