The Faith (Sadler's Church Teacher's Manual)

The Faith (Sadler's Church Teacher's Manual)

The Faith is Section XIII of The Church Teacher's Manual of Christian Instruction, Michael Ferrebee Sadler's 1872 expansion of the Church Catechism in question-and-answer form.

Summary

Sadler distinguishes faith as trust or belief from 'the faith' as the body of Christian doctrine. The section explains why the Creed functions as a concise rule of baptismal belief.

Sadler's Text

Sadler's catechetical treatment of this topic is anchored in the statement, "It first means that power, or faculty, or virtue in the soul or spirit, which believes a thing to be true on God's word." He further explains the section by saying, "I gather that God not only demands faith from us, but that that faith should accept and embrace a certain definite body of truth called "The faith once delivered to the Saints.""

Theological Themes

• Faith as trust
• The faith once delivered
• Creedal summary
• Public confession

Scripture References

The following references are representative biblical texts used or implied in this section of Sadler's catechetical exposition:

• Hebrews 11:6
• 1 Corinthians 13:13
• Luke 17:5
• Ephesians 4:5
• 1 Timothy 4:1

Anglican Context

This section belongs to Sadler's exposition of the baptismal promise to believe the articles of the Christian faith. It is especially connected with the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the use of the creeds in Anglican public worship. Sadler's treatment reflects nineteenth-century Church of England catechesis and should be read as a historical Anglican source alongside current provincial formularies and catechetical resources.

See Also

• The Church Teacher's Manual of Christian Instruction
• Apostles' Creed
• Nicene Creed
• Church Catechism
• Anglican Doctrine