Essential Doctrines?

Essential Biblical Doctrines as the Foundation of the Gospel

Essential biblical doctrines are those teachings which are crucial to saving faith and everything contrary to those doctrines is heresy. There are several ways to narrow down what these doctrines are but one helpful way is by using the word doctrine as an acronym.

Deity of Christ, Original Sin, Canon, and the Trinity

D stands for deity of Christ. For salvation it is necessary to know that Jesus is God. O stands for original sin. All have sinned and the wages of sin is death. If we don't know we've sinned against a holy God then we can't know what Jesus has saved us from.

C stands for canon. Just another word for the Bible. God's inerrant word for without it we can't know him or the words for eternal life. T stands for Trinity. God is one God in three persons. Father, Son, and Spirit.

Salvation, Resurrection, and the Incarnation

Salvation is given by the Father. It is acquired through the Son. It is experienced in the Holy Spirit. R stands for resurrection. Not only did Jesus rise from the grave so do all who believe in Him. If Christ has not been raised no one gets raised and our faith is hopeless.

I stands for incarnation. Meaning the Son of God put on flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus was fully man and fully God. Born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless human life, and died a sinner's death to atone for sins.

New Creation and the Return of Christ

He rose again and ascended into heaven where He alone intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father. N stands for new creation. We must no longer walk in our old sinful ways but live anew in Christ.

Lastly, E is for eschatology, the study of end times. While there are many end times theories we need to know that Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead, ushering in His peaceful kingdom and we will be with our Lord forever.

These doctrines are the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ when we understand the text.