May 1, 2003, Vol.2, No.9.

Faith and Fellowship

Keith Sharp

Recently I traveled to the Central American country of Belize to preach. At the request of Jesse Hightower, the local preacher, I dealt with the errors of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

My work in Belize reminded me of two basic principles of word study. These principles are universally true, whether we apply them to learning the meaning of words in everyday conversation or to ascertaining the import of biblical terms.

First, usage determines the meaning of a word. Since the majority of the people we were preaching to were Spanish speaking and since the preachers who were working together do not speak Spanish, Terry Partain came from Hollywood, Florida to translate for us one week. The people of Corozal Town, Belize said Terry’s Spanish was excellent. But they had trouble understanding him, because Belizeans do not speak formal Spanish. The next two weeks Jorge Quijano, a Belizean, translated, and the people understood him better, because he spoke the local dialect of Spanish. Local usage determined the meaning of Spanish words and grammar.

The other, kindred principle is that the context establishes the usage of a word.. Jehovah’s Witnesses claim, "Man doesn’t have a soul; he is a soul." They cite such passages as Acts 2:41, where the word "souls" is a synonym for "persons." But they willfully ignore the fact that the term is used in other contexts to mean "the inner man," a synonym for "spirit" (e.g., Psalm 42:1-5; Matthew 10:28; 3 John 2; Revelation 6:9).

We should use these principles to find the meaning of the word "faith." This English term is found 239 times in the King James new Testament; 38 occurrences are in Romans. It is helpful to look up the word in Bible dictionaries and lexicons, but its use in Scripture is the ultimate standard by which we must determine its meaning.

The faith that saves is defined in Hebrews 11:1-3,6. This faith is the "substance" ("assurance") of our hope and the "evidence" ("conviction") of unseen things. It is conviction based on evidence concerning things we do not see. But it is also trust in the faithfulness of the One in whom we place our trust (verse 6). This faith springs from the evidence found in the world (Romans 1:18-21) and the word (Romans 10:17).

But does this general description of faith (subjective faith) fit every New Testament usage? Hardly! Sometimes "faith" means the faithfulness or trustworthiness of God (Romans 3:3). Sometimes it refers to the gospel itself (objective faith, e.g., Romans 3:31; cf. 10:8).

Now to the point. Does Romans 14 teach we may have fellowship with each other though we differ in faith (what we believe the Bible requires to please God)?

Verse one refers to one who is "weak in the faith." Does this mean he is committing sin, failing to obey the commands of God, or teaching damnable error? No, for the apostle is speaking of eating food (verses 2-3). This falls in the realm of liberty, things allowed but not required (Romans 14:14; 1 Corinthians 8:8-9; 1 Timothy 4:1-5).

The term "faith" is employed three times in verses 22-23. Is it used of saving faith? Does it mean we can differ over the faith (the gospel, the doctrine of Christ) and still have unity? If so, the inspired apostle contradicts what he writes in Ephesians 4:1-6. Further, we are to keep the "faith" of Romans 14 to ourselves (verse 22), whereas we are to preach the faith (Galatians 1:23).

The context clearly defines "faith" in Romans 14:22-23. It pertains to things that are clean in themselves (verse 14), things that in themselves are "good" (verse 16). "Faith" in this passage is full conviction in one’s own mind that what he does is right (verse 5). The opposite is doubt that the practice is right (verse 23). Even if my practice is clean and good in itself, if I am not convinced it is right, it is sinful for me to practice it (verses 22-23).

"Faith" in Romans 14 is used of full conviction that a practice is acceptable to God. (cf. 1 Corinthians 8:7). Its application is to the realm of liberty or opinion (1 Corinthians 8:8-9), things allowed but not required. We can differ over these things and still have unity and fellowship. But in faith (conviction about what God requires to please Him) we must be one.