The Essentials of the Christian Faith

Evangelicals often discuss the unity we share around the essentials of the Christian faith, but we sometimes fail to explain what those essentials are. The list below is by no means exhaustive, but it does frame some of the most weighty of the essentials of the Christian faith. It would be challenging to condense the details of these essentials into a large book, but this article provides an overview that stimulates further study of these truths in Scripture.

1. Bibliology — Biblical Inspiration

We believe that the 66 Books of the Bible (39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament) comprise the full canon of Scripture, and we believe the entire text of Scripture is inspired by God. The Apostle Peter makes clear that the writers of Scripture were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20), and the Apostle Paul states that the Scriptures were breathed out by God (2 Timothy 3:16).

God chose to utilize men to physically write the Scriptures as they were verbally inspired by Him through the power of the Holy Spirit. We further believe God has protected the canon of Scripture throughout all of time (Deuteronomy 18:18; 2 Samuel 23:2; Isaiah 59:21; Zechariah 7:12; Acts 4:24–25; Hebrews 4:7).

We believe Scripture is God’s divinely inspired, direct, and specific revelation to mankind, and we believe it is entirely sufficient for the communication of truth and divine instruction. We believe Jesus Christ, the Son, is the focus of all revelation in Scripture, which is a testimony to Him. We believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the central theme of all of Scripture.

2. Trinitarianism — Doctrine of the Trinity

We believe God eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe that each has personal attributes, but they are the same in essence, substance, and nature.

We believe God the Father rules providentially over all His creation. We believe that God is simple in substance—that is, He did not acquire His attributes from outside of Himself, and His attributes form one nature or essence. He is all-knowing, all-wise, present everywhere at once, immutable, all-loving, all-powerful, always faithful, eternal, and all of this and more in three persons. God created the universe out of nothing, and we believe He sustains the world according to His purposes and promises (Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; Psalm 19:1–3; Mark 1:9–11; John 4:24; Romans 8:14–15; 1 Peter 1:17).

We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. We believe He became flesh, lived a sinless life, and perfectly atoned for the sins of man, fully redeeming man and satisfying the wrath of God through His substitutionary death on the cross. He was raised, seen by His disciples, and ascended into heaven, where He is exalted at the right hand of God. He is the one perfect mediator who reconciles God and man, and He will judge the world to consummate His redemptive mission (Psalm 2:7ff; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 53:1–12; Matthew 1:18–21; Mark 3:11; Galatians 4:4–5; Philippians 2:5–11; Hebrews 9:24–28; 12:2; Romans 3:23–26).

We believe the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, is fully divine. He enables the understanding of Scripture and calls mankind to Jesus Christ. He grows Christian character in believers, convicts of sin, and incorporates every believer into the body of Christ. He also seals the believer until the final day of redemption (Psalm 51:11; Isaiah 61:1–3; Job 26:13; Judges 14:6; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; Acts 2:1–4; 19:1–6; Romans 8:9–11, 14–16; 2 Timothy 3:16; Revelation 1:10; 22:17).

3. Angelology — Doctrine of Angels

We believe angels are created beings rather than eternal creatures. Angels are immaterial, while humans are material. Angels are beneath God, and humans are lower than the angels according to Scripture. However, humans are not inferior to angels in value. Furthermore, redeemed humans don’t appear to be inferior to the angels in the eternal future.

Angels appear to live forever after they are created, but they don’t exist eternally in the sense of not having a beginning. Angels are messengers and spiritual creatures with traits humans don’t have. Although some angels have taken on material form and appeared to humans, they are otherwise invisible. They are called ministering spirits in Scripture, and many, if not all, of them have names. They don’t have gender, and they don’t marry or reproduce. They aren’t subject to decay and death.

Angels do have freedom of will. Paul, Jude, and Peter speak of angels who choose to sin. Angels who rebel against God will be punished eternally according to Scripture. Lucifer, or Satan, is one such angel.

All things were made perfectly by God, including Lucifer; however, He gave the angels free will. Sin doesn’t arise from God or His perfect nature, but it arose in the freedom that He granted Satan. Lucifer and the other angels who have rejected God are considered irredeemable in Scripture. Angels who have fallen appear to be unable to change their minds once they have fallen.

Angels have great intelligence and power, and they are, in a sense, persons. They possess intellect, will, and emotions according to Scripture. They are beautiful, and their purpose is to glorify and serve God. They minister to God’s people. Angels have ranks that are described in Scripture. Also, angels can perform superhuman feats and have an intimidating appearance. Although they aren’t omnipresent, they can traverse significant distances in a short amount of time. They can perform miracles in carrying out God’s will.

