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7 Major Christian Doctrines

Understanding Your Religion: 7 Major Doctrines that Define Christianity | BibleTalk.tv

Major Doctrines

  1. Bible inspired by God
    • 2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
    • Mathematics and Astronomy Professor Peter W Stoner calculated the probability of just 8 Messianic prophecies being fulfilled in the life of Jesus was 1 in 10 to 17.
  2. Deity of Christ
    • John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
    • John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
  3. Original Goodness-Genesis 1:31a Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.
  4. Fall of Man-Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
  5. Reconciliation-Romans 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
    • God’s plan to reconcile mankind to Himself
      • Election: God chooses Christ to be the Savior of mankind.  1 Peter 2:4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
      • Predestination: God’s knowledge that His choice of Christ will reconcile man to Himself.  Romans 8:29-30 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
      • Atonement: The method God uses, Christ as a payment for sin.  1 Peter 2:22-24  22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
      • Redemption: As a result of Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross, those who are united to Christ have no condemnation for their sins.   Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
      • Regeneration: The point of transformation when faith is expressed in repentance and baptism resulting in being united to Christ.  John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
    • Man’s response to God’s plan – hear, believe, repent, confess, be baptized, be faithful
    • Benefit of responding to God’s plan
      • Adoption – I’m a child of God.  Gal 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
      • Justification – I’m acceptable to God based upon my faith in Jesus Christ.   Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
      • Perfection – I’m perfect (spiritually ripened, mature) through faith in Christ.  Col 1:28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

(Adoption, justification, and perfection all happen in an instant at repentance and baptism.   Sanctification is a lifelong process.) 

  • Sanctification – The person who is in Christ is set apart for spiritual service and growth through obedience to God’s word.  1 Thes 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify[a] you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Salvation includes everything above.)

  • Salvation includes God’s plan to reconcile mankind to himself and our response to that plan His plan based upon God’s word.
  1. Kingdom Of God – 
    • Prophecy of the coming kingdom after Babylon, Media Persia, Greece, and Rome

Daniel 2:44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 

  • Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
  1. Second Coming
    • Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.