How common is it to hear from an evangelical pulpit that "We must be strong in the essentials of the faith." I have often heard this from various preachers and churches yet have very scarcely heard a detailed articulation of them. As I was preparing for my Wednesday night bible study group (Roc Solid), I felt it necessary to teach an overview of all that I could find that qualifyed as an essential of the Christian faith.

I defined these truths as "The doctrines that determine salvation." It's lists such as these that help debunk false Christianity. As you study further into this topic consider the teachings of Roman Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses', Mormons', Oneness Pentecostals' and see if they line up with the Bibles definition of Christianity.

I have placed a portion of the sheet here for your viewing. I pray it serves to edify and encourage you to learn more about the faith we profess.

Essentials of the Faith: the truths that determine salvation

(Essentials do not mean that one must have a comprehensive understanding of all details concerning the indispensable doctrines of Christianity upon the accepted presentation of the Gospel, but rather must upon growth in Christ come to comply with all preeminent doctrines as they are encountered. Denials of any one of these truths come to prove the inauthenticity of the initial acceptance of them, thus ones salvation must be brought into question.)

1. Believe in the existence of God (Hebrews 11.6)

a. In order to be Christian one must believe in the reality of God

b. God is not a concept, but rather an essential reality

2. The Authority of scripture (The 66 canonical authoritative books

(2 Tim 3.16; 2 Peter 1.20-21; Psalm 1{Wicked/Blessed man categories})

a. In order to be Christian one must believe in the authority of scripture

b. If you don’t, you are not his true disciple per (John 8.31/2 John 9)

c. If one does not believe in God’s Word, how will they believe in the gospel message, which is derived from His Word?

3. Monotheism (Deut 6.4; Isaiah 45.5)

a. The Bible teaches that there is only one God

b. If you believe in more than one God you are denying the true God (Joshua 24.14-24)

4. The Triunity of God (Isaiah 6.9-10 + Acts 28.25-28/John 12.39-41; Matt 28.19)

a. That the one God exists as three persons, and all three actually exist simultaneously as the one being Yahweh. (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)

b. Belief in any other God is idolatry, for no other God exists. (Isa 44.6)

5. Christ’s Deity (Col 2.9)

a. That Christ was fully God, thus qualified to pay an eternal price for sin.

b. A denial of Christ (One man with two natures) is a denial of God Luke 10.16; John 8.19, 14.6-7

6. Christ’s Humanity (Phil 2.5-8)

a. That Christ was fully man, thus qualifying him as a substitutionary sacrifice for mankind

b. A denial of Christ (One man with two natures) is a denial of God Luke 10.16; John 8.19, 14.6-7

7.Christ’s Virgin Birth (Matt 1.18-25)

a. That Christ was not born with a sin nature, thus born sinless

b. If Christ was born of the seed of man, He would have adopted a sin nature, thus disqualifying Him as both God and Savior (Rom 5.12-21)

8.The Deity and Personality of the Holy Spirit

(Eph 4.30; 1Cor 12.9-11 = giver of divine gifts; Isaiah 6.9/Acts 28.25-26 = spoke as God)

a. That the Holy Spirit is fully God and a person

b. Denial of this is a denial of the only God who exists, for God is Triune

9. God Created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1-2)

a. One must believe that God is their maker and that they are accountable to Him as a child to
their parents

10. Human Depravity (Rom 5.12-21, 1 John 1.8-10)

a. That mankind is sinful and needs a savior

b. One must believe that he needs to be saved from something in order to be saved from it

11. The Atonement of Christ (Rom 3.23-26)

a. That Christ paid the sin debt for all who will come to believe (John 3.16)

b. One must believe that Christ paid their sin debt in order to partake in His atoning work

12. The Resurrection Of Christ ( 1 Cor 15.1-34)

a. That Christ died and rose from the dead bodily

b. Apart from a bodily resurrection our faith is void (1 Cor 15.14-17)

13. Salvation by Grace alone (Eph 2.1-10; Gal 5.4; Rom 4.5)

a. Salvation is of the Lord; no amount of personal works can save you thus any attempt leaves the debt unpaid.

14. Salvation through Faith in Christ Alone (Rom 3.28; Acts 4.11-12)

a. Faith in any other being or thing is worthless to salvation

There are far more texts to support each essential, however this is not meant to be exhaustive by any means. May you be blessed in your reading.

For more videos from Pastor Kaynenn click here.