Scripture: Psalm 8:4–5; Hebrews 1:14; 2:7; Matthew 25:41; 18:10; Psalm 148:2, 5; Colossians 1:16; John 1:51; Nehemiah 9:6; Job 38:6–7.

4. Anthropology — Doctrine of Man

We believe God created man, male and female, in His own image. We believe man is the pinnacle of God’s creation. We believe man was innocent of sin at creation, but Scripture reveals that God gave man free will.

Man fell from his innocent state when he yielded to the temptation to disobey God by Satan. Adam and Eve’s posterity, therefore, inherited a sinful nature and have been inclined toward sin. Man is under condemnation because of his sin, as is the entire created order.

We believe the Genesis account is literal and pictures the beauty of God’s justice along with His mercy and grace. While He condemns Adam and Eve and causes them to be punished for their sin, He also slays an animal and clothes them with its skin in a beautiful picture of the redemptive nature of God and the work of Christ.

We believe man is made in God’s image, and we believe that gives man immense value that survives the fall. God’s grace is sufficient to redeem and restore man to fulfill his creative purpose. This is only made possible by Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension, which we commonly refer to as His finished work.

We believe God’s created order, as seen in man, causes us to value the dignity of and respect for the genders and the races. We believe the fact that man is made in God’s image is the basis for our love for one another—even those we don’t know or fellowship with because of geographic limitations.

Scripture: Genesis 1:26–30; 2:5, 7, 18–22; 3; 9:6; Psalm 1; 8:3–6; 32:1–5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26–31; Romans 1:19–32; 3:10–18, 23; 5:6, 12, 19; 6:6; 7:14–25; 8:14–18, 29; 1 Corinthians 1:21–31; 15:19, 21–22; 2 Corinthians 5:17–20; Ephesians 2:1–22; Colossians 1:21–22; 3:9–11.

5. Soteriology — Doctrine of Salvation

We believe God is the author of salvation, and we believe man’s sin is the precondition that makes salvation necessary. We believe sin originated with man, and salvation originates with God.

Salvation involves the redemption, or the purchase, of the whole man by God in the person of Jesus Christ. We believe salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. We believe salvation is offered to every person, and that the Holy Spirit is necessary to draw sinners to Christ. We believe that there is one way to salvation, and Jesus Christ is that way.

The new birth, or regeneration, is a work of God’s grace. Repentance to God and faith in Christ are integral to salvation. Repentance is simply turning from sin to God, and faith is believing and trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

Justification is the word we often use to describe our reconciliation to God in salvation. Paul teaches in Romans 3 that Jesus satisfies the wrath of God on our behalf. He takes on our sin and sees us in His righteousness. It is as if we are adjudicated guilty of sin before God and sentenced to death. But Jesus Christ takes our place and bears our penalty, perfectly satisfying our sentence and God’s wrath.

God’s self-determined will is the basis for both creation and salvation in Jesus Christ.

Scripture: Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14–17; 6:2–8; Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:21–26; 27:22–28:6; Luke 1:68–69; 2:28–32; John 1:11–14, 29; 3:3–21, 36; 5:24; 10:9, 28–29; 15:1–16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30–31; 17:30–31; 20:32; Romans 1:16–18; 2:4; 3:23–25; 4:3ff; 5:8–10; 6:1–23; 8:1–18, 29–39; 10:9–10, 13; 13:11–14; 1 Corinthians 1:18, 30; 6:19–20; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17–20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22–25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8–22; 4:11–16; Philippians 2:12–13; Colossians 1:9–22; 3:1ff; 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11–14; Hebrews 2:1–3; 5:8–9; 9:24–28; 11:1–12:8, 14; James 2:14–26; 1 Peter 1:2–23; 1 John 1:6–2:11; Revelation 3:20; 21:1–22:5.

6. Hamartiology — Doctrine of Sin

We believe sin originates because of the free will God gave to angels and to mankind. We do not believe, however, that God authors, produces, promotes, or otherwise performs sin. We believe God accomplishes His own purposes by allowing sin, and He does so by granting man free will. This relates to the mystery of His use of suffering and trials in our lives for our greater good, according to God’s will.

We believe sin originated in the heart of Lucifer, who was an archangel in the very presence of God. While there is mystery in this, we believe God gave the angels free will to either accept or reject Him.

We believe other angels followed Satan in his rebellion, and we believe the origin of sin occurred on earth through the temptation and sin of Adam and Eve. We believe in the self-determination of Adam through his free will, and we believe sin entered the earth through his sin. Adam had the power to obey or disobey God, and he chose to disobey.

