Essentials verses non-Essentials

Fidelibus · Oct 2, 2021

As a Catholic, I have asked some Bible alone (Sola Scriptura) Christian believers within this forum what are the essentials and non-essentials for a sole rule of faith, and have yet received a definitive answer. I have seen many bible believing Christians argue that it doesn't matter, that there are thousands upon thousands of different denominations/sects because these denominations/sects agree on the "essentials", and as long as there is conformity to these "essentials", the other differences in doctrines are extraneous or secondary.

However, I have found within this forum, if I were to ask one of these bible alone Christians what these "essentials" are, I'd get a slew of different answers. Why is that if these Sola Scripturist are going by the same Bible? So, I'd like to ask, what is the true list of essential and non-essential beliefs for believers of Sola Scriptura, and who or what entity of the Sola Scriptura believers has the authority to make such a list?

Have a Blessed day!

.Jeremiah. · Oct 2, 2021

You have asked great questions.

I can’t wait to see some responses.

sandman · Oct 2, 2021

I believe the current 66 books were God breathed (2Ti 3:16). Given by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal 1:12), and holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost (2Pe 1:21).

I have read through the Deuterocanonical books and I understand why they were not included.

If I were to single anything that I would deem essential ….it would be Rom 10:9&10 …for salvation.

I have no problem with any of the writings (traditions) outside of the Word of God …as long as they don’t contradict or add to the written Word….. The Word of God is the final authority.

2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

EJ M · Oct 2, 2021

Hello
I have heard the phrase non-essential scriptures and it is distressing
Is there any mortal man qualified to judge the Word of God and deem any of His Word non-essential?
I like what Job said,
I esteem the Words at His mouth more that my necessary food.
Good policy.

SkyWriting · Oct 2, 2021

Fidelibus said:
As a Catholic, I have asked some Bible alone (Sola Scriptura) Christian believers within this forum what are the essentials and non-essentials for a sole rule of faith, and have yet received a definitive answer. I have seen many bible believing Christians argue that it doesn't matter, that there are thousands upon thousands of different denominations/sects because these denominations/sects agree on the "essentials", and as long as there is conformity to these "essentials", the other differences in doctrines are extraneous or secondary.

However, I have found within this forum, if I were to ask one of these bible alone Christians what these "essentials" are, I'd get a slew of different answers. Why is that if these Sola Scripturist are going by the same Bible? So, I'd like to ask, what is the true list of essential and non-essential beliefs for believers of Sola Scriptura, and who or what entity of the Sola Scriptura believers has the authority to make such a list?

Have a Blessed day!

The Bible says:
Mark 12:31
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

James 2:8
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

Romans 15:2
Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Proverbs 3:29
Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you.

Matthew 7:12
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you,
do also to them,
for this is the Law and the Prophets.

That covers it.

Mark Quayle · Oct 3, 2021

Fidelibus said:
As a Catholic, I have asked some Bible alone (Sola Scriptura) Christian believers within this forum what are the essentials and non-essentials for a sole rule of faith, and have yet received a definitive answer. I have seen many bible believing Christians argue that it doesn't matter, that there are thousands upon thousands of different denominations/sects because these denominations/sects agree on the "essentials", and as long as there is conformity to these "essentials", the other differences in doctrines are extraneous or secondary.

However, I have found within this forum, if I were to ask one of these bible alone Christians what these "essentials" are, I'd get a slew of different answers. Why is that if these Sola Scripturist are going by the same Bible? So, I'd like to ask, what is the true list of essential and non-essential beliefs for believers of Sola Scriptura, and who or what entity of the Sola Scriptura believers has the authority to make such a list?

Have a Blessed day!

What does "entity of the Sola Scriptura believers" mean? What does "sole rule of faith" mean? Is it necessary for one to know before being saved?

klutedavid · Oct 3, 2021

Fidelibus said:
As a Catholic, I have asked some Bible alone (Sola Scriptura) Christian believers within this forum what are the essentials and non-essentials for a sole rule of faith, and have yet received a definitive answer. I have seen many bible believing Christians argue that it doesn't matter, that there are thousands upon thousands of different denominations/sects because these denominations/sects agree on the "essentials", and as long as there is conformity to these "essentials", the other differences in doctrines are extraneous or secondary.

