Essential Christian Doctrines

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Boughtwithaprice said:
You're obviously standing in front of a mirror,

Wow, you really insult hard... how much inner anger does it take to be able to say something so hurtful to another?
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How old are you? 12? I'm thinking you have been told to cut out the anti Trinity rhetoric. Argue with the owner of the forum. I'm done with you and judging from the way you try to gaslight others, that giant ego of yours will not suffer attendance here very long.

There is an ignore choice here. Taking that option with you.
 
NightTwister said:
If I put my faith in a rock that I named "Jesus", that rock will not save me. But yes, people can initially not fully understand that Jesus is God. But if they persist in that Arian heresy even after being taught, then they are not a Christian.
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Again, there is a gulf between not accepting (yet) and rejecting. Conflating the two positions is divisive.
 
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Dino246 said:
Again, there is a gulf between not accepting (yet) and rejecting. Conflating the two positions is divisive.
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Yes, and folks need to contemplate the truth that all OT believers did not know about Jesus or the HS, but yet they were saved.
 
GWH said:
Yes, and folks need to contemplate the truth that all OT believers did not know about Jesus or the HS, but yet they were saved.
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Based on certain bits on the OT, I think some were aware of the Spirit and fewer of the second power in the Godhead, but I agree that none knew of Jesus or of the full ministry of the Holy Spirit.
 
Dino246 said:
Based on certain bits on the OT, I think some were aware of the Spirit and fewer of the second power in the Godhead, but I agree that none knew of Jesus or of the full ministry of the Holy Spirit.
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Yes, the revelation of Christ's atonement and the indwelling Holy Spirit was a mystery until Paul's enlightenment,
and hermeneutics seeks to harmonize the OT and NT in accordance with the TOJ and TOP, which are summarized
by the Gospel kerygma or Christian creed:

The normative way of stating the kerygma/GRFS in the NT is “Accept Christ Jesus as Lord” (as in 2Cor. 4:5 & Col. 2:6). The main points of Christian orthodoxy implicit in this statement can be explained or elaborated as in the following creed:
  1. There is a/one all-loving and just Lord or Creator God (Deut. 6:4, John 3:16, 2Thes. 1:6), who is both able (2Tim. 1:12) and willing (1Tim. 2:3-4, Ezek. 33:11) to provide all morally accountable human beings salvation or heaven—a wonderful life full of love, joy and peace forever.
  2. Human beings are selfish or sinful (Rom. 3:23, 2Tim. 3:2-4, Col. 3:5), miserable (Gal. 5:19-21), and hopeless (Eph. 2:12) or hell-bound at the judgment (Matt. 23:33 & 25:46) when they reject God’s salvation (John 3:18, Rom. 2:5-11).
  3. Jesus is God’s Messiah/Christ and incarnate Son, the way that God has chosen (John 3:16, Acts 16:30-31, Phil. 2:9-11) of providing salvation by means of his atoning death on the cross for the payment of the penalty for the sins of humanity (Rom. 3:22-25 & 5:9-11), followed by his resurrection to reign in heaven (1Cor. 15:14-28).
  4. Thus, every person who hears the NT Gospel needs to repent and accept God’s grace or justification in Jesus as Christ/Messiah the Lord or Supreme Commander (Luke 2:11, John 14:6, Acts 16:31), at which moment God’s loving Holy Spirit of Christ indwells/baptizes the believer into the church (Rev. 3:20, Rom. 5:5, 1Cor. 12:13).
  5. Loving Christ Jesus as Lord (Luke 2:11), God the Son (Matt. 16:16) or God in the human dimension (Col. 2:9) means reflecting divine love as empowered by the Holy Spirit, thereby obeying His command to love one another (Matt. 7:21, 22:37-40, John 13:35, Rom. 13:9)—forever (Matt. 10:22, Psa. 113:2), which will eventually achieve spiritual maturity on earth and heaven after Christ returns at God’s resurrection (John 14:6, 17&26, Rom. 8:6-17, Gal. 6:7-9, Eph. 1:13-14, Phil. 3:12-16, Heb. 10:36, 12:1, Jam. 1:2-4).
 
GWH said:
Yes, and folks need to contemplate the truth that all OT believers did not know about Jesus or the HS, but yet they were saved.
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but these three remain -1Corinthians 13:13
These three, faith, hope, and the greatest of these, love, was, is and always will be, eternal in God.
 
ChristRoseFromTheDead said:
Demonstrate how it is essential. A person can be saved without knowing this fact.
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If Jesus isn't God, then he's just a man. And if he's just a man, how could He atone for sin on the cross or resurrect the dead, among many, many other things?

If our God-given faith isn't in the Jesus Christ of the Holy Bible, which proclaims Him to be God, then it's a false faith in a false christ who cannot save a soul.

Doctrine absolutely matters.
 
Psalm1 said:
I doubt it.
How is a spirit destroyed?
It has no body.

BTW, why are the wicked resurrected?
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Evil people punish/torture themselves by experiencing delayed karma, just as those who experience appropriate justice during this earthly existence also punish themselves or reap what they have sown and send themselves to jail. This view makes souls responsible for breaking the rules rather than blaming evil on the judges (or Judge) who enforce the rules.

