What are the Essential Beliefs of Christianity?

Not only will we not know God except through Jesus Christ; We don’t even know ourselves except through Jesus Christ. – Blaise Pascal

Essential Christianity

When we talk in regards to the essential beliefs of Christianity, we’re referring to the fundamental elements that make up and characterize our faith. These essential beliefs make up our faith and likewise show what separates Christianity from other beliefs. Let’s survey these doctrines.

What does a Christian imagine?

First, we imagine within the authority of Scripture, which is one other way of claiming that the Bible is God’s inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word. It’s the final word source for knowledge about God and the definitive guide for our every day lives.

Second, we affirm the existence of a triune God or one God in three distinct individuals – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  This God is self-existent, everlasting, unchanging, omnipotent, omnipresent, holy, righteous, and loving.  God created the universe from nothing and rules sovereign over His creation, including human and angelic beings.

Third, we hold that man is a physical and spiritual being who’s created in God’s image. But man has lost his fellowship with God due to his sin or transgression.  The extent of sin is so great that its efffects proceed to this very day in the shape of cruelty, sickness, suffering, and death.

Fourth, By God’s grace, Jesus Christ – Who is fully God and fully man – was sent to save lots of us from our bondage to sin. We imagine that Christ was born of a virgin, died for our sins, physically rose from the dead, and can someday return to guage the world and deliver His people. Faith in Christ alone (not faith + works) is the one means by which a person can escape everlasting damnation and judgment.

Finally, we recognize the church as God’s ordained institution headed by Christ. The church consists of all believers and is organized for teaching, worship, fellowship, the administration of communion and baptism, spiritual growth and support, and evangelizing the world. True believers seek to be a part of local church assemblies where the Word of God is taught accurately.

Does an individual have to imagine the rest to be a Christian?

From the beginning, Christians have been discussing what these essential beliefs mean for our every day lives and if there are some other essential beliefs. Some of those debates have been useful, while others have made things more confusing. Ultimately, these five essential beliefs (summarized in statements just like the Nicene Creed) are the core ideas Christianity stands on. Everything else builds on these ideas.

After we’re saved through faith, we must always pursue opportunities to grasp these essential beliefs higher. There are many good books to assist us understand what it implies that God is one God in three individuals and why it is important that we’re saved by faith alone. A great church community or an experienced Christian mentor can connect you to resources that enable you grow in knowledge about Christianity and the God who loves you. By learning more about these beliefs, we learn more in regards to the God who loves us and sent Jesus to die for us. We do not have to turn out to be expert scholars to learn more about Christianity. 

Further Reading:

What Is Christianity?

What is Faith?

What are the Basic Beliefs of Christianity?

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