However, I have found within this forum, if I were to ask one of these bible alone Christians what these "essentials" are, I'd get a slew of different answers. Why is that if these Sola Scripturist are going by the same Bible? So, I'd like to ask, what is the true list of essential and non-essential beliefs for believers of Sola Scriptura, and who or what entity of the Sola Scriptura believers has the authority to make such a list?

Have a Blessed day!

Catholics have had two thousand years to nail their essentials. Protestants have only had a handful of centuries to work it out and we have not finished yet.

After we have wandered down the path of inquisitions and indulgences. Then more than likely we will have sorted out the essentials. Come back in fifteen hundred years and you will get your question answered.

Fidelibus · Oct 3, 2021

SkyWriting said:
The Bible says:
Mark 12:31
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

James 2:8
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

Romans 15:2
Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Proverbs 3:29
Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you.

Matthew 7:12
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you,
do also to them,
for this is the Law and the Prophets.

That covers it.

Does it really?

Do you think that every Protestant or non-Denominational would agree with what you posted as covering the essential beliefs of Christians? What I didn't see on your list were.......

Baptism as an essential.

The belief in the Real Presence as an essential.

Belief in the Holy Trinity as an essential.

To name just a few.

Do you believe the examples I posted as essentials beliefs for Christians?

Have a Blessed Day!

Fidelibus · Oct 3, 2021

Mark Quayle said:
What does "entity of the Sola Scriptura believers" mean?

What I am asking is, among believers of Sola Scriptura, (the Bible alone) who or what authority outside of the Bible, be it a Protestant or non-denominational church or sect determines what are the essential beliefs Bible Christians hold on too, and what are the non-essential beliefs? Pretty sure the Bible does not contain such a list.

What does "sole rule of faith" mean?

Do you believe the Bible alone is sufficient as a sole rule of faith?

Is it necessary for one to know before being saved?

For Catholics, no. Would it be on the list of essentials for Protestants and non-denominationals?

Have a Blessed day!

Fidelibus · Oct 3, 2021

sandman said:
I believe the current 66 books were God breathed (2Ti 3:16). Given by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal 1:12), and holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost (2Pe 1:21).

I have read through the Deuterocanonical books and I understand why they were not included.

If I were to single anything that I would deem essential ….it would be Rom 10:9&10 …for salvation.

I have no problem with any of the writings (traditions) outside of the Word of God …as long as they don’t contradict or add to the written Word….. The Word of God is the final authority.

2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

See a lot of I, I, I's Sandman, like..... "I believe",...... "I have read",...... "If I were too", and "I have no problem" in this post. Not to be dis-respectful, but how many Protestant and non-Denominational Bible alone believers do you think would agree with your assessment of the essentials for Bible alone Christians?

Have a Blessed day!

SkyWriting · Oct 3, 2021

Fidelibus said:
Does it really?

Do you think that every Protestant or non-Denominational would agree with what you posted as covering the essential beliefs of Christians? What I didn't see on your list were.......

Baptism as an essential.

The belief in the Real Presence as an essential.

Belief in the Holy Trinity as an essential.

To name just a few.

Do you believe the examples I posted as essentials beliefs for Christians?

Have a Blessed Day!

Not in the slightest. Barely anyone agrees with what I've discovered scripture says. That's why we protect pedophile priests. If I was a pedophile, I'd ask to be castrated. As they all should.

Mark 12:31
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

James 2:8
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

Romans 15:2
Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Proverbs 3:29
Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you.

Matthew 7:12
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you,
do also to them,
for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Mark Quayle · Oct 3, 2021

Fidelibus said:
What I am asking is, among believers of Sola Scriptura, (the Bible alone) who or what authority outside of the Bible, be it a Protestant or non-denominational church or sect determines what are the essential beliefs Bible Christians hold on too, and what are the non-essential beliefs? Pretty sure the Bible does not contain such a list.

