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Essential Doctrine

  • Issues & Answers, Life

Colossians 2:6-8: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.  8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

Doctrineis truth revealed from Scripture regarding God, His ways, and His purposes. Doctrine, then, comes from the Bible itself. Doctrine is what the Scriptures tell us about God and the things of God. Although nature portrays His existence and His attributes, we receive clarity in Scripture based upon its teaching. What are the “essential” doctrines of the Christian faith?  How important are they?  What do we actually need to believe and what is at stake?  For the Scriptural answer, we examine:

  • Historical Context: written between A.D. 58-62, the apostle Paul was the primary author of the Book of Colossians (Colossians 1:13) with Timothy also given some credit (Colossians 1:1).  As with all the early churches, the issue of Jewish legalism in Colosse was of great concern to Paul. So radical was the concept of salvation by grace apart from works that those steeped in Old Testament law found it very difficult to grasp. Consequently, there was a continual movement among the legalists to add certain requirements from the law to this new faith. Primary among them was the requirement of circumcision which was still practiced among some of the Jewish converts. Paul countered this error in Colossians 2:11-15 in which he declares that circumcision of the flesh was no longer necessary because Christ had come. His was a circumcision of the heart, not the flesh, making the ceremonial rites of the Old Testament law no longer necessary (Deuteronomy 10:16, 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4, 9:26; Acts 7:51; Romans 2:29).  Colossians was written explicitly to defeat the heresy that had arisen in Colosse, which endangered the existence of the church. While we do not know what was told to Paul, this letter is his response.  We can surmise based on Paul’s response that he was dealing with a defective view of Christ (denying His real and true humanity and not accepting His full deity). Paul appears also to dispute the “Jewish” emphasis on circumcision and traditions (Colossians 2:8-11; 3:11). The heresy addressed appears to be either a Jewish-Gnosticism or a mix between Jewish asceticism and Greek (Stoic?) philosophy. He does a remarkable job in pointing us to the sufficiency of Christ.  The Book of Colossians contains doctrinal instruction about the deity of Christ and false philosophies (1:15-2:23), as well as practical exhortations regarding Christian conduct, including friends and speech (3:1-4:18).
  • Grammatical Usage:  Beginning with v. 6, “received” in the Greek is “Paralambano” which in the Greek means to “obtain from another” – in the first phrase referencing Jesus as Savior; “walk” or “peripateo” meaning, “activities of life” referencing Lordship; V. 7 “rooted” is “Rhizoo” meaning “to strengthen, ground, fix or establish”; “build” being “epoikodomeo” meaning, “to build upon” in the sense of instruction/conviction; “faith” or “Pistis” meaning, “the conviction of truth” referring to Jesus Christ and His exclusivity; “abounding” or “Perisseuo” meaning, “to exceed, furnish in abundance”; V. 8 “beware” or “Blepo” meaning, “discern, consider carefully”; “spoil” or “sulagogeo” meaning “carry you away…lead captive” with a direct reference to a false teacher; “rudiments” or “stoicheion” meaning, “a row or series” referring to non-God related assumptions, precepts or beginnings.
  • Literal Application: “So as you have obtained salvation in Christ Jesus, always walk in association with Him as Lord of your life because you have been grounded and, by being strengthened in righteous conviction in association with Him and be being established in Jesus as the Truth, just as you were taught you always overflow with thanksgiving.  Watch out to discern for those who are seeking to lead you astray through philosophy and vain deceit, in keeping with the conventional wisdom of men and in line with the basic assumptions of the un-Godly, and not in keeping with Christ (and the instruction you have received).”
    Contextual Interpretation: In his epistle to the Colossians, the apostle Paul gave an example of the application of doctrine to life. The church at Colossae was embracing a kind of false teaching, as we know from reading Paul’s letter to them. The false teaching was not in the form of “getting their facts wrong” about God so much as it was in the form of living in ways inconsistent with the gospel (Colossians 2:16-23).   

The believers of Colossae had apparently embraced a combination of elements of Judaism, angel worship, and asceticism. False humility and “spirituality” in an unbiblical sense seem to have been the root attitudes that supported such forms of religious expression.

In his response, Paul could have simply told them to stop certain practices and to change their attitude. To be sure, he did tell them to change their ways; chapter 3 in particular is full of righteous instruction. However, the particular situation at Colossae required a deeper understanding of the Christian faith, especially an understanding of the identity of Christ.

