The one faith

A selection of verses showing what the Bible says about the one faith or Good News.

In his ministry Jesus preached the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Belief in his teaching called for a new way of life (repentance):

Mark 1 verses 14 - 15

14 Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”
 

At the end of his ministry Jesus instructed his disciples to continue to preach this Good News:

Mark 16 verses 15 - 16

15 He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation. 16 He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned. 

Paul emphasises that the Good News is a unified set of teachings:

Ephesians 4 verses 4 - 6

4 There is one body and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all, and in us all.

The apostle Paul tells us what the Good News is all about:

Romans 1 verse 16

16 For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.

Paul warns the believers in Galatia that the Good News, as a body of distinctive teachings, is always at risk of being corrupted:

Galatians 1 verses 6 - 7

6 I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”, 7 but there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.

The apostle John gives similar warnings:

2 John 1 verses 7 - 9

7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don’t confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whoever transgresses and doesn’t remain in the teaching of Christ, doesn’t have God. He who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

These chapters have links to this theme: