The Essentials of Our Christian Faith Dennis Zulu DennisZulu@gmail.com 703 927 9343 The Essentials of our Christian Faith In essentials, Unity, in non-essentials, Liberty, and in all things, Charity. (Rupertus Meldenius, A. D. 1627 in Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, 7.650-653) 1 2 Three Kinds of Essentials Essentials for: I. Having Salvation II. Knowing about Salvation - Bible s Infallibility and Inerrancy III. Interpreting Salvation -Literal Method II. Knowing about Salvation - Bible s Infallibility and Inerrancy 1. It is divinely authoritative (Mt. 4:4, 7, 10) 2. It is imperishable (Mt. 5:17-18) 3. It is infallible (Jn. 10:35) 4. It is inerrant (without error) (Mt. 22:29) 5. It is historically reliable (Mt. 12:40; Mt. 24:37-38) 6. It is scientifically accurate (Mt. 19:4-5) 7. It has ultimate supremacy (Mt. 15:3, 6) 3 4 Three Kinds of Essentials Essentials for: I. Having Salvation II. Knowing about Salvation - Bible s Infallibility and Inerrancy III. Interpreting Salvation - Literal Method Reasons for a Literal Interpretation 1. It is the universal approach in everyday life. 2. Even those who deny it expect their view to be taken literally. 3. Even symbols and figures of speech have a literal meaning. 4. There is no objective way to test non-literal interpretations. 5. Non-literal views undermine crucial Bible truths necessary for salvation. 5 6 1
Essentials vs. Non-Essentials I. In Essentials, Unity A. If you don t stand for something, then you may fall for anything. B. It is better to be divided by truth than to be united by error. II. In Non-Essentials, Liberty Two Great Errors: A. Not uniting on essentials (minoring in majors)- the error of the extreme Left. B. Dividing over non-essentials (majoring in minors)--the error of the extreme Right. Non-Essentials of the Faith 1. The age of the earth (2 Pet. 3:8). with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2. The name of a Church (1 Cor. 1:12-13). Each of you says, I am of Paul, or I am of Apollos, or I am of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 3. The form of Government (1 Cor. 14:40). (Episcopal vs. Presbyterian vs. Congregational) -- Let all things be done decently and in order. 4. The mode of Baptism (sprinkling, pouring, dipping). 12 13 Non-Essentials of the Faith 5. The type of music (Eph. 5:19) be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. 6. The ministry of women (1 Cor. 12) There are no sex symbols on the gifts! The question is one of authority, not ministry. 7. The time of Christ s Coming But of that day, no one knows, no, not even the angels in heaven, but My Father only. (Mt. 24:36). It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father has put in His own authority (Acts 1:7). Non-Essentials of the Faith 8. The gifts of the Spirit: a. God desires the fruit of Spirit over the gifts of Spirit (Gal. 5:22). b. God wants us to do the work of an evangelist, even if we do not have the gift of an evangelist (2 Tim. 4:5). c. God wants us to use the one tongue we have over seeking many we don t have (1 Cor.14:19). 9. Calvinism vs. Arminianism Note: It is not that these are unimportant but that they are: a) not tests of orthodoxy; b) not tests of Christian fellowship. 14 15 In All Things, Charity I. In Essentials, Unity II. In Non-Essentials, Liberty III. In All things, Charity A. We should love the truth of God (Psa. 119:97). B. We should love the God of truth (Mt. 22:37). C. We should love those who are in error (Mt. 5:44). D. We should speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). E. We should love the Giver, not the gift. 1. We should not exalt the gifts from God but the God from whom we got the gifts (John 4:24). 2. God is good when He gives (James 1:17). 3. God is good when He takes away (Job 1:21). 16 The Essentials of the Faith I. The Logical Approach (above) II. The Historical Approach (below) A. The Early Creeds B. The Early Councils 17 2
The Bible and the Creeds 1. The Bible is the basis for all the early creeds One Bible Two Testaments Three Creeds (Apostles, Nicene, Chalcedon) Four Councils (Nicea (325), Constantinople (381), Ephesus (431), Chalcedon (451) Five Centuries 3. It is not the main topic of the creeds but the basis for all of them. 4. Scripture, prophets, what the Lord Jesus and the Apostles taught (viz., NT) are mentioned in the creeds (see Nicene Creed and Chalcedon Creed). 18 Only The Bible is Infallible; The Creeds are Helpful St. Augustine: I have learned to yield this respect and honor only to the canonical books of Scripture: of these alone do I most firmly believe that the authors were completely free from error. Thomas Aquinas: We believe the prophets and apostles because the Lord has been their witness by performing miracles. And we believe the successors of the apostles and the prophets [viz., Fathers] only in so far as they tell us those things which the apostles and prophets have left in their writings (On Truth, 14.10, ad 11). 19 The Apostles Creed 2nd Century The Apostles Creed I believe [9] in God [6], the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord [4]: Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit [7], born of the Virgin Mary [2, 3], suffered [10] under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died [5], and was buried. (He descended into hell.) The third day He arose again from the dead [11]. He ascended into heaven [12] and sits at the right hand of God the Father [13] Almighty, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead [14]. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic [universal] church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness [8] of sins [1], the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting [14]. Amen. Note: All 14 salvation doctrines are in this Creed. 