Articles
The Faith of Choice
The Faith of Choice
“For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many; yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.” – 1 Corinthians 8:5,6
We clearly understand “our freedom” to “believe what we please”. God has also given us liberty to choose whom we will serve (Joshua 24:15). Does this mean we can serve and please God “in the faith of our choice”? NO! God has chosen the faith we will have that honors Him.
Jude 3 says, “Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints”. What is “the faith” which was delivered? Is it “faith or my choice” or a faith chosen by God? It is the faith of which Ephesians 4:5 says there is one.
Other passages produce the same evidence of “the faith”. In Acts 6:7, we read as “the word of God spread…the number of disciples were multiplied greatly…and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith”. Souls of disciples were being exhorted “to continue in the faith” (Acts 14:22).
Could the scriptures above possibly refer to different faiths? Could either passage have reference to various beliefs that were established hundreds of years later to which many people are encouraged to “choose” today? The obvious answer is “NO”!
“The faith” is a system of belief or a standard of discipline prescribed by “the doctrine of Christ” (2 John 9), and we are warned often in scripture “not to go beyond that which is written” (1 Corinthians 4:6). Therefore, our faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:5). It is not in the choices man has but in the choice God has already assigned. It is our humble duty to submit ourselves to that faith without which no man shall please the Lord (Hebrews 11:6).
