Featured What are the Essentials of Christian Faith?

You are asking two different questions. The title of the thread asks about the essentials of the faith while your OP asked about salvation.

Jesus death was Atonement for Sins
You don't have to have a theory of the atonement to be "saved."

Jesus had a Physical bodily Resurrection
If you are aware of the death of Jesus and presented with the news of the resurrection, you will believe it - otherwise you can be confident that you are not "saved."

Jesus will have a Second Coming, and must hold to preMil viewpoint
If you are aware that Jesus is going to return to the earth in physical force to set everything right, then you will believe it as evidence that you are "saved." Premillennial theories have nothing to do with salvation, and I personally reject them.

Bible is fully inerrant/infallible
You don't have to have a theory of inerrancy/infallibility to be "saved." However, if you are "saved," you will eventually recognize that the scripture is a trustworthy guide.

Mode of Water Baptism
Baptist has nothing to do with salvation, but those who are truly "saved" will want to follow Christ in obedience in ALL things, including water baptism.

Salvation by Grace alone thru faith alone
One does not have to have a fully-formulated understanding of salvation to enter into the Kingdom of God. One simply has to trust all they know themselves to be, to all that they know Jesus to be in order to find life. The rest will come.

ALL who die who never received Jesus as Lord are Lost
One does not have to have a theory about the fate of those who do not have specific information about Jesus to enter into salvation.

Spiritual Gifts now ceased
One does not have to deny God's work in the world to find salvation. One doesn't have to affirm spiritual gifts either.

 

None of the items really enumerate the essential tenets of the Christian faith.

They are: Repentance, faith, the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

 

One does NOT have to know those things to be saved. If so, then you are making salvation dependent upon religious factual/faith knowledge instead of the knowledge of the Person, Jesus.

 

You asked for the essentials. The bare bones. No Christian dogma can deny or exclude any of those.

I could just as easily said, "Every word of Scripture." But that wouldn't answer the question.

 

What?

 

Quite.

 

I disagree that this is all. These are only part of it. The real test is so often over looked. The answer is in Romans 10:10 Confessing that Jesus is Lord of our lives. Not being ashamed to do this Romans 10:11
MB

 

That's repentance and faith.

 

When God divided the sheep from the goats, did He as theological questions? Did He ask if the were premil? Were they baptized by immersion?

 

How many essentials of faith did the thief on the cross maintain? Jesus said they would be in paradise that day--apparently without baptism too. One thing for sure: the thief must have been born again. Christendom is overrun by the unregenerated--some in high places.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Bro. James

 

Theology is a man made yoke of bondage. Man has the audacity to think that he can define God. All man can really say is: "My God, how great Thou art." A little child can understand. See: Ephesians 2:8-10.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Bro. James