In your opinions, what are essential doctrines one must believe and hold onto to be considered a Christian and thus be eternally secure and saved?
Is it, believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? If one denies the resurrection or death of Christ can one be saved?
Is it, believing that faith alone in Christ alone by the grace of God is enough to save? Like for an example, having faith in Christ and trusting that he alone can save them and that the cross is sufficient enough to save.
Is it, believing in the doctrines that set Christians apart? This question is partially to do with my previous question but it goes deeper. Like, believing that Christians are eternally secure, believing the truth that God died for his sheep and that he has preset the lives of people around the globe.
Is it, accepting the Nicene or Apostles creed?
Is it, being baptized, partaking of the Eucharist, or any other ritual based salvation system?
Is it our works, or based anything on what we do rather than what Christ has done for us?
Just, what is required for salvation in your opinions? I think I know the answer to my own questions, I just wanted to check the opinions of other Christians. I obviously left some details out but these are the main questions floating around the church today.
As has been pointed out already, being a “Christian” is not equivalent to being eternally secure and saved.
Faith is the only thing that is eternal that we posses. Everything is Gods doing - Faith knows this.
To understand Salvation you have to understand why it is we need Salvation. When you understand why we need Salvation everything else falls into place.
Propping one doctrine or belief up over another just leads to confusion. Salvation isn’t a doctrine - Salvation is Jesus the Christ.
Acts 16:30-31 (ESV) Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Your question is as old as Mankind. Salvation has never been about what we do, it has always been about what God has done.
Revelation 20:12-15 (ESV) And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Everyone is judged on what they have done, but having your name in the book of life is never said to be based on what you
do - it has always been based on what God
has done
.