The Bible is the foundation of the Christian faith. It is central to all understanding of God, mankind, and the state of the world. It is the inspired word of God. So, what does God have to say about himself? About our purpose and the future? The following topics are answers to those questions, in addition to some other key doctrines of the Christian faith. Please note that all of the following passages are taken from the English Standard Version translation and that as a general rule of hermeneutics, all scripture should be studied within context.
The One True God: The Bible teaches that God is singular in essence but triune in persons (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). This singularity within three persons is a mystery of the Christian faith. Below are verses that reinforce understanding of God's unity as one.
- Deuteronomy 6:4: "The LORD our God is one LORD; or The LORD is our God, the LORD is one; or The LORD is our God, the LORD alone."
- Isaiah 45:5: "I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me."
- 1 Corinthians 8:4: "Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that 'an idol has no real existence,' and that 'there is no God but one.'"
- Isaiah 44:6: "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.'"
- 2 Samuel 7:22: Therefore you are great, O LORD God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears."
The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ: Scripture holds that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man. Like the Trinity, this aspect of the faith is difficult to explain. Yet only by the deity of Jesus can Christians hope for salvation from their sins.
- John 14:9: "Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father"?'"
- John 10:30: "'I and the Father are one.'"
- Philippians 2:5-7: "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."
- Colossians 2:9: "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily"
- Colossians 1:15: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation."
The Salvation of Man: Human beings are born with a sin nature. Because God is holy and cannot tolerate sin, justice must be upheld. Jesus Christ, who is both God and man, provides salvation for mankind by dying for sinners. Those who believe in Jesus and follow him with their lives are given salvation.
- John 3:36: "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him"
- Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
- Ephesians 1:7: "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace"
- Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
- 1 Peter 1:18-19: "knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."
Sanctification: Those who accept Christ must undergo change in their lives. Christians should increasingly become more and more like Christ. This process is called sanctification.
- Acts 20:32: "And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified."
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13: "But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth."
- Hebrews 10:10: "And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
- John 17:17: "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth."
- 2 Corinthians 3:18: "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Once a person has been saved, they are "baptized" into the faith. That is, they are given the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells in the believer, guiding and changing them from the inside out as they grow in their sanctification. Christians should also seek to demonstrate this inward change with the outward testimony of a literal baptism, as was commanded by Christ in the Great Commission.
- Acts 1:5: "'for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.'"
- Acts 8:36-38: "And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?' And [...] they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him."
- Romans 6:3-4: "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."
- 1 Corinthians 12:13: "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit."
- Titus 3:5: "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,"
- Acts 2:38: "Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
The Church and Its Mission: In Jesus' Great Commission, he tells the disciples to spread the gospel (the "good news") of his death and resurrection. This is the mission of the church.
- Matthew 28:19: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"
- Acts 1:8: "'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'"
- Ephesians 3:21: "to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
- Matthew 9:37-38: Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'"
- Hebrews 2:3: "how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,"
The Ministry: All members of the church should participate in ministry. Christians within the church minister to one another through community and utilizing their spiritual gifts (these spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit upon conversion). Below are some verses that demonstrate how ministry should be conducted within the church.
- Acts 2:42: "And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."
- Hebrews 10:24-25: "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
- 1 Corinthians 12:4-6: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
- 1 Peter 4:10-12: "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
- Romans 12:4-6: "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith"
The Ordinances of the Church: There is a great deal of debate among Christians about the number of ordinances and the ways in which they should be administered. However, most agree that baptism and communion are clearly commanded in the New Testament.
- Luke 22:19: "And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'"
- 1 Corinthians 11:26: "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes."
- Acts 2:41-42: "So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."
- Matthew 28:19: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"
- Romans 6:3-5: "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his."
The Blessed Hope/The Second Coming: All Christians look ahead to the promised return of Christ. Jesus will return to earth to judge the people of the world and to establish his final kingdom here on earth.
- John 5:28-29: "Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment."
- Revelation 19:11: "Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war."
- 2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."
- Matthew 25:31-32: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats."
- John 14:2-4: "'In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.'"
The New Heavens and the New Earth: When Christ returns to rule, a new heaven and earth will be established. It will be a place with no death, pain, sin, or sorrow. Rather, it will be a place of great joy for those who are saved.
- Luke 1:32-33: "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
- Revelation 21:4: "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
- Revelation 21:2: "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
- 2 Peter 3:10: "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed."
- Revelation 22:3-5: "No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever."
Additional Resources:
- Bible Gateway: An online Bible, also available in multiple translations and with notes, commentaries, and cross-references.
- Grace Community Church Statement of Faith: The pastor of this church, John MacArthur, has written a dozens of books on scripture. He pastors a mega-church in California.
- BibleStudyTools.com: This website hosts a large number of resources for commentaries on the Bible.