When Does a Doctrine Become Nonessential?

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IsaiahX

IsaiahX

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Oct 28, 2018
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The Church generally accepts that christians do not have to agree on every doctrine, but what doctrines can we disagree on?

In my opinion, the only essential doctrines in the Christian Faith are as follows:

* God created everything.
* Every man besides Jesus Christ has sinned.
* Jesus Christ came in the Flesh.
* Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for the sins of humanity.
* Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father.
 
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Unfortunately, Christians don't even agree on which doctrines are essential, let alone actually agreeing on the issues.
 
Dino246 said:
Unfortunately, Christians don't even agree on which doctrines are essential, let alone actually agreeing on the issues.
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Well, if that's the case, what do you believe the essential doctrines are personally?
 
IsaiahX said:
Well, if that's the case, what do you believe the essential doctrines are personally?
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I don't spend a lot of time considering the matter, but if I do, it ends up sounding a lot like one of the major creeds... Nicene and/or Apostles'. If I delve down to the absolute non-negotiables, I would (at least) include Jesus' deity, humanity, sinlessness, acceptable sacrifice for sin in death, and resurrection.
 
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IsaiahX said:
The Church generally accepts that christians do not have to agree on every doctrine, but what doctrines can we disagree on?

In my opinion, the only essential doctrines in the Christian Faith are as follows:

* God created everything.
* Every man besides Jesus Christ has sinned.
* Jesus Christ came in the Flesh.
* Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for the sins of humanity.
* Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father.
Click to expand...
What makes a doctrine essential?
If we answer that question, then nonessentials are everything else.

I would say essential to salvation would be the most essential.
Let's run your list through this question.

* God created everything. --- essential for salvation? No.
* Every man besides Jesus Christ has sinned. --- essential for salvation? Yes.
* Jesus Christ came in the Flesh. --- essential for salvation? Yes.
* Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for the sins of humanity. --- essential for salvation? Yes.
* Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. --- essential for salvation? Yes.
 
Essential Doctrines?

1. If "essential doctrine" is generally understood to meaning "doctrines essential for salvation", then it's not complicated.

2. We just make a list of things we must understand and believe, in a rudimentary way, which are necessary (critical) to move from point A to point B.

3. Point A would be "lost and without Christ", and point B would be "saved by Christ and reconciled to God."

4. The main points on this path are easy to arrive at, and are generally agreed upon by orthodox believers.
There are a few sub-points, or bits of minutiae, that are a bit fuzzy. But the main points are pretty simple and clear.



It's possible to get stuck in the weeds, but the main points are generally pretty clear.


...
 
I would say that the essential doctrines we must believe in are the Apostles's Creed and the Nicene Creed, more or less.

In a practical life, we must repent and believe the gospel.

And thats pretty much it.

"Bbbbut, but that would make many Catholics saved. That would make many Orthodox saved. That would even make some liberals saved!" Exactly. :sneaky:
 
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As a Bible believer I hold to a few absolutes that I consider fundamental to the faith, but I know they would not be accepted here by the majority of posters . . . but the one I believe will stand on its own merit is belief in the Deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His vicarious death for sinners, His literal, and bodily resurrection.

Unbelief in this important biblical doctrine would indicate that the person is lost.
 
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trofimus said:
I would say that the essential doctrines we must believe in are the Apostles's Creed and the Nicene Creed, more or less.
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More or less? How can something be 'essential' if it can not be proven to be infallible? Oh, wait -- you don't even believe that the Bible is without error.
 
BaptistBibleBeliever said:
More or less? How can something be 'essential' if it can not be proven to be infallible? Oh, wait -- you don't even believe that the Bible is without error.
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Do you consider belief that "the Bible is without error" essential for salvation? If not, your comment is nothing other than a personal attack.
 
There is only one doctrine that is of any value, that being the doctrine of Christ. It is the law of truth that was, is will always be the truth, it does not change for it is the light in which there is no variableness nor shade of turning.
 
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Dino246 said:
If not, your comment is nothing other than a personal attack.
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Not to take sides except that if you dont' believe the Bible is without error then I don't see how saying "you don't even believe that the Bible is without error" is a personal attach if that is what you believe.

So do you believe the Bible is without error or not? ( Since it is not a question of what he believes but rather what you believe.)
 
IsaiahX said:
The Church generally accepts that christians do not have to agree on every doctrine, but what doctrines can we disagree on?

In my opinion, the only essential doctrines in the Christian Faith are as follows:
Click to expand...

* God created everything.
Not sure about this one.. clarification: Yes i do believe it personally but i am not sure it is an essential belief that one needs to have to be saved..

* Every man besides Jesus Christ has sinned.
Do you believe that Babies have sinned or do you believe they are innocent? I would modify your point with the following::
*Jesus never sinned: This would be an essential to me..

* Jesus Christ came in the Flesh. Yes I agree..

* Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for the sins of humanity. Yes I agree..

* Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. Yes I agree..

I would add::
*Jesus Christ was rasied from the dead in His body, It was a physical reasurection.
 
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