One Faith by Rufus Baker

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 29, 1864

One Faith.

By Rufus Baker

THAT there is but one faith recognized in the Bible is evident from the following scripture: "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." Eph. iv, 5. The apostle Paul gives additional light on this subject in 1 Cor. xiii. In verse 2 he says, "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord." This epistle is addressed to all of God's people in every place. Verse 7 embraces those who will be waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus. To all such the apostle says, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment."

To this end our Lord in his prayer to his Father said while praying for his apostles, "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 me, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." John xvii, 21, 22. This prayer of our Lord was made not only for the apostles, but for such also as should believe on him through their word. If we have believed on Jesus through the words of the apostles, this prayer is designed for us as well as all in past time who have embraced the Saviour through their teachings. Jesus prayed that they might be one, that is, that they all should have one mutual interest, and be of one faith, that they might thereby be co-workers together to advance the cause of Christ. The reason that Jesus assigned for this oneness was that the world might believe that the Father had sent him.

There are among the sectarian churches of the present day a plurality of faiths. The result of this is to destroy the beauty and harmony of the word of God, and make men infidel in regard to the Bible. But let the church teach the pure principles of truth as they are taught in the Scriptures; let them show to the

world that there is that oneness among them that God's word teaches there should be, and they will present the evidences of Christianity which the world cannot successfully gainsay nor resist.

Some may think it drawing the line too straight to bring Christians all together and unite them in one common faith. They reason as follows: Men are so differently constituted that they cannot all think alike and act alike; that God has so arranged things that each can embrace that form of doctrine most congenial to their mind, and if honest in their belief, it is all that God requires. The word of God is to the contrary, notwithstanding. How was it in the days of the apostles? "And the number of them that believed was of one heart, and of one soul." Acts iv, 32. The term heart here is doubtless used to represent the mind. Again, "And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." Acts vi, 7. See also Rom. i, 5. As there is but one faith, that must be the faith that was obeyed. We see from this that the faith was something to be obeyed. It was also to be kept.

The apostle Paul, after giving his dying charge to Timothy, said, "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand; I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." 2 Tim. iv, 6, 7. That the faith was kept and obeyed in the days of the apostles has been clearly shown, and that it will be kept in the last days is evident from Rev. xiv, 12. "Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." The chronology of this prophecy may be located by being the last of the three messages of Rev. xiv, the next important event after which will be the Son of man seated on the white cloud, coming to gather the harvest of the earth. This we think shows that there will be a company keeping the faith in the last days.

In conclusion let me say, dear reader, that we are living in a solemn time. The history of this world is fast winding up. We are now receiving the last message of mercy which this world will ever have. Jesus still officiates in the heavenly sanctuary. The sweet voice of mercy still continues to sound in our ears. The third angel is leading out a people, and uniting them on the great truths of God's word, and before this message closes the prayer of our Saviour will be answered, when he prayed that his disciples might be one, even as he and his Father are one.

RUFUS BAKER.

Mackford, Wis.