Essential Doctrines

The Doctrine of the Triune God (The Trinity)

Belief: Christians believe in one God who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit, and the Spirit is not the Father, but all are equally God.

Key Scriptures:

• One God:
  “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:4)
  “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me” (Isaiah 45:5)
• The Three Persons:
  • The Father as God: “but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” (1 Corinthians 8:6)
  • The Son as God: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
  • The Holy Spirit as God: “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? ⁴ Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.” (Acts 5:3–4)
• All Three Together:
  “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19)

Importance: The doctrine of the Trinity emphasizes the relational, personal, and eternal nature of God and is the foundation for understanding God’s nature and work.

 

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God the Father

Belief: God the Father refers to the first person of the Trinity, distinct in His role yet fully God. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, sovereign over the universe, and the loving Father who relates personally to His creation. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, out of love for the world to redeem humanity.

Key Scriptures:

• Creation and Sovereignty:
  • Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
  • Psalm 103:19: “The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens;
    and his kingdom ruleth over all.”
• Fatherhood of God:
  • Matthew 6:9: “pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
  • Romans 8:15: “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
• Role in Salvation:
  • John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Importance:
The doctrine of God the Father affirms His divine nature, eternal sovereignty, and loving purposes in creation and redemption. Recognizing God as Father shapes the believer’s understanding of His closeness, love, and authority, fostering trust and worship.

 

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The Doctrine of Jesus Christ (Christology)

Belief: Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, the second person of the Trinity who took on human flesh to accomplish the work of salvation.

Key Scriptures:

• His Divinity:
  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
  “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58)
• His Humanity:
  “And the Word was made 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.” (John 1:14)
  “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5)
• His Work of Salvation:
  “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; ²⁰ and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” (Colossians 1:19–20)
• Resurrection:
  “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” (John 11:25)
  “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” (1 Corinthians 15:20)

Importance: The person and work of Jesus Christ—His incarnation, death, and resurrection—are central to the Christian faith, as they are the means through which God accomplishes salvation for humanity.

 

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The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

Belief: The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity who convicts the world of sin, regenerates believers, indwells them, and empowers them for holy living and service.

Key Scriptures:

• Role in Salvation:
  “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13)
  “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; ¹⁷ even the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16–17)
  “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” (Romans 8:9)
• Indwelling Presence:
  “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)
• Empowerment for Service:
  “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Importance: The Holy Spirit enables Christians to live out their faith and continue Jesus’ mission of spreading the gospel.

 

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The Doctrine of Scripture

Belief: The Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, fully authoritative in all matters of faith and practice.

Key Scriptures:

• “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16)
• “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:21)
• “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

Importance: Scripture is the foundation for all Christian beliefs and the guide for Christian living.

 

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Humanity (Man)

Belief: Humanity refers to God’s creation of humankind in His image, designed for relationship with Him and stewardship of His creation. Humans are unique in creation with the capacity for moral responsibility and worship. However, they are finite, dependent beings who need God’s grace.

Key Scriptures:

• Created in God’s Image:
  • Genesis 1:27: “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
  • Psalm 8:3-5: “what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? ⁵ For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.”
• Purpose and Responsibility:
  • Genesis 2:15: “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”
  • Isaiah 43:7: “… even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.”

Importance:
This doctrine highlights the dignity and purpose of humankind as God’s image-bearers, emphasizing humanity’s role in glorifying God and fulfilling His purposes. Understanding humanity’s design and dependence on God helps counter self-sufficiency and invites humility before the Creator.

 

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Sin

Belief: Sin is humanity’s rebellion against God, rooted in disobedience and a desire for independence from Him. It entered the world through Adam and Eve’s transgression, resulting in the fall of creation. Sin separates humanity from God and brings spiritual death.

Key Scriptures:

• Origin of Sin:
  • Genesis 3:1-6: The account of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden.
  • Romans 5:12: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”
• Consequences of Sin:
  • Isaiah 59:2: “but your iniquities have separated between you and your God,
    and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
  • Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
• Universal Nature of Sin:
  • Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Importance:
The doctrine of sin explains humanity’s broken relationship with God, the pervasive effects of sin in all aspects of life, and the need for salvation through Jesus Christ. Recognizing the seriousness of sin deepens the believer’s appreciation for the grace and mercy of God.

 

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The Doctrine of Salvation (Soteriology)

Belief: Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Humanity is sinful and separated from God, but through Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection, believers are reconciled to God.

Key Scriptures:

• Sinfulness of Humanity:
  “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
  “For the wages of sin isdeath; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
• Salvation by Grace through Faith:
  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it isthe gift of God: ⁹ not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)
• Jesus’ Sacrifice:
  “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
  “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18)

Importance: This doctrine highlights humanity’s need for a Savior and God’s provision of salvation through Jesus Christ, central to the Christian gospel.

 

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The Doctrine of the Church (Ecclesiology)

Belief: The church is the body of Christ, made up of all believers worldwide. It exists to worship God, glorify Christ, spread the gospel, and edify believers.

Key Scriptures:

• The Church as the Body of Christ:
  “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” (1 Corinthians 12:27)
• The Church’s Mission:
  “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19–20)
• Edification of Believers:
  “and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another.” (Hebrews 10:24–25)

Importance: The church is God’s instrument to carry out His mission in the world and nurture believers in their faith.

 

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The Doctrine of Last Things (Eschatology)

Belief: Christianity teaches that Jesus will return, the dead will be resurrected, and the final judgment will occur. Believers will have eternal life with God, while unbelievers will face eternal separation.

Key Scriptures:

• The Second Coming of Christ:
  “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
• Resurrection and Judgment:
  “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27)
  “And I saw a great white throne… and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” (Revelation 20:11–12)
• Eternal Life:
  “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” (1 John 5:11)

Importance: This doctrine gives Christians a hope for the future and a motivation for faithful living.

Conclusion

These doctrines represent the core of Christian theology and provide a foundation for faith and practice. Each points to the ultimate purpose of knowing and glorifying God.