The purpose of earthly punishment is to promote repentance, but the reason for retribution in hell is to attain justice. It is difficult to imagine, but somehow even someone as evil as Hitler will receive perfect justice, perhaps experiencing the agony of the millions of deaths he caused in accordance with the principal of “eye for eye” (Matt. 5:38), after which their souls are destroyed forever (per John 17:12, Rom. 9:22, Gal. 6:8, Phil. 3:19, 2Thes. 1:9, 2Pet. 3:7 & Rev. 20:13-14).
 
GWH said:
Evil people punish/torture themselves by experiencing delayed karma, just as those who experience appropriate justice during this earthly existence also punish themselves or reap what they have sown and send themselves to jail. This view makes souls responsible for breaking the rules rather than blaming evil on the judges (or Judge) who enforce the rules.

The purpose of earthly punishment is to promote repentance, but the reason for retribution in hell is to attain justice. It is difficult to imagine, but somehow even someone as evil as Hitler will receive perfect justice, perhaps experiencing the agony of the millions of deaths he caused in accordance with the principal of “eye for eye” (Matt. 5:38), after which their souls are destroyed forever (per John 17:12, Rom. 9:22, Gal. 6:8, Phil. 3:19, 2Thes. 1:9, 2Pet. 3:7 & Rev. 20:13-14).
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Are you suggesting "everlasting destruction", or "ceasing to exist"?
 
Psalm1 said:
You can do anything you like
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Uh huh. That's what the sons of Aaron thought too. Jesus specifically said that those who worship must do so in spirit and in truth. Fog machines aside, there is alot of nonsense that people think is ok. It's not.
 
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Check my new post it fits with this. Were Adam and Eve the first people created. There are things that churches agree on and disagree on. The 7 churches of Revelation represent all the type of churches out there, but only one did God find no fault with. You need to find out what that church taught and make sure that you are getting that message.
 
ChristRoseFromTheDead said:
Theoretically, someone could live by these 2 doctrines and have everything they needed:
  1. Believe in the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and acknowledge his lordship with water baptism in his name
  2. Treat others like they'd like to be treated, and don't treat others like they wouldn't want to be treated
This is based on the following verses:

Because if you acknowledge lord Jesus with your mouth, and believe in your heart that GOD raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes into righteousness, and with the mouth one acknowledges into salvation. Romans 10:9-10​
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Therefore, all things, whatever you desire that men should do to you, so also you should do to them; for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12​
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I agree that Jesus was baptized, and we should follow in His footsteps; but nowhere in the bible does it say that you must be baptized and you will be saved.
 
NightTwister said:
It's been 6 years since this was a topic, and there has been some discussion on other threads recently, so a new thread seems to make sense. What are the ESSENTIAL Christian doctrines? These are doctrines that divide us from other quasi-Christian religions (e.g. LDS, JW, etc.). I'll start things off with an edited list of Statement of Beliefs from my church on the essentials:

God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Biblical References: Genesis 1:1, 26–27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2

Jesus
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice by dying on the cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to claim His own and take them to that same Heaven.
‍Biblical References: Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22–23; John 1:1–5; 14:10–30; Acts 1:9–11; Romans 1:3–4; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; 1 Timothy 6:14–15; Titus 2:13; Hebrew 4:14–15

Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He is our intercessor and provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right.
‍Biblical References: John 14:16, 16:7–14, 17; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:26–27; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:16–17; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13; 5:18

The Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to us. Human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, wrote it. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is God inspired, it is the truth without any mixture or error.
‍Biblical References: Psalm 119:105, 160; Proverbs 30:5–6; Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:20–21, 3:15–16

Eternity
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
‍Biblical References: John 3:16; 14:17; Romans 6:23; 8:17–18; 1 Corinthians 2:7–9; Revelation 20:15

This should be a good starting point. Feel free to agree, disagree, modify, add, etc.
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Of the 7 churches of revelation which I thank represent all "Christian" churches only one did God find no fault with. Do you know which church that was and what they taught that set them apart?
 
NightTwister said:
It's been 6 years since this was a topic, and there has been some discussion on other threads recently, so a new thread seems to make sense. What are the ESSENTIAL Christian doctrines? These are doctrines that divide us from other quasi-Christian religions (e.g. LDS, JW, etc.). I'll start things off with an edited list of Statement of Beliefs from my church on the essentials:

God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Biblical References: Genesis 1:1, 26–27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2

Jesus
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice by dying on the cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to claim His own and take them to that same Heaven.
‍Biblical References: Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22–23; John 1:1–5; 14:10–30; Acts 1:9–11; Romans 1:3–4; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; 1 Timothy 6:14–15; Titus 2:13; Hebrew 4:14–15

Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He is our intercessor and provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right.
‍Biblical References: John 14:16, 16:7–14, 17; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:26–27; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:16–17; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13; 5:18

The Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to us. Human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, wrote it. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is God inspired, it is the truth without any mixture or error.
‍Biblical References: Psalm 119:105, 160; Proverbs 30:5–6; Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:20–21, 3:15–16

Eternity
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
‍Biblical References: John 3:16; 14:17; Romans 6:23; 8:17–18; 1 Corinthians 2:7–9; Revelation 20:15

This should be a good starting point. Feel free to agree, disagree, modify, add, etc.
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