Fidelibus said:
Do you believe the Bible alone is sufficient as a sole rule of faith?

That was not the question. The question has to do with what you mean by faith: What you answered below is closer to the point. "Are these necessary to believe in order to be saved?", is what I am asking whether you meant, or do you mean something more like, "Are these basic to the point of not being negotiable, nor even arguable, as far as theology itself —as far as waymarkers of truth?"

Fidelibus said:
For Catholics, no. Would it be on the list of essentials for Protestants and non-denominationals?

sandman · Oct 3, 2021

It really doesn’t matter to me who agrees with me, am not looking for affirmation just stating what I I I believe is the essential.

As a catholic certain things like baptism at birth and confirmation are essential. The Word of God declares that water baptism ended with the baptism of the spirit (Act 1:5), which is why I I I stated Romans 10:9 &10.

If I I I had to pick one true essential it would be to get someone born again….which 10:9 &10 does…

That does not mean that disregard the rest of the Word ….In my world the entire Word of God is essential….but getting born again not only gives a person eternal life, it also allows them to by guided by the spirit in understanding the Word …as the Word is foolishness to the natural man

Daniel Marsh · Oct 5, 2021

Fidelibus said:
As a Catholic, I have asked some Bible alone (Sola Scriptura) Christian believers within this forum what are the essentials and non-essentials for a sole rule of faith, and have yet received a definitive answer. I have seen many bible believing Christians argue that it doesn't matter, that there are thousands upon thousands of different denominations/sects because these denominations/sects agree on the "essentials", and as long as there is conformity to these "essentials", the other differences in doctrines are extraneous or secondary.

However, I have found within this forum, if I were to ask one of these bible alone Christians what these "essentials" are, I'd get a slew of different answers. Why is that if these Sola Scripturist are going by the same Bible? So, I'd like to ask, what is the true list of essential and non-essential beliefs for believers of Sola Scriptura, and who or what entity of the Sola Scriptura believers has the authority to make such a list?

Have a Blessed day!

The Trinity, incarnation, the cross, resurrection, Mary's roles are the essentials.

Doctrines that divide real Christians are likely the non-essentials.
Among those are speaking in tongues, second coming debates, the sabbath, Calvinism, KJV only, etc.,

Mark Quayle · Oct 5, 2021

Daniel Marsh said:
The Trinity, incarnation, the cross, resurrection, Mary's roles are the essentials.

Doctrines that divide real Christians are likely the non-essentials.
Among those are speaking in tongues, second coming debates, the sabbath, Calvinism, KJV only, etc.,

"Mary's roles"? Which are what? There is a LOT of disagreement there.

Thatgirloncfforums · Oct 11, 2021

Well, considering that the Faith is not a check list, but the proclamation of God's entry into our sinful and dead world--

Only Trinitology and Christology matters.
Get those right, and everything else, from soteriology to morality to worship will fall into place.

It's God who matters. It is he who is essential, not ideas picked up from Tradition or Scripture. For these testify of him.

Fidelibus said:
As a Catholic, I have asked some Bible alone (Sola Scriptura) Christian believers within this forum what are the essentials and non-essentials for a sole rule of faith, and have yet received a definitive answer. I have seen many bible believing Christians argue that it doesn't matter, that there are thousands upon thousands of different denominations/sects because these denominations/sects agree on the "essentials", and as long as there is conformity to these "essentials", the other differences in doctrines are extraneous or secondary.

However, I have found within this forum, if I were to ask one of these bible alone Christians what these "essentials" are, I'd get a slew of different answers. Why is that if these Sola Scripturist are going by the same Bible? So, I'd like to ask, what is the true list of essential and non-essential beliefs for believers of Sola Scriptura, and who or what entity of the Sola Scriptura believers has the authority to make such a list?

Have a Blessed day!

