Kent Bailey
There are various words used within the Scriptures that correctly depict the plan which God has provided to us for our redemption from sin. Throughout the entire Bible one can read of a scarlet thread from Genesis through Revelation. The culmination of this divine plan finds its consummation in Christ and the church.
Due to the very essence of this scheme, we find unity and/or agreement in its components. In Ephesians 4:1-6 Paul, the apostle noted:
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Within this passage we take note of the one faith. In Acts 6:7 the record states: “And the word of God increased; and the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”
The objective usage of the term faith speaks with reference to that of faith as a system, a teaching, doctrine—the scheme of Redemption, which is the Gospel of Christ; the totality of New Testament revelation. In accordance with Jude 3 this faith was once and for all time delivered to the saints. Thus, the truth of God is given for all time. It is a permanent deposit, it will never be superseded, amended or modified. As it now stands it is a perfect, adequate, complete and inviolable revelation providing the means with which to confute the gainsayer and to defeat the proponent of false doctrine,
The scheme of Redemption is not a deleted gospel; it is not a perverted gospel; it is not a changed gospel; it is not a gospel comprised of human additions wherein uninspired men have decided that the plain and pristine Gospel of Christ needs a modernistic and liberalistic overhaul.
Due to the fact of the unity of God’s scheme of redemption there are three essential factors regarding this divine scheme that is worthy of our serious consideration.
God’s scheme of Redemption refutes all forms of error. The Gospel of Christ is a mighty weapon of offense that God has provided for us that we may engage in spiritual combat and defeat Satan.
The scheme of Redemption refutes unbelief in all of its ungodly forms: atheism, agnosticism, humanism. Unbelief in all of its forms fall when facing God’s mighty implementation of war.
The scheme of Redemption refutes all false religion whether it be that of Roman Catholicism, Protestant Denominationalism, various cults, Islam, Hinduism, Confucianism, or the philosophy of Buddhism. Any religious system that is alien to God’s scheme of Redemption is a false system that we must oppose with all of our might (Matt. 15:12-14; Gal. 1:6-9).
The scheme of Redemption refutes both worldliness and immorality. The truth of God warns us that the love of the world chokes out the word of God from our lives (Matt. 13:22). Friendliness and fellowship with the world promotes enmity with God (Jas. 4:4). Immorality promotes a lifestyle condemned of God whereas the scheme of Redemption teaches us to deny ungodliness and that of worldly lusts (Titus 2:11-12; 1 John 2:15-17; 1 Pet. 1:15-16).
The scheme of Redemption refutes apathy among God’s people. One cannot be true to the word of God and be a lukewarm, heartless, disinterested, modern day Laodicean. To every apathetic member of the church of the Lord we read God’s divine rebuke (Rev. 3:19).
God’s scheme of Redemption produces a righteous fellowship. Our obedience to the word of God produces fellowship in the one spiritual body of Christ, the New Testament church (1 Cor. 12:13). Such promotes a Biblical fellowship with the one Lord, the one Spirit, and God the Father (Matt. 28:18-20). Such comes as the result of the one baptism (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). This will produce the one hope in our lives regarding the promise of eternal life in Heaven.
God’s scheme of Redemption produces victories in our lives that we may achieve. God’s scheme of Redemption will produce victory by procuring forgiveness of sins—initially by obeying the gospel and continually by confession of sins and repentance. It will produce victory in meeting the Devil and overcoming temptations. It will produce victory in soul-winning for Christ (Prov. 11:30). Finally, the ultimate victory will be realized in eternal glory (1 Cor. 15:57). The one faith—the scheme of Redemption with its facts, conditions, and promises makes such all possible in Christ.