20 21 The Nicene Creed (325) We believe [9] in one God [6], the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made [4], of one Being [6] with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation [10] he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary [2, 3] and became truly human [5]. For our sake he was crucified [10] under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again [11] in accordance with the Scriptures [15]; he ascended into heaven [12] and is seated at the right hand of the Father [13]. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end [14]. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified [7], who has spoken through the prophets [15]. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness [8] of sins [1]. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come [14]. Amen. *All 15 salvation doctrines plus Scripture are contained here. 22 The Chalcedonian Creed (451) Following, then, the holy fathers, we unite in teaching all men to confess the one and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This selfsame one is perfect [3]both in deity [4] and in humanness [5]; this selfsame one is also actually God [4] and actually man, with a rational soul and a body [5]. He is of the same reality as God as far as his deity is concerned [7] and of the same reality as we ourselves as far as his humanness is concerned; thus like us in all respects, sin [1] only excepted. Before time began he was begotten of the Father, in respect of his deity, and now in these "last days," for us and behalf of our salvation, this selfsame one was born of Mary the virgin [2], who is God-bearer in respect of his humanness. 23 3
The Chalcedonian Creed (451) We also teach that we apprehend this one and only Christ-Son, Lord, only-begotten -- in two natures [4,5]; and we do this without confusing the two natures, without transmuting one nature into the other, without dividing them into two separate categories, without contrasting them according to area or function The distinctiveness of each nature is not nullified by the union. Instead, the "properties" of each nature are conserved and both natures concur in one "person [4,5] and in one reality [hypostasis]. They are not divided or cut into two persons, but are together the one and only and only-begotten Word [Logos] of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus have the prophets of old [15] testified; thus the Lord Jesus Christ himself taught [15] us; thus the Symbol of Fathers [the Nicene Creed] handed down to us. [It affirms the 15 of Nicea; stresses God-man Christ] 24 Conclusion 1. These early Creeds contain all fourteen doctrines necessary for salvation. 2. This means that both historically and logically the same essential doctrines emerge. 3. There are other doctrines too (e.g., Bible, creation, and the universal Church), but they are not necessary to believe for salvation. a. The Bible is the basis for the Creeds. b. A literal interpretation is used to get them. 25 What Are The Essentials? The Gospel is Essential 1. We are saved by the gospel (Rom. 1:16): For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 2. Paul defined the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-5): I declare to you the gospel by which you are saved that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scripture, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 3. Three aspects of the gospel: Salvation from: a. The penalty of sin (Justification) - past (I was saved) b. The power of sin (Sanctification) - present (I am being saved) c. The presence of sin (Glorification) - future (I will be saved). 26 27 4. Romans Explains the Gospel [Condemnation---Rom. 1-3] I. Essential to Justification-----Rom. 4-5 (declaring us righteous positionally) II. Essential to Sanctification--Rom. 6-7 (making us righteous progressively) III. Essential to Glorification----Rom. 8 (making us righteous permanently) 28 I. Essentials to Justification: 1. Human depravity 2. Mary s virginity 3. Christ s purity 4. Christ s deity 5. Christ s humanity 6. God s unity 7. God s tri-unity 8. The necessity of God s grace 9. The necessity of our Faith 10. Christ s atoning death 11. Christ s bodily resurrection II. Essentials to Sanctification 12. Christ s bodily ascension 13. Christ present session III. Essentials to Glorification 14. Christ s bodily return 29 4
1. Human depravity As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:10-23). 2. Mary s virginity This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. [An angel said]: Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel -- which means, God with us. (Mt. 1:18-23). 30 31 3. Christ s purity He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth (1 Peter 2:22). For we... have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet was without sin (Heb. 4:15). For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God (1 Peter 3:18). God made him who had no sin to be sin for us. (2 Cor. 5:21). Christ [is] a lamb without blemish or defect (1 Pet 1:19). 32 4. Christ s deity Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Mt. 16:16). In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (Jn. 1:1). In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9). But unto the Son He said, Your throne O God is forever and ever (Heb. 1:8). Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM (Jn. 8:58, cf. Ex. 3:14). Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my 33 God (Jn. 20:28). 5. Christ s humanity The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (Jn. 1:14). Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God... (1 Jn. 4:2). For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5). Christ Jesus: taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (Phil. 2:7-8). Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death that is, the devil (Heb. 2:14). 34 6. God s unity Hear O Israel: The LORD our God, the Lord is one! (Deut. 6:4). I am the LORD your God. You shall have no other gods before Me (Ex. 20:2-3). Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior (Isa. 43:10-11). Jesus answered: The first of all the commandments is Hear O Israel, the LORD our god, the LORD is one (Mk. 12:29). For there is one God (1 Tim. 2:5). There is no other God but one (1 Cor. 8:4). 35 5
