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Core Doctrines of Christianity

What does it mean to be a Christian? The answer to that is fairly simple. The word Christian means “little Christ.” Christians live their life imitating Jesus Christ. There are a few different beliefs that are foundational to the Christian faith and that connect all Christians. Join us to discover what those beliefs are, and learn more about what it really means to be a Christian.

What is the Gospel?

The Gospel literally means “good news.” It is the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again so that we can have everlasting life and a relationship with Him. God orchestrated this great redemption from the beginning, which we read about in the Bible. This story can be witnessed in four main acts: creation, the fall of man, redemption, and restoration.

Creation

In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. He spoke, and the earth and all that is in it was formed and brought to life. And it was “good.” God then created Adam and Eve, man and woman, in His own image and gave them dominion over the garden that He had created. God blessed Adam and Eve and declared all that He had made “very good.”

Fall

In the garden, God gave Adam and Eve only one command. They were free to eat the fruit of any tree, except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God warned them that if they ate that fruit, they would die. Yet, despite all the freedom they had, Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Adam and Eve ate the fruit that they were commanded to never go near.

Adam and Eve sinned. They acted in a way that was contrary to God’s perfection. Because of this disobedience, God cursed humans, animals, plants, and the ground. From then on, everyone would feel the effects of sin. There would be death, sickness, conflicts in relationships, and a broken relationship with God. Adam and Eve were then kicked out of the Garden of Eden. This reflects how humanity was now separated from God, because our sinful nature cannot be in the presence of the most perfect, Holy God. However, this tragedy is not the end of the story.

Redemption

Amid humanity’s disobedience and sin, God loved us and wanted a relationship with us. So, He made a way. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” He sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to redeem our relationship with Him. Jesus walked on earth, resisting temptation and untouched by sin. He performed miracles and proclaimed his teachings to many who listened. Then Jesus, fully God and fully man, was crucified. Jesus took the death that we deserved for our sin. And yet, that is not the end of the story. Christ not only took our punishment, but he overcame death. After three days, Jesus came back to life and ascended into heaven, in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. And now, He offers us a relationship with Himself.

Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we are not only spared the eternal punishment of sin but also offered a relationship with our loving Father. Scripture shows us how we can be saved: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). This great gift – the Gospel – calls us to repent of our sins, believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, and spread this good news with others, so that they may be saved.

Restoration

Even though we have been forgiven of our trespasses and freed from the eternal punishment that we deserve, sin will still affect our lives. But as we grow closer to Christ, He brings us to Himself and makes us more like Him. And Jesus Christ is coming back. He will pronounce final judgement on the wicked and bring his people to a new heaven and earth. In that place, there will be no more suffering, sin, death, or evil. Creation will be made fully new as God originally intended it to be.

What is the Bible?

Christians submit to a book called the Bible. The Bible is a collection of 66 books, written by 40 authors, all divinely inspired by God. Christians look to the Bible because it holds all we need for spiritual nourishment, moral instruction, and to better understand and know how to love our Creator. The Bible is the word of God, which cannot be separated from God himself, so we can rest assured that what we find in the Bible is the truth.

The Purpose of the Bible

The Bible serves many purposes, and there is much to be gained from reading it. Primarily, the Bible is a trusted source of knowledge. Through reading the Bible we can learn about who God is and His plan for us. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” The Bible is not only a sufficient resource for our own learning, but it also should be used to teach others. Pastors look to the Bible to shepherd their congregations, friends study scripture together, and parents train their children in righteousness with the Bible as their foundation. The Bible is the center of the Christian life.

The Bible can also be looked to as a historical record. It tells the story of creation, the fall of man, the redemption of man through Jesus, and a promise for the ultimate restoration of humanity. The Bible is not only full of moral lessons and teachings, but also historically accurate information that points us to Christ. In fact, the Bible is one of the most reliable historical documents in existence. We can trust that not only is the Bible a book of helpful knowledge about God, but it is a reliable and accurate authority on all it contains.

Why You Should Read the Bible

Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” The Bible is a great gift from God to his people. This passage encourages us to dwell in the everlasting word of God. If you would like to start reading the Bible, this article is a great place to begin.

What is the Church?

Church is not simply a building. The church is a community of believers united in faith. Through regular gathering, the church grows together toward Christ. The church worships together, learns together, and spreads the Gospel. On one hand, the church is the local gathering of believers. On the other hand, there is an invisible and universal church that encompasses all believers everywhere. This article explains why the distinction is critical.

How the Church Began

The second chapter of Acts shares what sparked the growth of the Christian church. After Jesus ascended back into heaven, the Holy Spirit (the third divine person of the Trinity) was poured out upon Jesus’ followers. The Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to spread the good news to surrounding people groups and add thousands of believers to the Church. This community of Christians fellowshipped, broke bread together, and learned from the apostles. They praised God together as the church continued to spread throughout the New Testament.

The Church and Service

The church is commanded to be representatives of Christ in the community. Church is about fellowship and learning, but another important aspect is service. James 1:27 says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.” The church has the unique opportunity to go out into the community and share the love of Christ through serving those in need. For ideas on how to serve in your community, click here.

Remember, the Church is imperfect because people are imperfect. But it is important to find a bible-believing church where you can be edified in your faith, worship God, grow in fellowship with other believers, and spread the good news of Jesus Christ to your community.

Who is Jesus?

The common consensus among most people is that Jesus was a moral teacher — a figure in history that deserves mention. However, Christians take comfort in knowing that Jesus Christ was so much more than that.

The Truth About Jesus

First, Jesus Christ is part of the Triune God. This trinity is composed of three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! The Son, along with the Father and the Spirit is eternal. He always was, and always will be. To learn more about the trinity click here.

Jesus is fully God, but thankfully for us, he was also fully man! Philippians 2:5-7 says, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” Jesus took the form of a servant by being born fully human. Jesus was born in Bethlehem to a woman, and grew up like us, with all the characteristics of humanity. To learn more about Jesus and his divinity click here.

His Life on Earth

While Jesus was on earth, his mission was to “seek and save the lost.”

As Jesus grew up and began his ministry, He called people to repent of their sins and follow him. Matthew 4:23 says, “He went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.” Jesus’ message was unique because at that time, religious leaders put a strict emphasis on following the Old Testament laws. But Jesus taught that at the heart of the law was actually love for God. These religious leaders hated His ministry and wanted to kill Jesus. Jesus was wrongfully accused, taken captive, and brutally killed on a cross.

But Jesus knew this would happen, in fact, He willingly died because it was all part of his big plan to save humanity. In His crucifixion, Jesus took on the death that we deserved. After a life of teaching about who He is and how we should live, and performing miracles and healing the sick, Jesus sacrificed himself so that we could have a relationship with God.

But death did not overcome Jesus. After three days, Jesus was resurrected and brought back to life. He soon ascended back into heaven, where He will stay until he returns to gather his kingdom, but the book of Matthew contains his last command to his followers. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

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