As we continue in our spiritual growth and development, let us be reminded of the importance of fundamentals. The fundamentals of the faith are Divine pillars upon which rest the Christian religion. The religious division which exists today represents a departure from the fundamentals of the faith. The Lord’s Prayer for the unity of all believers in Christ can be answered only by teaching and defending the fundamentals of the faith. Jesus prayed, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (Jn. 17:20-23). Let’s take a closer look at the fundamentals of the faith.
THE INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE
The source of the faith is Divine. Paul wrote, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). The Bible is the sword of the Spirit according to Ephesians 6:17. Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit in order to produce the Bible (2 Pet. 1:20, 21).
THE UNITY OF THE BIBLE
The Bible is composed of sixty-six individual books written by about forty men over a period of about sixteen hundred years, yet the Bible exhibits a remarkable unity in design and purpose. Five sections in the Old Testament fill out its thirty-nine books. These sections are: Law (5 Books), History (12 Books), Poetry or Wisdom Literature (5 Books), Major Prophets (5 Books), and Minor Prophets (12 Books). Correspondingly, five sections in the New Testament fill out its twenty-seven books. These sections are: Gospel Accounts (4 Books), History (1 Book), Letters or Epistles to Individual Christians or Congregations (14 Books), General Epistles or Letters (7 Books), and Prophecy (1 Book). These sixty-six books which are inspired of God are united by a common character in Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:24) and a common theme, the salvation of all men everywhere in the church of Christ (Matt. 16:18).