“The Church of God (Seventh Day) endeavors to carry out the Great Commission by discipling people for the Lord Jesus Christ through evangelism and instruction from the Word of God.” Therefore the Church of God (Seventh Day) has outlined 12 items of faith to “preserve its theological heritage, and present its latest and best understanding of Scripture”. Since this is a “Statement of Faith” it is fitting we start our tour through the 12 faith statements with an understanding of Faith”.
Our personal spiritual eternal hope is in the future Kingdom and Family of God. We have faith in this belief for without faith we are “damned” because whatever is not of faith is sin (Rom. 14:23b). Interestingly we read in James 2:26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also”. If this verse were to be applied to the “Church” as a whole a church that is not working to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God would be a dead church. Therefore it is fitting for the COG7 to have a statement of “faith” to help all members to be a living active part of the preaching of the gospel.
What is faith? It is the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1). Faith is also a call to action for we must be working our faith or our faith is dead (James 2:17). While we are not saved by faith we must have faith to be saved (James 2:14). We see faith in action in Heb. 11 all through Heb. 12 1-2. Hebrews 11 is known as the “faith” chapter and gives us dozens of examples of faith in action (works). These are our examples of living faith in the site of God and man. We must be looking to Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2). He is our ultimate example of faithfulness.
In Rom. 12:3 we find that we should not be puffed up and vain but we need to realize that God gives everyone “the measure of faith”. God gives faith to us. In I Cor. 10:13 we read a most amazing verse where it says “God is faithful”. God having faith in us is most astounding as we tend to think we must just have faith in God. Yes we must have faith in God to do His work of preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God but God believes we can do it. He has faith in us as we also have faith in Him.
Christ is to live in us and this must be by faith. Gal. 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the FAITH of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. “ Paul tells us in I Cor. 13:13 (the love chapter) “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.” Faith is listed as one of the three most important aspects of Godly love. Faith is a part of loving our neighbor. Faith is a word of action and without works it is dead.
The Church of God (Seventh Day) is a church of action working through faith. Preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God around the world on a daily basis to thousands of people. It is only fitting we start our Statement of Faith with a good understanding of “faith”.
