Essential Christian Doctrine
Essentials for Salvation
Essentials for Salvation
Many different things are believed by professing Christians; although, there is only one TRUTH. We do not all have the same perspective or the same level of understanding. However, there are some basic things which we must believe, or else we jeopardize the very idea of salvation. Shall we break fellowship over the non-essential things?
Yes, we should seek and teach all the truth; but I will not be one who breaks fellowship with those who do not understand plural marriage. Sad as it is, they often break fellowship with us. I believe we should receive as brothers (and maintain fellowship with) those who have the core of salvation right. Yes, we must know where to draw the line with those who would teach things that would jeopardize the very essence of salvation; but I realize that the more we see in common, the more fellowship we have.
Not who is my neighbor… but rather, who is my brother? What must we believe?
1. God is.
Hebrews 11:6
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.
2. God is the creator.
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
See: Psalm 100:3 John 1:1-3 Psalm 19:1
Since He is the creator, that gives Him the right of ownership!
3. God is perfect.
Deut. 32:4
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
See: Leviticus 11:44-45 1 Peter 1:15-16:2 Samuel 22:31
4. Mankind was sinless.
Genesis 1:26-31
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: . . .
[31] And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
5. Mankind fell (all have sinned).
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:
See: Genesis 3:1-24
6. The penalty for sin is death.
God’s perfection and holiness does not allow Him to tolerate sin.
Genesis 2:16-17
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: [17] But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Ezekiel 18:4
Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
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:
See: Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23 1 Cor. 15:21-22
7. Jesus was born in the flesh.
Jesus is a real person and not just an abstract idea.
2 John 1:7
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
See: 1 John 4:2-3
8. Jesus is the begotten Son of God.
John 3:15-16
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. [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.
Luke 1:35
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Luke 2:7
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
If Joseph was Jesus’ Father, then He would have inherited the same death and sin nature as us.
9. Jesus was without sin.
If Jesus had His own sin, then He could not have paid the penalty for mine.
2 Cor. 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
See: 1 Peter 2:22 1 John 3:5 Hebrews 4:15 Hebrews 9:24-28
10. Jesus death paid the penalty for sin.
1 John 2:2
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 Cor. 15:3
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
See: 1 John 2:22 Acts 2:36 Romans 5:6-9
11. Jesus was raised from the dead (proof of His sinless life.)
Acts 2:24
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
12. Jesus is the only path to the Father and blessed eternal life.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
13. God forgives our sin by counting Jesus’ death for the death we deserved…
IF
...we confess and repent of our sin and believe.
IF
...we confess and repent of our sin and believe.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Romans 10:9-13
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. [11] For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. [12] For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. [13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
At this point, we receive the free gift of forgiveness/initial salvation. However, this is not the end of the story; to maintain salvation…
14. We must demonstrate our faith to God’s satisfaction.
Belief and confession will obtain salvation; however, as we have opportunity, demonstrations of faith should/must follow as the Spirit leads. Devils believe. Belief alone (ie., mere mental agreement) is not enough to maintain salvation. My evidence/works (ie., following the leading of the Spirit) does not have to satisfy you, but it must satisfy God! What works God requires of you may be more, or less, than what He requires of me.
Romans 14:4
[4] Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
James 2:18-19
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. [19] Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Romans 14:1-23
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. [2] For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. [3] Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. [4] Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. [5] One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. [6] He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. [7] For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. [8] For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. [9] For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. [10] But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. [11] For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. [12] So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. [13] Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. [14] I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. [15] But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. [16] Let not then your good be evil spoken of: [17] For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. [18] For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. [19] Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. [20] For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. [21] It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. [22] Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. [23] And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
1 Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
See: Luke 12:47-48 James 2:20-24 Col. 1:23 1 Cor. 9:24-27 Hebrews 3:6 Hebrews 3:14
2 Peter 1:5-10 Rev. 3:12-13
The proof of faith is obedience. However. obedience alone does not PROVE faith!
Luke 18:11-14
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. [12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. [13] And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. [14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
My demonstration of faith must be to God’s satisfaction; and ultimately, it is how God judges my faith that matters!
* * *
If there is NO God, or No Fall, then there is no need for salvation.
If Jesus is not THE WAY, there is no salvation.
If there is NO God, or No Fall, then there is no need for salvation.
If Jesus is not THE WAY, there is no salvation.
Did I miss anything? Can we at least agree on these concepts?
There is much more truth to be had. You may believe the moon is made of green cheese and still go to Heaven, but some things are non-negotiable. Plural marriage; ‘speaking in tongues;’ pre-, post-, or mid-trib; Trinity; …and on and on… all these may be believed in different ways … and yet not jeopardize salvation. Every individual is accountable to the Light that God reveals to them; and as to whether, or not, they willfully refused the Light.
Philip. 2:12
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
