Christian Essentials, Convictions & Opinions - PowerPoint Presentation

Christian Essentials, Convictions & Opinions What's the Difference and Why Does It Matter? -SESSION2- Nathan Wagnon

The Essentials & Non-essentials Essentials are doctrines Christians must not reject. Non-essentials : Convictions are views on doctrines that are extremely important but not essential. These doctrines affect the health and vitality of a local body and are important enough to break fellowship with other believers over differences.Opinions are views that can be held, even strongly held, but should not cause division in the local body.Questions are views that do not have a clear answer and should never create division. CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS

I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The Apostles’ Creed CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS

The Original “Apostles’ Creed” For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS

Essentials Convictions Opinions Questions CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS

Trinity Sin Virgin Birth Fully God, Fully Man ATONEMENT RESURRECTION Restoration Convictions Opinions Questions CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS

The Essentials Trinity – “God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God.” (Wayne Grudem,  Systematic Theology , 226). See the Nicene Creed ( ad 325/381).Sin – Man has rebelled against God and deserves judgment.Deity / Humanity of Jesus – Jesus is fully God, fully man. See the Chalcedonian Creed (ad 451).Atonement – Jesus’ death in some way atoned (paid for / cleansed) sin.Resurrection – Jesus literally, physically rose from the dead and is alive.Resolution – God will somehow make all things right, eradicating evil and restoring creation, including our bodies. CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS

LIBERALISM Trinity Sin Virgin Birth Fully God, Fully Man ATONEMENT RESURRECTION Restoration Convictions Opinions Questions CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS

FUNDAMENTALISM Trinity Sin Virgin Birth Fully God, Fully Man ATONEMENT RESURRECTION Restoration Convictions Opinions Questions CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS

LIBERALISM FUNDAMENTALISM Trinity Sin Virgin Birth Fully God, Fully Man ATONEMENT RESURRECTION Restoration Convictions Opinions Questions CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS

What About Bibliology? Belief in the Bible based on Christ vs Belief in Christ based on the Bible CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS

Where Do We Begin? The beginning and end of all orthodox Christian doctrine is Jesus Christ. CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS

Where Do We Begin? “The center of all theology, of the entirety of the Christian faith, is Christ himself. The Christ-event – in particular his death and resurrection – is the center of time: everything before it leads up to it; everything after it is shaped by it. If Christ were not God in the flesh, he would not have been raised from the dead. And if he were not raised from the dead, none of us would have any hope. My theology grows out from Christ, is based on Christ, and focuses on Christ.” Daniel B. Wallace, “A Bibliology Grounded in Christology” CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS

Where Do We Begin? “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” Jesus (John 5:39-40) “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Jesus (Matthew 5:17) CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS

Where Do We Begin? “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” Hebrews 1:1-2 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS

Where Do We Begin? “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” Romans 10:2-4 CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS

Where Do We Begin? Inductive reasons to hold to a high view of the Bible: The books of the Bible are recognized as historical, even if one does not grant inerrancy. The biblical writers are a reliable source and held a high bibliology themselves. The criteria of authenticity show that Jesus held a high view of Scripture. CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS

Where Do We Begin? “ The reason I hold to a high bibliology is because I hold to a high Christology . . . Jesus had a high view of the text, and it strikes me that I would be unwise to have a view different from his. Indeed, I believe I would be on dangerous ground if I were to take a different view of the text than Jesus did. Thus, my starting point for a high bibliology is Christ himself.” Daniel B. Wallace, “A Bibliology Grounded in Christology” CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS

Where Do We Begin? “If Christ is at the core of our beliefs, then the incarnation has to loom large in our thinking about the faith. When God became man and invaded space-time history, this served notice that we dare not treat the Bible with kid gloves. The incarnation not only invites us to examine the evidence, it requires us to do so. The fact that our religion is the only major religion in the world that is subject to historical verification is no accident: it’s part of God’s design. Jesus performed miracles and healings in specific towns, at specific times, on specific people. The Gospels don’t often speak in generalities. And Paul mentioned that 500 believers saw the risen Christ at one time, then added that most of these folks were still alive . . .” CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS

Where Do We Begin? “. . . These kinds of statements are the stuff of history; they beg the reader to investigate. Too often modern evangelicals take a hands-off attitude toward the Bible because of a prior commitment to inerrancy. But it is precisely because I ground my bibliology in Christology rather than the other way around that I cannot do that. I believe it is disrespectful to my Lord to not ask the Bible the tough questions that every thinking non-Christian is already asking it.” Daniel B. Wallace, “A Bibliology Grounded in Christology” CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS, CONVICTIONS & OPINIONS