Series: “Jesus Christ Is the Only Way to God: An Examination of Christianity and Other World Religions and Cults.”
Sermon: “Christian Doctrines and Creeds Essential for All Churches Who Name Jesus Christ as Lord.”
Presenter: Rev. Dr. JoAnne P. King
May 22, 2022
Praise the Lord Saints and God from whom all blessings flow! Information for this sermon series was gathered from Biblical scholars such as, Dr. Norman L. Deisler in his study on “Christianity Cults & Religions,” Books and DVD; and Josh McDowell in his book: “The Best of Josh McDowell: A Ready Defense” and other materials related to Christianity, other religions and cults.
Last week, we examined eight fundamental characteristics, or I could say categories, of Christian beliefs practiced in Christianity that will be used in this series to compare to the beliefs of other religious groups and cults. These categories are: “Founders, Writings, God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Salvation, Death, and other Beliefs.” Additionally, we broadly examined 13 major false teachings that other religious groups and cults teach about Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible’s response to them.
Such side-by side comparisons of Christian beliefs versus the beliefs of other religions and cults are immensely important for Christians to study and be able to recognize the truth of the Holy Bible from falsehoods espoused by other groups. In these last days, literally millions if not billions of people around the world are being led astray by religious groups who claim to know God, but do not. Even, people who identify themselves as Christians are being led away from the truth by false teachers and prophets, just as Jesus Christ said they would be in (Matt. 24: 4-5, 11, 24).
Further, the Apostle John wrote that in the last days the spirit of the antichrist would be in the world, and for Christians to be readily able to identify the antichrist. Take head (hear and know) every person and group who denies that Jesus Christ is the only begotten son of God, who has come in the flesh, is of the antichrist—they are a liar, know not the truth, and are not of God! (I John 2:22-23 & 4:3) With excellence coupled with humility, as born-again Christians we are to defend the faith so that we may share with every person the truth. That is, Jesus Christ is the only way to God. (John 14:6)
Today, we will continue to focus on central tenets of the Christian religion. More specifically, we will examine the key doctrines and creeds that every Church in the body of Christ must espouse. The importance of essential Christian doctrines cannot be overstated. These are the very doctrines that form the line of demarcation between the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of cults. While we may debate non-essentials without dividing over them, when it comes to essential Christian doctrines; there must be unity. Christian creeds are formal written statements of a set of beliefs that the Church of Jesus Christ uses to teach and prepare believers for faithfulness and maturity in the faith of the Church.
If any of these essential Christian doctrines and creeds are missing from a church’s formal written statements of their religious beliefs, then that church is either not practicing Christianity as the Bible teaches and must correct its stated beliefs, or the church is operating as a counterfeit religion and/or cult claiming to be Christian. For aid in teaching, I have prepared several tables that highlight the essential doctrines and creeds of the Christian faith.
Table 1, shows the essential doctrines all Christian churches must espouse in practicing Christianity, coupled with scriptural references. By “doctrine” we mean a formal written set of beliefs held and taught by Christian churches. These Christian doctrines are among the ones most often misinterpreted, omitted and/or denied by false religions and cults. You will see other religions teaching counter to what we believe.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” (2 Cor. 13:1b) So, let the witnesses speak!
Table 1: Essential Doctrines for Churches Practicing Christianity.
|
The Standard Christian Doctrine |
Scriptures
|
|
General Revelation: (God’s Nature)
(God has revealed Himself to all of mankind through nature. Such that no man can truthfully deny His existence.)
|
Psalm 19:1-9: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. …His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: ... The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.” Also see Romans 1:20. |
|
Special Revelation:
(God reveals Himself through the Scriptures.) |
2 Peter 1:21: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” Also see II Timothy 3:16.
|
|
God’s Unity: There is only one true God: |
Deut. 6:4 “Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.” Also see 1 Cor. 8:5-6.
|
|
The Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit:
|
II Thess. 1:2: (2 Persons of Trinity); John 1:1: (1 Person of Trinity); Matt. 28:19: “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” (3 Persons of Trinity)
|
|
Human Depravity:
|
Romans 3:9-20: “…for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that doeth good, no not one. …their feet are swift to shed blood; …There is no fear of God before their eyes…” Also see John 3:3.
|
|
The Virgin Birth: |
Matthew 1:18: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” Also see Luke 1:34-35.
|
|
The Sinlessness of Christ: |
1 Peter 2:22: “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” Also see 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15.
|
|
Christ’s Deity…was and is an Eternal God. |
Christ was with God and was God. The witness of Christ is throughout the Bible.
|
|
…and Christ’s Humanity: |
John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” Also see Heb. 1:1-8; Gal. 4:4-5; 1 John 4:2-3.
