Faith has Content

Christianity is more than a religious experience or a sense of the divine, it involves faith in the truth of Scripture. This truth is communicated to us in a variety of ways in the Bible, but the result is a body of teachings which provide the content of what we believe. There is only one name under heaven whereby we are saved—Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. But we place our trust not only in the person and work of Christ but also in His Word.

Importance of Standards

In most areas of life we have standards of measurement. In regard to the Christian faith we have one primary standard or canon of faith and life: the inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God. This standard is the foundation and the measuring stick against which we test all doctrines and practices. Says our Belgic Confession (Art. 7):

We believe that those Holy Scriptures fully contain the will of God, and that whatsoever man ought to believe unto salvation is sufficiently taught therein. For since the whole manner of worship which God requires of us is written in them at large, it is unlawful for any one, though an apostle, to teach otherwise than we are now taught in the Holy Scriptures: nay, though it were an angel from heaven, as the apostle Paul says. For since it is forbidden to add unto or take away anything from the Word of God, it does thereby evidently appear that the doctrine thereof is most perfect and complete in all respects.

Neither may we consider any writings of men, however holy these men may have been, of equal value with those divine Scriptures, nor ought we to consider custom, or the great multitude, or antiquity, or succession of times and persons, or councils, decrees or statutes, as of equal value with the truth of God, since the truth is above all; for all men are of themselves liars, and more vain than vanity itself. Therefore we reject with all our hearts whatsoever does not agree with this infallible rule, as the apostles have taught us, saying, Prove the spirits, whether they are of God. Likewise: If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house.