7. God s tri-unity 8. The necessity of God s grace As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (Jn. 15:5). the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith him. And a voice from heaven said, This is my Son, whom and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by I love; with him I am well pleased (Mt. 3:16-17). works, so that no one can boast (Eph. 2:8-9). Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son done, but because of his mercy (Titus 3:5-7). and of the Holy Spirit... (Mt. 28:19). It does not, therefore, depend on man s desire or effort, May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of but on God s mercy (Rom. 9:16). God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Cor. 13:14). 36 37 9. The necessity of our Faith Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness (Gen. 15:6). And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Heb. 11:6). However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness (Rom. 4:5). The just shall live by faith (Rom. 1:17, Gal. 3:11, Heb 10:38). 10. Christ s atoning death For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mt. 20:28, Mk. 10:45). God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God (1 Pet. 3:18). He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness (1 Pet. 2:24). 38 39 11. Christ s bodily resurrection He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification (Rom. 4:25). That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Rom. 10:9). Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that... he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures... (1 Cor. 15:3-5). And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. (1 Cor. 15:14-19). Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have. (Lk. 24:39). 40 I. Essential to Justification (1-11) II. Essential to Sanctification (12-13) 41 6
II. Essential to Sanctification (12-13) 12. Christ s bodily ascension But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you (Jn. 16:7). When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven (Lk. 24:50-51). After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going... (Acts 1:9-11). II. Essential to Sanctification (12-13) 13. Christ s priestly session After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (Heb. 1:3). For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way... (Heb. 4:15). Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them (Heb. 7:25). But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense Jesus Christ, the Righteous One (1 Jn. 2:1). 42 43 I. Essentials to Justification (1-11) II. Essential to Sanctification (12-13) III. Essential to Glorification (14) 14. Christ s second coming 44 III. Essential to Glorification 14. Christ s second coming Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him (Rev. 1:7). At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory (Mt. 24:30). Behold, I am coming quickly and My reward is with me, to give every one according to his work (Rev. 22:12). I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war... Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Rev. 19:11-16). 45 III. Essential to Glorification 14. Christ s second coming a. Heaven b. Hell a. Heaven Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to Myself (Jn. 14:1-3). He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Rev. 21:4). Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Cor. 13:12). 46 47 7
b. Hell This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power (2 Thess. 1:7-9). Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. The dead were judged according to what they had done... Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. If anyone s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-14). IV. Essentials to Believe* for Salvation A. All essentials are normatively necessary to be true for salvation to be possible today. B. Not all essentials are normatively necessary to believe explicitly to be saved today. 1. Necessary to believe in all ages (Heb. 11:6) a. Human depravity b. God s unity c. Necessity of grace d. Necessity of faith 48 49 IV. Essentials to Believe* for Salvation A. All essentials are normatively necessary to be true for salvation to be possible today. B. Not all essentials are normatively necessary to believe to be saved today. 1. Necessary to believe in all ages 2. Necessary to believe* in this age IV. Essentials to Believe* for Salvation A. All essentials are normatively necessary to be true for salvation to be possible today. B. Not all essentials are normatively necessary to believe to be saved today. 1. Necessary to believe in all ages 2. Necessary to believe* in this age a. Human depravity e. Christ s deity b. God s unity f. Christ s humanity c. Necessity of grace g. Christ s atoning death d. Necessity of faith h. Christ s bodily resurrection 50 *Belief in these must be at least implicit with no explicit disbelief. 51 Things Necessary to Believe 1. There is one God. 5. Christ died for my sins. 2. We are sinners. 6. Christ rose from the dead. 3. Christ is God. 7. We are saved by God s grace. 4. Christ is Man. 8. We must believe Christ did this. Heb. 11:6: He who comes to God [1] must believe [8] that He is and that He is a rewarder [7] of those who diligently seek Him. Acts 16:31: Believe [8] on the Lord [3] Jesus Christ [8] and you will be saved (cf. Acts 4:12). Eph. 2:8-9: For by grace are you saved [7] through faith [8], and that not of yourselves. It is a gift of God; not of works [7]. Rom. 10:9: That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, [3] and believe [8] in your heart that God raised him from the dead [6], you will be saved (Rom. 10:9; 1 Cor. 15:12f). 1 Tim. 2:5: For there is one God [1] and one mediator between God and man [7], the Man [4] Christ Jesus (cf. 1 Jn. 4:2). 52 8