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C
H R I S T I A N D O C T R I N E |
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RELIGIOUS GROUPS |
IMPORTANCE
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SUBJECT
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Groups denying these:
Mormons - 3,4,5
Jehovah's Witnesses - 1,2,3
Roman Catholicism - 3
Christian Science - 1,2,3,4
Christadelphians - 1,3 |
Primary Essentials
Stated specifically in
scripture that these cannot be denied and still be a Christian.
They deal with the nature of God, the atonement, and its method of
salvation applied to the believer. Denial of any Primary
essential constitutes lack of regeneration, lack of salvation.
Note: Regeneration means the believer is indwelt by God,
changed, and enabled to understand spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:15) |
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Jesus is both God and man (John 1:1,14; 8:24; Col. 2:9; 1 John 4:1-4).
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Jesus rose from the dead physically (John 2:19-21; 1 Cor. 15:14).
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Salvation is by grace through faith (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 3:1-2; 5:1-4).
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The gospel is the death, burial, and
resurrection of Jesus according to the scriptures (1
Cor. 15:1-4; Gal. 1:8-9).
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There is only one God (Exodus 20:3; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8)
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| Comments: Denial of any of the
above doctrines is stated in scripture constitutes being
non-Christian. |
Groups denying these:
Oneness Pentecostal - 6
Mormonism - 6, 7?
Jehovah's Witnesses - 6
Christadelphians - 6 |
Secondary
Essentials
Not stated in scripture as essential, but are derivatively essential
since they deal with accurately describing the true God and they are
based, in part, on the Primary Essentials.
Denial strongly suggests lack of regeneration. |
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God exists as a Trinity of
persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (See Trinity)
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Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary
(nature of incarnation)
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Jesus is the only way to God the Father
(John 14:6).
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| Comments: God is a Trinity and
though a person may not understand or initially affirm the Trinity
doctrine upon regeneration, he will eventually come to accept it since
it is a biblically true revelation describing the true God.
Jesus was born of a virgin which is essential when defending the two
natures of Jesus: divine and human. If Jesus were not born
of a virgin, then His patronage would be in doubt as well as His
divine nature. Without a divine nature, Jesus would not be able
to atone for the sins of the world. |
Most Groups affirm:
Moral integrity, marriage fidelity, inerrancy, etc.
Mormonism denies 11, 12.
ICOC denies 12 |
Primary
Non-Essentials
(1 John 2:4)
Can be denied and still be Christian. Yet, denial would bring
into question a person's regeneration since acceptance of these show the work of
regeneration of the heart |
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Moral integrity (Exodus 20:1-17)
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Fidelity in marriage in heterosexual
relationships
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The condemnation of homosexuality.
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Inerrancy of the Bible
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Baptism is not necessary for salvation (Acts 10:44-48)
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Comments: The fruit of the
indwelling Spirit of God is agreement in word and deed with the
scriptures. The Primary Non-Essentials are those teachings that
the Bible does not declare as essential to salvation; however, to
affirm otherwise is evidence of lack of regeneration since they are
the fruit of the regenerate mind and heart. |
Denomination Division
Denominational difference often result due to these issues. |
Secondary
Non-Essentials
Any of them can be
denied, or affirmed, and regeneration is not in question. |
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Predestination, election, limited
atonement, and free will.
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Communion every week, monthly, or
quarterly, etc.
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Saturday or Sunday Worship.
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Pre, mid, post trib rapture.
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Premill, Amill, Postmill., preterism.
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Continuation or cessation of the
charismatic gifts
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Baptism for adults or infants.
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Musical Instruments in chruch
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| Comments:
The subjects above whether affirmed or denied have no bearing on
the status of a person before God. They are opinions, various
positions held. Unfortunately, it is in these non essentials
that many denominational differences result. |
Liberal
interpretation problem
Examples of bad biblical
interpretations |
Christian Heresies
These do not contradict the essentials, but do contradict non
essential teachings. |
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Universalism
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Open Theism
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Annihilationism
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Possession of Christians by demons
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Christians are to be healthy and wealthy
by the fact of being Christians.
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Women pastors and elders
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| Comments:
Affirming the doctrines in this grey section are signs of significant lack of
understanding of biblical theology. Nevertheless, believing them
does not negate salvation. |