Doctrine of Faith

Preliminary Remarks
The Visible and Invisible Church

The visible church is the world-wide company of professing believers. When we use the term,
the ‘visible church’, we are making and implying no distinction between true believers and false
professors within the church. Anyone who claims to belong to Christ—whether that claim is
genuine or not—is designated as a member of the visible church.

The invisible church is the world-wide company of true believers. We refer to it as the ‘invisible
church’ because it is composed exclusively of genuinely regenerated believers—many of
whom are known only to God. Numerous people say that they belong to Christ—but, in fact,
they do not. These people are false professors or counterfeit believers. Sometimes, only God
is able to distinguish between these false professors and his own people. Only God’s redeemed
people constitute the true or invisible church. Frequently, the Word of God refers to
these as the members of Christ's body, or the redeemed of the Lord.
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Basis and Nature of Faith
Faith Rests on the Authority of God
We do not rest our faith on our feelings, nor do we base it on our moral and intellectual apprehension
of the truth. Again, we do not found our faith on any rational or persuasive human arguments—
however valid these arguments may appear to be. Biblical faith is founded on the authority and testimony
of the living God, and it is attested to by the inward witness of the Holy Spirit.
By faith in the testimony of the Bible, we are convinced that God created the world. By faith in that
same infallible testimony, we are convinced that God created Adam; and that—by his fall—Adam involved
the whole human race in sin and misery. By faith, we are convinced that God destroyed the
world by a deluge. By faith, we are convinced that God has appointed a day in which he will judge the
world in righteousness by that Man whom he has appointed.
Faith, therefore, rests on the authority of God, and on the solid and incontrovertible evidence revealed
to us in the Word of God—the Holy Bible. The facts of the Bible or Scriptures are more to be believed
than any facts of history or science: for, in their original forms, the Holy Scriptures were the infallible
Word of God. This inerrant Word has now been handed down to us in the form of translations. The
Word of God cannot err or be mistaken in its declarations, until the day that God can err or be mistaken
in his pronouncements.
Such is the nature of our faith. Its foundation is the authority of God. Its framework is the testimony of
God. To disallow God’s authority is to show contempt for God. To disbelieve God’s testimony is to
make God a liar.
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The Holy Spirit Testifies to the Truth (Scripture References)
Concerning the inward witness of the Holy Spirit to the truth and authority of God’s Word, the Scripture
says:
John 14:26
(26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in
my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 15:26
(26) But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father,
even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall
testify of me: (See v.27)
John 16:13-15
(13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all
truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that
shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (14) He shall glorify
me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. (15) All things
that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine,
and shall show it unto you. (See vv.7-12)
1 John 5:6-8
(6) This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water
only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because
the Spirit is truth. (7) For there are three that bear record in heaven,
the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
(8) And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water,
and the blood: and these three agree in one.
1 John 5:9-12
(9) If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is
the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. (10) He that believeth
on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God
hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave
of his Son. (11) And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son. (12) He that hath the Son hath life: and he that
hath not the Son of God hath not life. (See v.13)
Consequences of Rejecting God’s Testimony (Scripture References)
Concerning the serious consequences of refusing to believe the Word that God has spoken, that Word
says:
Hebrews 12:25
(25) See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused
him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn
away from him that speaketh from heaven: (Cf. 2:2-4; 3:15-19; 10:28-31)
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Hebrews 12:29
(29) For our God is a consuming fire. {Deut. 4:24} (See vv.18-28; cf. Exodus
24:17; Isa. 66:15-16)
True and False Faith
As has been indicated in Notes 1 and 2 above, not all faith is associated with salvation. There are several
different kinds of faith (as distinct from degrees of faith). The various kinds of faith include mere
assent; i.e. the mental or intellectual acknowledgement given to a set of doctrines, or to a system of
religion. However, giving one’s assent to a set of doctrines, or to a particular religion, is not the same
thing as believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Faith that consists only in mental assent is not true biblical faith. A person may believe earnestly in his
religion; in the doctrines of his church, or in the form of church to which he belongs. However, if he
does not centre his faith on Christ as his living personal Redeemer, then that person's faith is of no
avail. Again, if his faith does not involve the regeneration, justification, and sanctification of that person’s
life, then the faith he possesses is worthless. It is a dead faith.
Dead faith is a false or counterfeit form of faith. It is a nominal faith—a faith in name only. As such, it
cannot benefit those who profess it. They are still in their sins; and, unless they realise their danger and
truly repent, they will certainly perish.
Counterfeit Faith
Except under very close and expert examination, many counterfeit banknotes can rarely be distinguished
from genuine banknotes. So it is with the Christian faith. There is a form of faith that is counterfeit.
It has many of the outward appearances of being genuine—but it is not.
Many people claim to have accepted Christ. They may show many of the outward evidences of belonging
to Christ. They may attend church services regularly, and they may take part in these services.
They may speak as though truly converted, and they may give a testimony of their ‘conversion’. They
may even witness openly of Christ to others—and yet not be truly saved. These people have tasted of
the Holy Spirit in his ‘common’ operations. However, the Holy Spirit has never renewed their souls by
his regenerating and sanctifying power. Their faith is counterfeit: and if counterfeit, it is dead. These
people are yet in their sins. As such, they remain under the wrath and curse of God.
Let us remember that not all of Jesus’ disciples belonged to the Lord. In common with others, Judas
Iscariot associated with the Lord’s followers. He sat under the teaching of the Lord Jesus. He preached
the Gospel to the people, in common with the other disciples. He held a position of trust and responsibility
among the Twelve, for he was their official treasurer. As far as we know, and in common with the
other disciples, Judas performed miracles in the name of the Lord, and cast out evil spirits in Jesus’
name. Yet, as we know only too well, Judas Iscariot never belonged to Christ. He associated with the
Lord’s people, but he was a child of the devil and a son of perdition. Therefore, we must realise that
such people will always be found in the church. Like Satan and his messengers when they appear to
God’s people as though they were angels of light (i.e., holy angels), such evil individual within the
church can appear to other people as holy, righteous and good. But God knows the truth, and he will
judge them as their attitudes, thoughts and deeds deserve.
Not all who profess faith in Christ belong to Christ. The Lord Jesus makes this truth very clear in his
teaching on this subject. On the pages that follow, we will consider one of these teachings in detail.