Safeguard true christian faith
The Apostles in the Early Church were concerned about the gospel, the true Christian faith, being proclaimed, lived out faithfully and preserved to be passed on from generation to generation.
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The Apostle Paul declares that “the gospel is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes- Jews first and also non Jews.
This good news tells us how God makes us right in His sight.” (Romans 1:16-17 NLT). He wrote to the churches he had planted on his missionary journeys to warn them about false teaching and corrupt presentation of the gospel that had crept into the churches.
That was a dangerous situation and The Apostle Paul in his Epistle to Timothy tells him what should be the focus of an effective pastoral ministry. He gives Timothy a four-fold charge on safeguarding the authentic Christian faith and practice. The first charge is for Timothy “to guard the gospel”:
13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. 14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you. (2 Tim 1:13-14 NLT).
But what is the gospel? How do we recognise the genuine or true gospel from the false, corrupted and counterfeit gospel? What makes up the true Christian faith that is to be safeguarded?
In the New Testament Epistles of Paul, the gospel has been variously referred to as
“The faith” (1 Tim. 1:19;3:9;4:1,6;5:8;6:10,12; Titus 1:13; 2 Tim. 3:8;4:7; knowing “the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4;4:3; Titus 1:1; 2 Tim. 2:25; 3:7; but cf. Gal. 5:7; 2 Thess. 2:12), the “deposit “ to be guarded (1 Tim. 6:20; 2Tim. 1:14) , “sound” or “healthy teaching”(1 Tim. 1:10; 6:3; Titus 1:9:2:1,8; 2 Tim 1:13; 4:3),” The gospel is also referred to as “a fixed set of beliefs”.
Dr Gordon Fee, has drawn the following basic key elements of the gospel
• The human condition is that of sinfulness, defined as disobedience or rebellion against God (see 1 Tim. 1:9-10, 13, 15; Titus 3:3; 2 Tim. 3:2-5)
• The condition is universal in scope and one from which there is no evident escape or human remedy (cf. 1 Tim. 1:13-16; Titus 3:3, 4; 2Tim. 1:9).
• For this reason God must intervene with mercy (1 Tim. 1:13-16, Titus 3:3-7; 2 Tim. 1:9-10),
• And this He has done through the death of Christ, who through His own self-sacrifice secured our redemption (1 Tim. 2:5-6; Titus 2:14) and our justification (Titus 3:7)
• The scope of this salvation is also universal (1 Tim. 2:3-7; 4:10), including Jews and non Jews (1 Tim. 2:7)
• But it brings out the desired results only for those who believe (1 Tim. 1:16; 4:10; cf. 1.13),
• And even this faith is God’s gift (1 Tim. 1:14). This saving work is effected in the believer’s life by the Holy Spirit, who both regenerates and renews (Titus 3:5-6)
• And enables for life and ministry (2 Tim. 1:6-7, 14).
• Such grace is to produce obedience in the form of love and other good works (e.g., 1 Tim. 1:5; 2:15b; 2:15b; Titus 2:12, 14; 3:8, 14).
• Finally, such a life is also lived in hope of promised eternal life (1 Tim. 1:16;4:8, 10; Titus 1:2; 3:7;; 2 Tim. 1:10,12; 2:10,12a;4:8, 18), which will be accomplished at Christ’s second coming (1 Tim. 6:14; Titus 2:13; 2Tim. 4:1;8).
Sadly, the regular preaching and teaching of the above set of beliefs in the pulpit is missing in many churches. Instead, we are unfortunately exposed to preaching and sermons of human opinions, untruth, myth and worldly materialistic speeches in church and on radio and television.
These are teachings that cannot bring about transformed lives or true conversion or promote true godliness in the hearers. Many have become preachers of “another gospel” that cannot be seen in the Bible. These sermons are not accurately Bible centered nor Christ exalting.
The Apostle Paul tells Timothy that he has the basic resources that it takes to spread the gospel and safeguard the authentic Christian faith. Firstly, he has a genuine conversion experience that finds expression in a lifestyle of holy living and integrity. Secondly, Timothy has been in-filled with the Holy Spirit and has been gifted by the Holy Spirit. He has therefore been charged by the Apostle Paul thus: “with the help of the Holy Spirit, who lives within us, carefully guard what has been entrusted to you”. (2 Tim 1: 14 NLT)
There is a Spiritual Law: those who would be authentic witnesses to Christ (Acts 1: 4-5, 8). Those who will “travel” with the gospel to people groups in the nations must first “tarry” or wait on God to be filled with the Holy Spirit; to be clothed with power from on High.
People God uses in safeguarding the authentic Christian faith and practise are people filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; 6:3-8; 13:1-4)
“Channels only, blessed Master,
But with all Thy wondrous power,
Flowing through us, Thou can use us
Every day and every hour”.
We are to note that, in “Gospel Ministry sequence, recognising and accessing spiritual power is preparatory to other activities”. It must come first, you must be filled with the Holy Spirit and you must know your gifting. When this is carefully observed in Church life, “we don’t put square pegs in round holes”. Human Resource within the Church (clergy and non-clergy) are appropriately deployed and utilised for healthy growth of the body of Christ, the Church.
We must safeguard the true Christian faith, the authentic gospel - proclaim it, live it out, preserve it and pass it on until the last person on earth confesses, “Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”.