The church is composed of imperfect people. If the church was not designed only for perfect people, then the church would be imperfect because as Paul wrote to the Roman Christians, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). The apostle John added, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:10). So, the church as designed by God takes imperfect people whom Peter called “babes” and builds them up in the faith (1 Peter 2:1, 2). Just as the nutrients from the various food groups provide energy for the physical body to grow, even so the Word of God provides the power which allows each member of the church to grow toward maturity. On one occasion Job commented that God’s Words were regarded of greater value than his own physical food. He said, “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).
STEPS OF FAITH
The ancient patriarch Abraham carefully walked in steps of faith as directed by the Word of God (Romans 4:12). He is heralded in the Book of Hebrews for all he did “by faith” (Hebrews 11). The only source of faith today is the Word of God. Paul wrote, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). Like Abraham, God is calling people today by means of the gospel to begin a walk of faith (2 Thessalonians 2:14).
- The gospel of Christ is God’s power to save the sinner, but he must first hear the gospel (Romans 1:16, Ephesians 1:13).
- Second, the gospel message must be believed, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness” (Romans 10:10).
- Third, since sin separates the soul from God, repentance from sin is commanded from Christ (Isaiah 59:1,2; Luke 13:3).
- Fourth, confession of faith in Christ is done unto salvation for “with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10).
- Fifth, baptism by immersion in water for the remission of sins as commanded by Christ puts one into Christ where all spiritual blessings are and adds the believer to the church of Christ (Colossians 2:12; John 3:5; Acts 2:38; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16; Galatians 3:2; Ephesians 1:3; Acts 2:47).
GROWTH DEMANDS FAITH
Upon becoming an obedient child of God the believer is now ready to grow. Peter admonished, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18). Just as the basic steps of faith taken to bring a person into Christ must emerge from the Word of God, even so the spiritual growth of the new Christian must come about as he is taught the fundamentals of the faith.
For part 2 of this epistle, check out The Need for Teaching Fundamentals (Part 2 of 2)