In science 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms.

That all men are equal is a proposition to which at ordinary times no sane human being has ever given his assent.

Faith means intense usually confident belief that is not based on evidence sufficient to command assent from every reasonable person.

Justifying faith is not a naked assent to the truths of the gospel.

Therefore the church is not absolutely necessary as an object of faith not even for us today for then Abraham and the other prophets would not have given assent to those things which were revealed to them from God without any intervening help of the church.

Every formula of every religion has in this age of reason to submit to the acid test of reason and universal assent.