Progress in the Faith

The Apostle Paul pushed for his churches’ progress in the Faith. What does progress in the Faith look like? Has your church made any progress in the Faith recently? If it has, then you should be able to see that progress. You should be able to gauge it. Do you notice more knowledge of sound doctrine, arguments in favor of the Bible, and sound living—good conduct?

If you've made progress in the Faith, people will interpret the Bible better. There won’t be confusion or strange ideas in your church. People will be able to define the Bible’s basic teachings and won’t be easily led astray by false teachers. That’s what was going on in the church at Philippi, and it’s why Paul said to them:

I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the Faith… (Philippians 1:25)

How advanced can a person become in the Faith? All of us start with zero knowledge, and we add to it gradually. Hopefully, you were able to start early in life with the Scriptures, but if you started late, you can take a crash course--attend as many Bible studies as possible!

… as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation (2 Timothy 3:14-15).

How Far Can We Progress?

Apollos is an example of someone who progressed to an advanced level. He grew in the knowledge of the Bible. Even though had errors in his original interpretations, he would later evolve into a powerhouse preacher. He's most likely the author of the Book of Hebrews--did you know that? The only other candidate that comes close is Barnabas.

Would you like to evolve and grow in your knowledge of sound doctrine? Would you like to progress in the Faith? You can follow in Apollos' footsteps if you focus on two things: 1. be teachable, and 2. be taught by the right people.

Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue.

When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:24-26; NKJV).

Apollos made progress in the Faith. Priscilla and Aquilla, a missionary couple, tentmakers who were colleagues with Paul, took Apollos aside and explained sound doctrine to him. They answered his questions and made it clear how to interpret the message of Jesus Christ.

Although he was mighty in the Scriptures, Apollos didn’t know how to put all the Scriptures together into sound doctrine until after he started a ministry. Because he was sincere, he was not sinning during the time that he was teaching half of the Truth. Once God introduced him to Aquilla and Priscilla, he obtained the complete message, the Faith. He took it and ran with it!

Apollos became as highly esteemed as Paul in their time.

... one says, 'I follow Paul,' and another, 'I follow Apollos,' are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow (1 Corinthians 3:4-6).

Joy in the Faith 

We've talked about progress in the Faith. Now what is joy in the Faith? Don't forget that it's another aspect of the Faith. Paul stuck around with the Philippians, staying in their city, and spending more time with them to increase their joy in the Faith.

I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the Faith… (Philippians 1:25)

Now, what does that kind of joy look like--the 'joy in the Faith' kind of joy? Well, first of all, it’s not happiness. Happiness depends on what’s happ-ening. Joy runs much deeper than happiness.

If you have joy in the Faith, it doesn’t matter whether your superficial circumstances are negative, you still have joy. You could be in jail and still have joy because joy is based on a deep sense of privilege. You know that you are among the few. Few are chosen, and you are aware that you have been chosen to know God’s Truth. You feel like David in Psalm 119.

Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders (Psalm 119:98-100).

Your Strength

Someone with joy in the Faith feels the same joy that the multitudes felt when Ezra read the scrolls found in the Temple.

They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read… Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength…’

Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them (Nehemiah 8:8-12).

The people of Ezra’s day felt sad for their sins, but they felt joy in the Faith. They felt happy because they had heard the Word of God, the Truth.

And you? Do you delight in sound doctrine? Does it make you happy to hear someone speak the Truth in the church or in a Bible study? Do you feel the way Cleopas and the other disciple felt when they walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus? Do you ever feel a burning in your heart when someone is teaching God's Word?

How much better is it to hear the Truth than to hear flattery? Most preaching in churches today is flattery. Pastors tell people how much Jesus wants to hug them, how special they are, and about how God has an unconditional love for them. They tell them “God loves you, and has a wonderful plan for your life.” They say “He loves you just as you are.”

Does this sound like Jesus? Do these men sound like apostles? Pastors today tell people what they want to hear, not what God wants to say. Do you want that kind of treatment? It will be easy to find it if you want it. But others among us have decided that we like straightforward preaching--plain dealing!

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it (Psalm 141:5).

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy (Proverbs 27:6; NASB).

Below is an artist's depiction of Paul and Peter, two great apostles who at times would have heated arguments. They dealt with one another with great frankness, and loved one another as men should love one another--like iron which sharpens iron.

Striving Together for the Faith

Paul goes on in the same passage that talks about progress and joy in the Faith to talk about how he strove together with the Philippians for the Faith.

I will know that you stand firm in the One Spirit, striving together as one for the Faith of the Gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you (Philippians 1:27-28).

The goal of the Philippians was to establish Truth in their midst. They knew that the Church is the pillar and foundation of the Truth (1 Timothy 3:15). Their cause was sound doctrine. They fought for God’s Word to be known and they struggled for right interpretations to be preached.

Paul strove together with the Philippians for the Faith by praying with them, teaching them, ministering with them, and fellowshipping with them. Paul called that striving together as one for the Faith. But this striving shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in Christ mostly involves verbal arguments—it's about passionate debates!

Isn’t that what Jesus spent a great amount of his time doing?

… the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside also? But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you…

Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.’

One of the experts in the Law answered him, ‘Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.’

Jesus replied, ‘And you experts in the Law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them’ (Luke 11:38-46).

Was Jesus afraid that his words would insult people? Not at all. He didn’t play patty-cake with the Pharisees. He didn’t tread lightly with teachers. True preachers cannot cower away from a debate. If religious leaders oppose us, we will not be frightened. We will not cower back. We must defend the Truth, present our arguments, and let teachers hear us!

We formulate logical, coherent, and forceful arguments, just like Stephen. We seek to speak with wisdom and a passionate wise spirit. If we do, others won't be able to handle us, and souls will be won.

… some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen… rose up and argued with Stephen. But they were unable to cope with his wisdom and the spirit by which he was speaking (Acts 6:9-10; NASB).