|
|
God’s Grace: |
Titus 3:5: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” Also see Rom. 5:10.
|
|
Faith: |
Eph. 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” |
|
Christ’s Atoning Death: |
Rom. 3:25-26: “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
|
|
Healing through Christ’s Stripes and Death: |
1 Peter 2:24: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” Also see Matt. 8:17; Isa. 53:4-5.
|
|
Jesus’ Bodily Resurrection: |
1 Cor. 15:3-6: “…how that Christ died for our sins … that he was seen of Cephas then of the twelve: … he was seen of above five hundred … of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.”
|
|
Christ’s Second Coming: |
Rev. l1:7: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” Also see Acts 1:11. |
Next, in Table 2, we discuss key excerpts from the Four Universal Christian Creeds that are typically used by Churches practicing Christianity with some additional background commentary on each. Creeds affirm in writing a summary of our Christian beliefs, taken from the doctrines we hold as truth.
Table 2: Four Universal Christian Creeds
|
Christian Creeds |
Key Excerpts of Christian Creeds and Commentary |
|
Apostles’ Creed: |
“I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead….”
The apostles did not write the Apostles’ Creed. Unknown when this creed was written. Similar statements—known as the “Rule of Earth”—were found in writings as early as the second century AD. The name “Apostles’ Creed” means that the creed contains Christian statements of belief ascribed to the twelve Apostles.
|
|
|
|
|
Nicene Creed: The Nicene Creed is longer and covers just about all of our beliefs.
|
“We believe in one God, 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, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: …”
The greatest doctrinal challenge to the church arose internally. Arius, a priest in Alexandria, suggested that if God begat Jesus, then Jesus had an origin. As such, Jesus did not share in the same divine essence with the Father—making him a lesser god. This teaching became known as Arianism. However, in AD 325, Constantine, (an emperor of Rome, made Christianity the main religion of Rome), called the leaders of the church to participate in an assembly of bishops. They met in the city of Nicaea. The Council of Nicaea, made up of about 300 participants who overwhelmingly voted against the Arian teaching. The council expressed its views about God, Jesus and the church in the Nicene Creed.
|
|
Athanasian Creed: |
Begins by affirming, “This is what the catholic (or universal) faith teaches: “we worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity. We distinguish among the persons, but we do not divide the substance [or essence].” After unpacking these ideas, the creed concludes, “So that in all things as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.”
Athanasius, (a Greek Church Father), was one of the most active opponents of Arius’ teachings. Although he did not write the Creed himself, his persistent and clear teachings on the Trinity greatly helped the church clarify its positions. His teachings are summarized in both the Athanasius Creed named after him, as well as, the Nicene Creed.
|
|
Chalcedon: Definition |
The definition of Chalcedon made it clear that “Jesus is fully God and fully human, two natures existing in perfect harmony in one person.”
Understanding the incarnation of Jesus Christ—the embodiment of God the Son in human flesh—was one of the greatest challenges for the early church. In AD 451, the Council of Chalcedon provided a clear statement of the Apostolic teachings concerning Jesus.
|
In closing, we have covered extensively the doctrines and creeds necessary as a foundation for any Christian church. If anyone of these doctrines is denied then as I said initially, it is not a Christian church. If any Church has inadvertently omitted these doctrines and/or creeds from its statements of faith, they must move quickly to amend their statements of faith and teach their congregations accordingly.
Essential Christian doctrines is the North Star by which the course of Christianity is set. Just as the North Star is an unchanging reference point by which sailors safely guide their ships, so essential Christian doctrines have safely guided the Church of Jesus Christ through the doctrinal storms that have sort to sink it.
I should also add that in the body of Christ, we have many churches that are divided on other doctrinal issues such as baptisms, communion, etc. These differences have resulted in many of our churches having no fellowship with one another. I urge all Churches to adhere to the advice of Peter Meiderlin, a 17th Century Theologian, who once said: “In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. And in all things, charity.” Let us love one another through our minor differences, and spread the truth to all men regarding the essentials of our faith.
Since cults and non-Christian religions misinterpret, omit, distort, and deny the truths of the Christian faith, it is our responsibility to declare and bring the truth of God’s word to a lost and dying world!
The Lord willing, in our next meeting on June 5, 2022, we will begin an examination of the specific beliefs and teachings of Jehovah Witnesses and Mormonism as they compare with the eight characteristics of Christian beliefs.
Give the Lord a praise offering for His teaching today.
Please send your tithes and offerings in support of Exousia Ministries, Inc. to the PayPal link below. May God exponentially multiply your cheerful and hilarious giving to our Ministry and ever take you deeper into the knowledge of Himself.