The words "the faith" are given several times in the scriptures (Jude 3; Galatians 1:23; 1 Timothy 6:12; Revelation 14:12; Colossians 1:23).  A general reading of the scriptures might simply pass over these words without taking much notice.  However, the words "the faith" have significant meaning and a true understanding of the definition of this term has important implications concering doctrine.  When attached to the article "the" the word faith, according to Thayer's Lexicon, refers to "the religious beliefs of Christians."  According to Strongs Lexicon it means the "conviction of...the system of religious (Gospel) truth."  In this way "the faith" refers to the conviction of the truth which leads to salvation.  Of course, faith being vitally connected with knowledge, this truth is hinged on understnding the gospel (Romans 10:17).  Therefore, "the faith" is a referance to the understanding of what it takes for a person to be saved and the conviction of that truth.

This has great implications for unity and the nature of God's revelation to man.  First of all every Christian should be defending the same faith.  this means we should be defending the same understanding/doctrine that leads to salvation.  Of course this means there is only one truth that leads to salvation just as it is stated in Ephesians 4:5.

Furthermore, we are told in Jude 3 that the faith, or the doctrine and conviction that leads to salvation, has been once for all delivered to the saints.  This means that the faith does not change.  The faith that was revealed in the New Testament of the 1st century is the same faith we should be following today.  Let me pose two important questions.  First, what would be the implications of adding new revelation to the faith today?  Secondly, what would be the implications fo leaving out parts of the faith relied on in the 1st century?  To answer the first question, if revelation continued aftger the 1st century and the writing of the New Testament then the church of the 1st century did not have the whole faith.  they could not have been saved without the faith as it is defined by the Greek language and biblical context.  To answer the second question, if we take away from the faith that was relied upon in the 1st century then we remove part of the body of knowledge or the doctrine that leads to salvation.  Therefore, today we must neither add to nor take away from the faith established in the New Testament.

Just think about the implications this has on your practice of Christianity and the doctrine you defend.  Do you defend the same gospel that was defended in the 1st century?  Does your church add to the Word?  Does your church have a creed book or statment of faith other than the Bible that guides the chruch?  Is the Bible your sole source for determining what you should do to be pleasing to God?  Do you think the Holy Spirit is still revealing God's will today?  Is your religion or brand of Christianity based on "the faith" or on your on man's desires, creeds, traditions, or your own feeling about what is right and wrong and what you think is pleasing to God?

These are all very very important questions that every person must ask himself.  Remember the faith was once for all delivered to the saints!  Once for all means forever.  Once for all means it doesn't change.  Once for all means that you should be preaching, teaching, and living the same thing as Paul!  Are you?