SabbathBlessings · Oct 11, 2021

God's Ten Commandments are absolute essentials. The first four commandments are our moral duty how we are to love God and the last six how we our to love and treat each other. If we all obeyed these commandments there would be no more sin as sin is defined as transgressing God's laws. 1 John 3:4, Romans 3:20, Romans 7:7

God did not leave it up to anyone else to write His holy laws, He personally wrote His laws with His own finger, spoke them with His own voice and stored inside the Most Holy of God's Temple. God's laws reflect the very character of our Savior. For people to claim they were "fulfilled i.e. deleted" are really only fooling themselves. Or that only nine of the ten we are to keep and the one commandment we can forget is the one commandment God used the word "holy" and said for us to "Remember"-I believe God. God wrote a Covenant of Ten, not nine. Exodus 34:28

God's laws are now written in our heart and minds in the New Covenant. Hebrews 8:10, Jer 31:33 They are in our hearts and we obey out of love John 14:15, John 15:10 1 John 5:3 and they are written in our minds so we remember to do them! James 1:22, Revelations 22:14

The commandment keepers represent God's end-time church

Revelations 12:14
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

God bless

Thatgirloncfforums · Oct 11, 2021

Even if we could obey the Law perfectly, we would still have death to contend with. In fact, this is why we cannot obey the Law. Through the Law we become aware of sin.

SabbathBlessings said:
God's Ten Commandments are absolute essentials. The first four commandments are our moral duty how we are to love God and the last six how we our to love and treat each other. If we all obeyed these commandments there would be no more sin as sin is defined as transgressing God's laws. 1 John 3:4, Romans 3:20, Romans 7:7

God did not leave it up to anyone else to write His holy laws, He personally wrote His laws with His own finger, spoke them with His own voice and stored inside the Most Holy of God's Temple. God's laws reflect the very character of our Savior. For people to claim they were "fulfilled i.e. deleted" are really only fooling themselves. Or that only nine of the ten we are to keep and the one commandment we can forget is the one commandment God used the word "holy" and said for us to "Remember"-I believe God. God wrote a Covenant of Ten, not nine. Exodus 34:28

God's laws are now written in our heart and minds in the New Covenant. Hebrews 8:10, Jer 31:33 They are in our hearts and we obey out of love John 14:15, John 15:10 1 John 5:3 and they are written in our minds so we remember to do them! James 1:22, Revelations 22:14

The commandment keepers represent God's end-time church

Revelations 12:14
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

God bless

SabbathBlessings · Oct 11, 2021

Thatgirloncfforums said:
Even if we could obey the Law perfectly, we would still have death to contend with. In fact, this is why we cannot obey the Law. Through the Law we become aware of sin.

We are aware of sin so we can overcome sin, not succumb to it. Jesus would have died in vain if we can sin freely. We don't need grace is we are free to sin nor would we need a Savior because we would all be lost.

This is where our faith comes in. With God all things are possible. God even provides us the Holy Spirit to help us obey. Acts 5:32, John 14:15-18

This is not saying if we slip and fall we don't have an Advocate with Jesus for forgiveness. True repentance means your truly sorry and want to turn from sin. Jesus wants us to gain victory over sin and gives us everything to help overcome sin. With God's laws written in our hearts and minds we can become a new creature from the inside out. We have to make the commitment and ask Jesus for His help so we can obey. God's laws was not meant to be burdensome 1 John 5:3 this is what the devil wants us to think, Jesus wants us to gain victory over sin.

Thatgirloncfforums · Oct 11, 2021

Our faith is directed toward the person of Christ, not toward obeying the Law. The Mosaic Covenant was temporary, just like the Temple. Salvation was never meant to come by the Law, the Law points to Christ.
We become a new creation when we are united to Christ, not when or as we obey the Law.

SabbathBlessings said:
This is where our faith comes in. With God all things are possible. God even provides us the Holy Spirit to help us obey. Acts 5:32, John 14:15-18

This is not saying if we slip and fall we don't have an Advocate with Jesus for forgiveness. Jesus wants us to gain victory over sin and gives us everything to help overcome sin. With God's laws written in our hearts and minds we can become a new creature from the inside out.

Essentials verses non-Essentials

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