When the New Testament speaks of "the faith," it refers to the thing believed rather than the act of believing. The Christian religion as a system of justification by faith in Christ is therefore often referred to as "the faith" and is presented in the New Testament as both singular (one) and distinctive (identifiable). Paul tells us there is but one faith (Eph. 4:4-5) and that Christians can "all come to the unity of the faith" (v.13). This requires a doctrinal identity in order to distinguish the faith from counterfeits.
Religious unity requires unity of belief. Notice the New Testament's emphasis on the singularity of the faith. It is the faith. The faith can be preached (Gal. 1:23), obeyed (Acts 6:7), and continued in (Acts 14:22). We are to strive for the faith (Phil. 1:27), and contend for the faith (Jude 3). We can deny the faith (I Tim. 5:8); we can go astray from the faith (I Tim. 6:21). In each case it is the faith. The apostles do not teach us to negotiate a unity between conflicting beliefs. Rather we are all to seek the unity of the faith. One is not speaking biblically when he speaks of different faiths of the Christian religion.
Christian unity can be achieved and maintained only when we believe and admit that the faith is absolute (there is but one faith) (Eph. 4:4-5) and attainable (we are all to come to the unity of the faith) (Eph. 4:11-13). As students of God's Word, we may not agree on every point, but as believers in Christ we are to try to determine from Scripture what constitutes the faith. Then in the spirit of patience and humility, forbearing one another in love, we should strive to unify upon that one faith revealed in the New Testament.
F. The Truth
Jesus said, "If you abide in my word you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32). In context (v. 31-36) Jesus is speaking about the truth of his word that makes us free from sin. This "truth" is a distinct body of truth. Jesus says we can "know" that truth. Peter speaks about this same body of truth purifying our souls at the time we "obey" it (I Peter 1:22). Jesus said his truth would make us free from sin. Peter tells us our souls will be purified from sin when we obey that truth. Inherent in this language is a distinct body of truth for alien sinners. It can be known and obeyed and will result in purifying the sinner's soul from sin.
G. the Word of God Is Like Seed
When Jesus relates the parable of the sower, he speaks about seed falling onto different kinds of soils, which he likens to the hearts of men (Luke 8:4-15). He then says, "The seed is the word of God" (v. 11). We know that seed brings forth after its kind (Genesis 1:11-12). Never have apple seeds brought forth oranges or potatoes. Without exception we can rely on God's Word to bring forth Christians. It will produce a New Testament church in this modern era. We must admit that the pure Word of God, unmixed by human wisdom, will bring forth the church of Christ as it did in the first century.
III. Conclusion
Scripture reveals that Christianity is ordered after a divine pattern and that it therefore possesses a distinct identity. Christianity was designed by the Lord and preached by the apostles. The early church was taught to hold the pattern of their words. Based on the pattern principle, the church of Jesus Christ can be identified in the New Testament and is intended to be reproduced in perpetuity until Jesus comes.
- taken from "The Church of Christ: The Distinctive Nature of the New Testament Church" by Edward C. Wharton
