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Featured The fundamentals of the faith

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by evangelist6589, Dec 5, 2014.

  1. The Biblicist

    The Biblicist Well-Known Member
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    First, lets define the words "the faith." There are different categories of faith in the Scriptures (subjective versus objective). There are different types of subjective faith. For example, there is miracle faith, or the gift of faith. There is saving faith or faith that embraces the truth of the gospel. There is the fruit of the Spirit "faith" by which we experientially walk "by faith."

    Also there are various types of objective faith. There is "the faith" that stands for the objective state of salvation. In contexts where the state of being a Christian is in view "the faith" represents that state or condition. For example, such a context and usage is found in 2 Cor. 13:5

    Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? - 2 Cor. 13:5

    Both the context of salvation and the preposition "in" demonstrate Paul is talking about the STATE or CONDITION of salvation which is represented by the words "the faith." This usage is called a metonomy by Grammarians.


    However, "the faith" is also used in the context of doctrine and practice where it stands for a system of faith as opposed to another system of faith. 1 Timothy 4:1 is a good example of this metonomical usage as the context is a contrast in doctrine.

    So I take it that it is this last usage you are asking to define. I define it by three common sense and Biblical supported principles:

    Principle #1
    : Every doctrine and practice that the Bible clearly
    states, or necessarily infers to be non-negotiable, must be regarded
    as essential to the definition of orthodoxy.

    Principle #2 Every doctrine, and practice that is essential to
    distinguish New Testament Christianity from other world religions
    and/or predicted false doctrines that characterize predicted
    apostate Christian religions.

    Principle #3: All doctrines and practices that are essential to
    preserve the above two principles or essential New Testament Christianity.
     
  2. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Would this be saying then that there are absolute truths that all MUST adhere with, such as nature of God and man, the Cross. resurrection, saved by Grace alone thru faith alone, second coming etc, but that one can be considered to be a christian and yet err on things such as if the Bible is fully inerrent/infallible, modes of baptism, views on the timing of the seconfd coming etc?
     
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