Person Faith That Is Corporate

Today's reading from the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 at Indian Hills Baptist Church will be from the introduction to article IV: “There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.”

Yes, it’s a personal faith in that no one else’s faith can be counted as yours for salvation. However, there is a tendency in our culture to compartmentalize faith to the extent that we regard it as private, isolated, and disconnected from others who share in that faith. The mythical, unbiblical “I can be Christian without the Church” mentality is “personal faith” taken to an extreme.

Faith. Note the following occurrences of the verb “to have faith,” translated “believe” (the Greek πιστεύω) in the Acts:

• “And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:44-47).
• “And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need” (Acts 4:32-35).

So keep in mind: “personal faith” does not mean isolated, individualistic faith. It is a faith that does separate you from the world, but immediately and always binds you to the congregation of “those who have received a faith of the same kind...by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1). It is a personal faith that is corporate; that is, of the Body.

“A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel” (VI).

See you at the Gathering, beloved.