Christian Faith

by Brother Carl Teel

Minister, First Christian Church, Marshall

The Christian faith is not so much defined in theological terms as it is described in terms of
a person, Jesus Christ. The timeline of human history is calculated around His birth
(B.C. and A.D.) and makes Jesus Christ the most important and central figure in
history.

His uniqueness and moral perfection mark Him as the

Founder and Power of
the one true religious faith that
connects us to God in a way far different than any other religion.

Some in Christendom try to distance themselves from the word “Religion” because of some
awkward perception about the term. However, the etymology of the word shows that it
adequately and appropriately illustrates Christianity. From the Latin root, “Religare,” the
word means to bind or fasten back. Therefore, our faith is the binding back of a lost
soul to the Heavenly Father through the atonement of Christ.

On one occasion the disciple Philip asked Jesus to show him the Heavenly Father in order to
validate His Deity. Jesus rejected the request by declaring that He was the personal
expression and essence of the Godhead. He shed more light on the subject in John 14:6 by
saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
Me.”

Jesus based His claim of Lordship on a four-fold proof and witness of his nature and
mission. He described these four witnesses in John, chapter five. The confirmatory
witnesses that Jesus referred to include: John the Baptist, Jesus’ miracles and works, and
the Heavenly Father , and the Scriptures.

However, the most important and historically significant fact that separates
Christianity from all other religions is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, our
Savior. Christianity rises or falls on the truthfulness of the Resurrection. Disprove
the Resurrection and Christianity is undermined and destroyed. Affirm the Resurrection and
you acknowledge the most powerful force in the Universe.

Not only does the Resurrection prove the Deity of our Savior, but also provides the
foundation of the Church. From the first sermon preached on the day of Pentecost and all
teaching thereafter, the Resurrection was central to the establishment and expansion of the
Church. Therefore, the Church started and continues as the agency through which Christ
extends His Grace and Mercy. It is through the Church that we become connected to the
Savior as we accept His Redemption through His atonement at the Cross and subsequent
Resurrection from the dead.

It was the Apostle Peter who provided the context in which Jesus was able to make His
declaration about the permanence and indestructibility of the Church. Matthew 16:16 &
18 records the confession of Peter and the prophetic response of Christ. Verse 16 “…Simon
Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Verse 18 “…and I
(Jesus) say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church,
and the gates of Hell (Hades) shall not prevail against it.

The Church is described by the Apostle Paul as being the Body of Christ and provides us
with the basis of not only connecting with God, but with one another as well.

The New Testament reveals that the Church finds fulfillment and purpose in basically five
functions.

Those five functions or purposes include:

1) Evangelism, 2) Worship, 3) Fellowship, 4) Edification, (Education), 5) Ministry.

Through these five purposes, the Church exists as a living entity, and
facilitates our development and growth as a believer.
This growth is essential to our maturing in faith.

In light of these purposes, it becomes clear that as redeemed people we are

inseparably a part of processes and outcomes that produce the Church.
In other words,
the Church is not a cold, historical institution, but rather a living community of believers.
Believers that are interrelated and connected through
their common bonds of faith and observances.

Christ, as Head of the Body, has organized the Church around various offices and/or
leadership functions. These are placed in the Church to help facilitate the spiritual growth of
each believer and expansion of the gospel and community of faith. When Christ left earth
after His Resurrection, Jesus appointed His Apostles as the first ones to carry out the Great
Commission of spreading the gospel. After that, and as the Church developed, the Holy
Spirit placed various gifts and leaders/servants in the body of Christ in order to nurture and
grow the Church and accomplish His mission.

The New Testament teaches the universal priesthood of all believers. (I Peter 2:9). “But you
are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you
may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

One of the best descriptions of the universal ministry and function of the body is found
in Ephesians 4:11:13 “ It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets,
some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for
works of service, so that the Body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the
faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole
measure of the fullness of Christ.”
However, contained within the framework of this passage is the delineation that
Christ has placed some leader/servants in the body to train (equip) other
believers to help perform the work of the ministry. These leaders/servants have
different capacities and tasks to perform in the overall structure and coordination
of the body. As such, those who serve as evangelists/pastors/teachers are called
(placed) by Christ in the Church for the purpose of helping mature the saints and
edify (educate) the body.

As a result of each leader’s proper functioning and service, the Kingdom of Christ grows and
the Church becomes healthy and enduring.

To contact Brother Carl Teel

Send email to: mrbro111@yahoo.com