We believe man is totally depraved, as explained by Paul in Romans 3. We believe man, therefore, commits sins of omission and commission. We believe sin includes unbelief, rebellion, transgression, and pride or self-reliance. Sin is anything that falls short of God’s perfect moral nature and standard.

Sin violates the very nature of God by substituting the inferior for the superior. We believe sin separates man from God. We believe sin causes spiritual death, which is applied to every descendant of Adam.

We believe Jesus Christ conquered sin and death through His substitutionary, redemptive, propitiating death on the cross, His resurrection, and His ascension. And we believe He has ultimately and will fully conquer sin and death.

Scripture: Psalm 14; Romans 3; 1 John 3:4; Psalm 18:30; John 4:24; Hebrews 1:14; 6:18; 9:27; 12:11; James 1:2–4, 12; 3:6; Isaiah 14:12–14; Genesis 2:16–17; Genesis 3; Proverbs 6:16–19.

7. Ecclesiology — Doctrine of the Church

We believe the church is both universal and local, and we believe the church is not a physical building but a people. We believe the church, both universal and local, is ordained by God in Scripture.

The Old Testament prepares the New Testament Church, through both worship and prophecy, with a focus on the coming of Christ. The New Testament church is founded by Jesus Christ, referred to in Scripture as His bride, and has local manifestations that we commonly call churches.

We believe the church was ordained for all of eternity and should, therefore, be respected as part of God’s eternal decrees.

Practically speaking, the New Testament Church is the church of the Lord Jesus Christ manifested in a local congregation. Functionally, the church observes two ordinances, the Lord’s Supper and Baptism, and it seeks to accomplish its objectives as described in Scripture.

We believe the church is accountable to Christ as Lord, and each member is as well. There are two biblical offices in the church: elder and deacon. The purpose of the church is to make disciples and glorify God.

The New Testament Church was established on the Day of Pentecost. Christ is the chief cornerstone as described in the New Testament.

Scripture: Matthew 16:15–19; 18:15–20; Acts 2:41–42, 47; 5:11–14; 6:3–6; 13:1–3; 14:23, 27; 15:1–30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4–5; 7:17; 9:13–14; 12; Ephesians 1:22–23; 2:19–22; 3:8–11, 21; 5:22–32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9–14; 3:1–15; 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1–4; Revelation 2–3; 21:2–3.

8. Theology Proper — Doctrine of God

We believe there is one supreme, living, and true God. He is the creator and sustainer of all things. God is the metaphysical precondition for all things.

We believe God eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is perfect in every respect, infinite, and holy. His holiness includes both transcendence and immanence. He is perfect and pure in His essence and attributes.

Although we use anthropomorphic terms to describe Him, His essence is entirely of Him and was not derived from any other source. He has no needs outside of Himself, and He is of one substance or essence.

We speak of His attributes individually because of our limitations as humans; however, each is part of His essence, which is simple in substance. His immutability, or being unchanging, is true; therefore, so is all of His other attributes. Each of His attributes is immutable. His love permeates all His attributes. So, His grace, mercy, omnipotence, omnipresence, faithfulness, omniscience, justice, patience, and so on are one in substance with His love.

God the Father providentially rules His universe. All human history, the present, and the future are subject to His rule. His rule includes His mercy, grace, and all other of His attributes. He is fatherly in His dealings with man, and He is the loving Father of all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

God the Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, is eternal with the Father and is of the same substance with the Father. He perfectly fulfilled the law and died a substitutionary death, was raised, ascended, and sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. Salvation is by faith in Him alone. He was born of a virgin but is eternal and not created.

God, the Holy Spirit, is fully divine. He indwells every believer who has put their trust in Jesus Christ. He seals every believer and provides comfort and security, assuring that everything we have in Christ will be fully manifested. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and throughout all of life.

Scripture: Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2–3; 15:11ff; 20:1ff; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:1–3; Isaiah 43:3, 15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9ff; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9–11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6–13; 17:1–8; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14–15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7.

9. Christology — Doctrine of Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. In the incarnation, He became flesh and took on human nature, yet without sin. He perfectly fulfilled the law.

He suffered and died on the cross to save sinners. He satisfied God’s wrath in His substitutionary death for us. He purchased our reconciliation to God. He suffered, died, was buried, was raised on the third day, ascended, and sits at the right hand of the Father, where He lives forever to make intercession for His people.

He alone is Prophet, Priest, King, and Sovereign of the Universe.

