Christian Beliefs: 6 Points!
All You Need to Know
The List of Basic Christian Beliefs
When you start to move forward through your “walk of faith” it isn’t long before you find there are some heated discussions between fellow believers about what is important and what is not; about how we should think, act and live. Debates sometimes devolve into arguments and then there is division and even the breaking up of churches. This should not be so. There can certainly be diversity within the body of Christ but with that there has to be unity, really? Listen to Paul: “Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no division among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.” Corinthians 1:10 KJV
Paul the Apostle who founded the Corinthian church is admonishing them about their understanding of which version of teaching they should adhere to. Are they to listen to his teaching or that of Chloe’s people or Apollos, or Cephas or Christ. He goes on, “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name?” He goes more in 2:16 “For who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
That means we have the means as Christians to discern what is of the Gospel and what is not. It all spelled out in detail in Scripture.We have Christ’s thoughts, opinions, judgements, plans, etc., etc. We know the mind of the Lord, if we study His word. We study, not someone else. That includes Paul, and in all instances the other believers. It is prudent to listen to the words of Christ and to the Apostles who were taught by Christ. Paul was an Apostle. They have a superior understanding than we do. They learned the basics of belief in Christ and the Father and the Holy Spirit from our Lord and Savior directly. But that requires us to actually read and study Scripture on our own. The Bible becomes our teaching tool and our filter. If something cannot be clarified or defined by Scripture there is a problem. Let the inspired words of God be your guide… all of the words, not things taken out of context.
So, what should we adhere to? I have assembled for you this list. I get this from scripture as have many others by studying Scripture and standing on the shoulders of all of the authors of the Bible.
The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ to life from death. His resurrection is essential to truth. 1 Peter 1:3 “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again because God raised Jesus from the dead.” And we have this assurance in 1 Corinthians 15:13 “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then even Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith.” It begins with this; without the resurrection we are liars and fools. And certainly we must consider this; “And from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world.” Revelation 15:5 And there is more, where Paul describes the witnessing of Christ after being risen; 1 Corinthians 1:3-8 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He arose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. And that he was seem of Cephas (Peter), then of the twelve: After that he was seen of above of five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remains unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that he was seen of James (his younger brother) then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as one born out of due time.” Christ is risen. There were many witnesses and at that time only two witnesses were required to make a matter true.
Jesus is the only way to heaven and being in the presence of God with Christ. “There is no salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 And in John 14:6 we find this… “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”
You are saved by Grace. “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift - not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10.
Christ was fully God and fully man. He is deity. In responding to the Jews who wanted kill him he said this in John 10:30-33, 37-39 “I and the Father are one’ and picked up rocks to stone him. Jesus replied, ’I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these works are you stoning me?’ “We are not stoning you for a good work,’ the Jews answered, “but for blasphemy, because you - being a man - make yourself God.” Christ went further, “If I am not doing my Father’s work, don’t believe me, believe the works. This way you will know and understand that the Father is in me and I in the Father.” Then they were trying again to seize him but he eluded their grasp.” The Jews believed him to be claiming to be God while a man. In John 1:14 we read; “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seek his glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” And this is punctuated in John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God.” Christ is God and He had to live as a human, or his work was a lie. Christ is God and lived as a man.
The Bible has no errors; it does not contradict itself. There are no arguments within it between the authors or God. “All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 … “This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the word of God, which also works effectively in you who believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13
There is only one God, and he is part of the Holy Trinity. “You were shown these things so that you would know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him. Today, recognize and keep in mind that the Lord is God in heaven and on earth below; there is no other.” Deuteronomy 4:35, 39 … When Christ told his disciples of the Great Commission where-in they were to evangelize the world he said this, “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, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19 The Trinity is the Godhead. It is one God in unity, yet with three aspects of the same person. They are equal in nature, distinct in their personhood. God is the authority, his Son is the channel, and the Spirit is the agent implementing the authority of the Father.
THAT IS ALL YOU NEED!
If you hold the points listed above in the front of your mind and act on them and through them, you will be living like a faithful Christian. You will have the basics reflected in your conduct. Everything else in Scripture is built around these elements. Do not argue over these as they are held as what constitutes the foundation of our faith. One can have a varying opinion on almost anything, but again, these points must be held closely as they are the reason we have become a family and we should not argue about non-essentials. If you are not yet a believer you will have to consider these points if you are willing to let our Lord and Savior, come into your life. What I have shared with you is supported by dozens of other verses. Do like the Bereans, go check this out on your own. Do not believe what I have shared as if I am the authority. Rely on God’s word which is His authority written out for us. Study in prayer and fasting and you will have clarity and understanding about this.
Meditate on the Lord and His Word
WHAT SHOULD BE THE PROOF OF YOUR BEING A TRUE CHRISTIAN?
This verse is one of the easiest ways to check if you are living out your stated beliefs. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5: 22-26 CSB
Any of us may use this verse to double check daily where we stand in our lives as being faithful and acting as we should publicly and privately. You may write it all down on a 3x5” card. These sixty-five words are the only check-up you need. We should exhibit all nine of these actions. It is us yielding to the Holy Spirit. It is the example of our changed lives in Christ. To live these things out one must operate from a position of love always. The Holy Spirit will hold you up as you seek to have this kind of life!
“An increase of love to Jesus, and a more perfect apprehension of His love to us is the best test of growth in Grace”
PRAYER POINT: LOVE MERCY and GRACE
It is a wonderful thing to share God’s word with him as you offer up your prayers. He is pleased to hear his words on your lips. He knows where you found them. Craft you conversation with God with the thought in mind that he seeks your praise and worship as well as hearing about your needs and concerns from your heart. He knows what you need and will provide. Praise Him.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Who alone does great wonders, who by his understanding made the heavens, who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. Who made the great lights - the sun to govern the day, the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever. And freed us from our enemies, and who gives food to every creature. Give thanks to the God of heaven, His love endures forever.”
Psalm 136:1, 4-9, 24-26 NIV
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HE COMES TO THE GARDEN
“He comes to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses;
and the voice that I hear falling on my ear The Son of God discloses.
He speaks and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that he gave to me within my heart is ringing.
And He walks with me, and he talks with me, and he tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.
This hymn was written in 1912 and was inspired by John 20:14 “She turned … and saw Jesus.”
Any hymn is a prayer for singing or reciting as poetry … that is what is found in the Book of Psalms. Ancient tunes with words from the heart set to music. They really are suitable for reading and reciting as well as singing. Have you ever just read the lyrics of a hymn and pondered their meaning? The sound of your voice in the night as you pray sounds like a hymn to God. Just as reading the word of God to yourself out loud will embed what is written in your heart this practice of reciting hymns of any kind will fill you with knowledge, understanding and strength.
When you pray you expect God to listen to you. You should also listen for God to speak to you. Take time to wait on Him to guide you. Listen, you will hear that small still voice.
