Essential Doctrines

[JimB]

What would you say, as a Bible believer, were the essential doctrines scripture tells us that we MUST believe in order to be a Christian? I can only think of four. What do you think? (Scriptural support, please.)

I'll tell you mine after I have heard from some of you. You just may shed some light on the essentials for me.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Salvation is the only requisit to being a Christian. It's covenant, not doctrine.

Doctrine is designed to help us grow in the relationship,

 

[JimB]

Salvation is the only requisit to being a Christian. It's covenant, not doctrine.

Doctrine is designed to help us grow in the relationship,

What is (i.e., what doctrines are) essential for a person to be saved?

~Jim

 

[Always in His Presence]

What is (i.e., what doctrines are) essential for a person to be saved?

~Jim

Romans 10:8-10

 

[JimB]

Romans 10:8-10

What about repentance? Does scripture tell us that repentance is essential?

~Jim




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[JimB]

My concern is, what does scripture say are the things (i.e., doctrines) a person must believe in order to be a Christian. Some of the things we believe are nonessential, some we think are essential, but the Bible says that only only a few things are actually essential. What are they?

~Jim

 

[Optimax]

The only thing it takes to be a christian is to believe in our innermost being that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess Him as our Lord.

Everything else is growth.

 

[JellyBellyNellie]

According to scripture:

1. Believe on the name of Jesus (Acts 16:30-31)
2. Keep His commandments (Luke 18:1919)
3. Give up our treasures here on earth and follow Him (Luke 18:22)

 

[JimB]

Hebrews 11.6 tells us we MUST believe in God.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

​

That would be essential.

~Jim

 

[probinson]

Hebrews 11.6 tells us we MUST believe in God.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
​

That would be essential.

~Jim

Interesting.

There's a conjunction in there. "AND". So we must we believe that God "is", AND that He rewards us when we seek Him.

 

[New_Wineskin]

What would you say, as a Bible believer, were the essential doctrines scripture tells us that we MUST believe in order to be a Christian? I can only think of four. What do you think? (Scriptural support, please.)

I'll tell you mine after I have heard from some of you. You just may shed some light on the essentials for me.

Wouldn't a "bible believer" first have to have an essential doctrine ( supported by Scripture ) that essential doctrines must be supported by the Scriptures ?

From the above , it seems that you consider that to be an essential doctrine of a "bible" believer even though there is no credible support for such . After all , believers existed before the Scriptures . And "New Testament" believers existed before the "New Testament" Scriptures .

 

[Always in His Presence]

Hebrews 11.6 tells us we MUST believe in God.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

​

That would be essential.

~Jim

How is that a doctrine?

Perhaps you can give us your definition of doctrine.

I look at doctrine from an academic perspective. A precept that is supported in scripture.

Ie

The Doctrine of Salvation
The doctrine of the Godhead
The Doctrine of end times etc. etc

You seem to have a much different definition of the term.

 

[nephilimiyr]

What would you say, as a Bible believer, were the essential doctrines scripture tells us that we MUST believe in order to be a Christian? I can only think of four. What do you think? (Scriptural support, please.)

I'll tell you mine after I have heard from some of you. You just may shed some light on the essentials for me.

Excellent idea for a thread Jim

The doctrine of salvation is I think the most important doctrine. In order to have salvation I think we must understand who God is. There are so many gods out there that people believe in but a person has to believe in the true God. So the doctrine of having faith in the true God is of course also a must.

I think the number one thing that Jesus says must happen is that we all must be born again, and this ties into the salvation doctrine.
John 3:3, In reply Jesus declared, I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
So now we also have the doctrine of being born again.
John 1:12-13, yet to all who recieved him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

To become born again is this:
Romans 10:9-10, That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

The doctrine of brotherly love is what I would say is essential. It is really the only command Jesus gave us.
John 15:12, My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
15:17, This is my command: Love each other.
Everything we do, say, or should be doing and saying, falls under this one command. Forgiving others of wrongs they have done, being merciful and kind I would say also falls under this doctrine. The love that Jesus showed us included the fact that He showed mercy for us and forgave his enemies without hesitation.

The doctrine of repentence I think comes next. It's not as essential, IMHO, as the ones I've mentioned before this but still essential for a christian to know,understand, and practise. I can't think right now of one verse that refers to repentence as being essential but by the shear number of times the Bible refers to repentence as being good for the believer I have to include it. Would love to discuss more on this!

 

[stan1953]

What would you say, as a Bible believer, were the essential doctrines scripture tells us that we MUST believe in order to be a Christian? I can only think of four. What do you think? (Scriptural support, please.)

I'll tell you mine after I have heard from some of you. You just may shed some light on the essentials for me.

Doctrines come AFTER you are saved. Romans 10:9-10 are the scriptures that show us what causes salvation. After we are saved, we become Christians and start our life walk of obedience to His Word. Staying in a Bible practicing church is important. Following up our salvation with Water Baptism and Holy Spirit infilling is of utmost importance in our initial walk with Christ. The rest is growth.

 

[JimB]

How is that a doctrine?

Perhaps you can give us your definition of doctrine.

I look at doctrine from an academic perspective. A precept that is supported in scripture.

Ie

The Doctrine of Salvation
The doctrine of the Godhead
The Doctrine of end times etc. etc

You seem to have a much different definition of the term.

A doctrine is an accepted teaching of a group.

doc-trine [dok-trin] noun - 1. something that is taught; teachings collectively: religious doctrine. 2. a body or system of teachings relating to a particular subject: the doctrine of the Catholic Church.

​

IOW, What teachings of Christianity do you think are essential (i.e., that scriptures tells us we must belive in order to be a Christian)?


~Jim

 

[JimB]

Wouldn't a "bible believer" first have to have an essential doctrine ( supported by Scripture ) that essential doctrines must be supported by the Scriptures ?

From the above , it seems that you consider that to be an essential doctrine of a "bible" believer even though there is no credible support for such . After all , believers existed before the Scriptures . And "New Testament" believers existed before the "New Testament" Scriptures .

Yes. I am speaking of "Evangelical" (Bible-believing) Christians. However, I do not know of a scripture that says (explicitly) that a person must believe the Bible in order to be a believer, i.e., that faith in the Bible is essential in order to be a Christian.

~Jim





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[JIMOH]

1 Corin 15
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

 

[JIMOH]

What about repentance? Does scripture tell us that repentance is essential?

~Jim

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Good question.
For the unbeliever, repentance "from sin", as in "stop all sinning" is impossible. If you could stop sinning then according to Rom 3 you would not need to be saved. Your sinlessness would be evidence that you are righteous.

Rom 3
19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;
20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;