What are Essential Christian Doctrines?

by Jim Parkinson

Many intellectual concepts have been proposed or demanded, for one to be recognized as a Christian.  Several sets of concepts, or creeds, are contradictory one to the other.  It remains to be asked, Which creeds are from God, and which are from man?  Therefore it is important to extract from the Word of God, Which are the doctrines that He requires?  An attempt is here made to extract the doctrines absolutely required.  It is not exhaustive.  [The compiler has been surprised to find that the majority of requirements pertain to practice, rather than to head knowledge.]

Intellectual

Confess that Jesus is the Son of God.  Mt 10:32-33; 1Jo 4:15, 5:5

Jesus is come in the flesh.  2Jo 7; 1Jo 2:22, 4:3

Jesus is the Christ [Messiah, Anointed]  1Jo 2:22, 5:1

Love the Lord.  1Co 16:22

Not under the Law of Moses.  Gal 5:4

The resurrection is not past.  2Tm 2:16-18

[In the seed of Abraham all the families of the earth will be blessed.  Ge 12:3, 18:18, 22:16-18 {26:3-4; 28:14}.]

Practical

Confess your sins.  1Jo 1:8-10.

Love thy brother.  1Jo 2:9-11, 4:20.

Do righteousness.  1Jo 3:7-11.

Righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees.  Mt 5:20

Be not angry with thy brother.  Mt 5:20

Forgive others.  Mt 6:9-15, 18:27-35

A man must provide for his own (or he has denied the faith…).  1Tm 5:8

Put away jealousy, greed, and seizing power.  Jude 11

Put away fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,…  1Cor 6:9-10, Gal 5:19-21

Bridle (control) thy tongue.  Jas 1:26

[God’s other oaths.  Ex 17:16; Nu 14:28-30; 32:10-12 (Ps 95:11); Ps 89:3-4; Ps 110:4, etc. (+ 8+ other tijmes).]

[I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall not die forever.  Jo 11:25-26.]

So Why are Creeds so Popular?

It is too hard to make simple check lists for the Bible’s practical requirements.

Also, If I come up short on the practical requirements, I can construct a creed of head-knowledge that will include me and my friends, while excluding those I cannot dominate.

[Consider Chief priest vs. Jesus; Pharisees vs. apostles; Athanasius vs. Arius; papacy vs. Luther, etc.]

So if the heart is deceitfully wicked, let’s look again at the practical essentials – and DO them!