He and God are of one substance. He is eternal and not created. He will return to earth in power and glory to consummate His redemptive mission. It is by faith alone in Him that man may be saved eternally.

I believe the Nicene Creed and Paul’s letter to the Colossians provide beautiful descriptions of the majesty of Christ.

Scripture: Colossians; Genesis 18:1ff; Psalm 2:7ff; 110:1ff; Isaiah 7:14; 53:1–12; Matthew 1:18–23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16, 27; 17:5, 27; 28:1–6, 19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1–18, 29; 10:30, 38; 11:25–27; Acts 1:9; 2:22–24; 7:55–56; 9:4–5, 20; Romans 1:3–4; 3:23–26; 5:6–21; 8:1–3, 34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1–8, 24–28; 2 Corinthians 5:19–21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4–5; Ephesians 1:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:14–18; 1 Timothy 2:5–6; 3:16; Titus 2:13–14; Hebrews 1:1–3; 4:14–15; 7:14–28; 9:12–15, 24–28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21–25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7–9; 3:2; 4:14–15; 5:9; 2 John 7–9; Revelation 1:13–16; 5:9–14; 12:10–11; 13:8; 19:16.

10. Pneumatology — Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

We believe God, the Holy Spirit, is fully divine. He indwells every believer who has put their trust in Jesus Christ. He seals every believer and provides comfort and security, assuring that everything we have in Christ will be fully manifested. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and throughout all of life.

The person and work of the Holy Spirit are found throughout the Bible. He is equal in power with the Father and Son. He is given the names of deity and has the attributes and acts of God. All the elements of personhood are attributed to the Holy Spirit in Scripture.

The Holy Spirit convicts of sin and applies salvation to believers. He works in both creation and redemption and is sent by both the Father and the Son.

Scripture: Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalm 51:11; 139:7ff; Isaiah 61:1–3; Joel 2:28–32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28–32; 28:19; Mark 1:10, 12; Luke 1:35; 4:1, 18–19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16–17, 26; 15:26; 16:7–14; Acts 1:8; 2:1–4, 38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17, 39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1–6; Romans 8:9–11, 14–16, 26–27; 1 Corinthians 2:10–14; 3:16; 12:3–13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13–14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:14; 3:16; Hebrews 9:8, 14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6–7; Revelation 1:10; 22:17.

11. Eschatology — Doctrine of Things to Come

We believe God will bring the world as we know it to an end at the time of His choosing. We believe there will be a physical return of Jesus Christ, and we believe the dead in Christ will rise.

All of mankind will be adjudicated as to whether they are righteous, or in Christ, or unrighteous, dead in their sins. The unrighteous will be cast into hell for eternal punishment, and the righteous in Christ will receive glorified bodies and will dwell with Him in Heaven eternally.

We believe, based on a literal interpretation of Revelation, that the church will be raptured before a period of tribulation on earth. We believe this period will end with the return of Jesus Christ, and we believe He will reign on the earth for 1,000 years.

We believe God will create a new heaven and a new earth to be enjoyed by those who are His for all eternity.

We are not dogmatic about the details of all these events because of the symbolic language used in Scripture to describe them. We believe that God will end the world as we know it with the return of Jesus Christ, and we believe those of us who are in Him will be eternally secure with Him in glorified bodies.

We believe Scripture teaches that souls will survive death in a disembodied state.

Scripture: Genesis 25:8; 35:18; Job 19:25–26; Matthew 22:31–32; Romans 5:17; 8:19; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 15:24–28; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 11:10, 16; 12:28; Revelation 6:9–10; 20:4.

12. Creationism — Doctrine of Origins

We believe that God created the world ex nihilo, that is, out of nothing. We believe the entire Godhead is eternal, and we believe He created the world in six literal days. We base this belief on the Genesis account of creation and other Scripture that attests to it.

By “out of nothing,” we mean that God didn’t have any material whatsoever in any form whatsoever to begin the creation of the world. He willed and spoke the world into being, as detailed in Genesis.

God did not create the world out of His substance, but He created it according to His will from nothing. We reject atheism and pantheism as alternatives to theism.

We believe there is a fundamental difference between Creator and creation. The Creator is uncreated, infinite, eternal, necessary, sufficient, and unchanging. These are not true of the creation. Creation had a beginning, and we believe that beginning is described in Scripture.

We believe God created everything because it is good. It demonstrates His glory. Good creatures and everything else in creation were made by a good God, which naturally leads us to worship Him.

We don’t fill an unmet need in God. Rather, He fulfills unmet needs in us for His glory.

Scripture: Genesis 1–2; Psalm 19:1; John 1:1–3; 17:5; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:3.