What are the essentials of the Christian faith?

Answer

The Bible itself reveals what is important and essential to the Christian faith. These fundamental aspects include the deity of Christ, salvation by God’s grace rather than by works, salvation exclusively through Jesus Christ, the resurrection of Christ, the Gospel, monotheism, and the Holy Trinity. These are the primary beliefs that followers of Jesus Christ should comprehend and embrace. Let’s delve a bit deeper into each of these.

The deity of Christ is straightforward: Jesus is God. Although Jesus never explicitly states, “I am God” in the Scriptures, He unequivocally conveys to those around Him, particularly the Pharisees and Sadducees, that He is God. In John 10:30, He declares, “I and the Father are one.” By making this statement, Jesus was asserting His deity, and notably, He did not refute being God. Another instance is found in John 20:28, where Thomas exclaims, “My Lord and my God!” Once again, Jesus does not correct Thomas, affirming His divine nature. Numerous other examples in the Scriptures affirm Jesus’ rightful position in heaven.

Salvation by grace is a crucial concept. As sinners, we are all estranged from God and deserving of eternal punishment for our transgressions. Jesus’ crucifixion atoned for the sins of humanity, granting us entry to heaven and an everlasting relationship with God. God was not obligated to take this action, but out of His immense love for us, He sacrificed His only Son. This is grace, an utterly unmerited favor. The Bible states, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). We cannot earn God’s favor or access to heaven through our efforts; it is solely by His grace.

Salvation through Jesus Christ alone poses a thought-provoking question: “Do all paths lead to God?” The reality is that not all paths lead to God.Eventually, we will all stand before God when we die, regardless of our faith. It is at that moment that we will face judgment for our actions during our lifetime and our acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Lord of our lives. For most individuals, this will be a daunting experience, as many will not have a relationship with Him. For these individuals, hell will be their final destination. However, God, in His mercy, has provided us with the only path to salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 states that “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” This verse emphasizes the significance of Jesus’ name and His redemptive power. Another illustration can be found in the book of John. Jesus declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” «Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. », (John 14:6). Entrance into heaven is only possible through faith in the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf.

The resurrection of Christ is perhaps one of the most significant events in the Bible, second only to Jesus’ earthly presence and His subsequent crucifixion. Why is this event so crucial? The answer lies in the fact that Jesus died and then, after three days, was resurrected and appeared to His disciples in bodily form. Jesus had previously shown His ability to raise others, like His friend Lazarus. However, this time, God the Father raised Him to reveal His magnificent power and glory. This extraordinary truth distinguishes the Christian faith from all others. Other religions are centered on deeds or a deity or figure lacking power. The founders of other faiths die and do not rise again. Christianity is founded on the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. “And if Christ has not been raised, thIn our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” «and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. », (1 Corinthians 15:14). Lastly, to deny Christ’s bodily resurrection (John 2:19-21) is to deny that Jesus’ work here on earth was a satisfactory offering to God for the sins of mankind.

The gospel. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Paul spells out what the gospel is and how important it is to embrace it and share it with others. He reminds the Corinthians of the gospel he preached among them: “That Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” This is the essence of the gospel. Paul also warns us to be wary of the many “false gospels” that are being offered to the unsuspecting: “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8-9). The pure gospel of Jesus Christ—His death on the cross for sinners and His resurrection to everlasting life—is central to the Christian faith.

Monotheism. Quite simply, there is only one God. Exodus 20:3 states very powerfully, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Monotheism is the belief that there is only one God to be worshiped and served. “‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the LORD, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me’” «Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.» (Isaiah 43:10).

Understand that I am He: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.” (Isaiah 43:10). Here we see that we are to “believe” and “understand” that God lives and is one. A Christian will know that there is only one God, the God of the Bible. All other “gods” are false and are no gods at all. “For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:5-6).

The Holy Trinity. While the concept of a “three-in-one God” is not represented by a single verse or passage, it is described frequently throughout Scripture. If we look at Matthew 28:19, we see the verse calling out the Trinity: “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.” While this verse mentions all three Persons of the triune God, it does not call them the Trinity. So to understand the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, we must look at the “totality” of Scripture and glean from it the definition. In 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, we see how this comes together: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” Again, we see all three Persons being represented but not titled the Holy Trinity.

Finally, the essentials of Christianity would not be complete without the ingredient that binds everything together—faith. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” «Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of thing

It is not seen. (Hebrews 11:1). As Christians, we live by this verse with the understanding that we believe in a God we cannot see. But we see His work in our lives and all around us in His creation. We do all of this through faith because we know that faith pleases God. “And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” «But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. », (Hebrews 11:6).