Paul’s teaching about Jesus Christ was necessary in order to lay a foundation for correcting the Colossians’ behavior. Paul’s doctrine of Christ was crucial for addressing the situation at this church. Paul wrote to the Colossian church regarding correct belief in the nature of Christ – His supremacy in the universe—His deity, His authority, and His ultimate reconciliation of the universe to God—to put right from the foundation of the false worship going on in  Colossae (Colossians 2:6-8). 

The Colossians’ false Christology had much to do with their false worship. In these verses, Paul begins his discussion of the Colossians’ particular problems with an exhortation to continue living in the faith, along with a distinction between Christ and the “basic principles of this world” that were the foundation of the church’s problem.  This is exactly what happens when a Christian or a church either do not understand the essential doctrines of the faith or ignore them.

Verses 9-15 of Chapter 2 go on to describe the relationship between Christ and the Christian. Building on the idea of the supremacy of Christ that he began in Chapter 1, Paul discusses the relevance of Christ’s high position to salvation and to the Christian life then in vv. 16-23, Paul is ready to address the specific issues that are disrupting the Colossian church – specifically, elements of false worship.

Our life and worship have their roots ultimately in our concept of God and Christ. That is, right living is founded on right doctrine, while a failure to grasp sound doctrine can have profound negative effects on the individual Christian life and the Christian church as a whole.

  • Scriptural Comparison: Many Christians (and non-Christians) have preconceived ideas about the term “doctrine” without ever investigating it. These ideas are often negative, reflecting a long history on the part of the church to emphasize “correct theology” as more important than the Bible, obedience to God, or sometimes, even God Himself.

As a result, theology has encountered hard times in recent decades, making Paul’s warning in 2 Timothy 4:3 an increasing reality: the creation of false doctrine for the purpose of satisfying personal desires.

In order for us to have a sure foundation for what we believe, God revealed His Word (the Bible) as the basis for our beliefs.  God cannot error (Heb. 6:18) and neither can His Word (Jn. 17:17).  Without a divinely authoritative revelation from God, such as we have in the Scriptures, we could never be sure of the doctrines that are necessary for salvation or our hope for eternity.

Through the history of the church, Christianshave divided theScripturesinto categories. These theological categories, while themselvesnot derived directly from Scripture, allow us to speak and think about God in ways the human mindcan grasp more easily:

  • Theology is the study of God and His attributes, including His triune nature.
  • Christology is the doctrine of Christ, including His divine and human natures, as well as His work on the cross on behalf of humanity.
  • Pneumatology is the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, including his nature and His operation in the church and the world.
  • Bibliology is the doctrine of Scripture, including its inspiration and authority.
  • Anthropology is the doctrine of humanity (man).
  • Hamartiology is the doctrine of sin.
  • Soteriology is the doctrine of salvation.
  • Angelology is the doctrine of angels, including Satan and demons.
  • Eschatology is the doctrine of last things, including the return of Christ and the ultimate destiny of individuals.

Not everything revealed in Scripture is of equal importance to the Christian. As one grows in the Christian life, it will be important to differentiate between doctrines that are of primary importance and those that are secondary in nature. Some are worth dying for while others are not. Paul spelled out what was most important in his preaching:

“For I deliver to you as of first importance, what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures , and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” – 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

Tragically, Christians are sometimes divided over doctrines that may be important, but not absolutely necessary. This creates rifts in the body of Christ. Just as tragic, Christians often fail to stand up for what is most important, capitulating to views that may actually be in opposition to true Christianity.  The following are the essential Christian doctrines.  They concern themselves with who God is, who Jesus Christ is and God’s love for people including his desire to save them.  These absolutely necessary and essential doctrines include:

  • God’s Unity.  There is only one God.  He has always existed and will always exist.  There is one – and only one – God, creator of the universe.
    1. What do I actually need to believe? There is only one God.
    2. What is at stake? Knowing the only true God (John 17:3).
    3. Key Scripture? Dt. 6:4; Ex. 20:2-3; Is. 43:10-11
  • God’s Tri-unity.  While there is only one God, He exists eternally in three Persons: the Father is called God (2 Th. 1:2); the Son (Jesus) is called God (Jn. 1:1-5; 10:30-33; 20:28; Heb. 1:8; Ph. 2:9-11); the Holy Spirit is called God (Acts 5:3-4; 2 cor. 3;17).  He is one substance but three Persons in relationship.  There are more than 60 Biblical passages which mention three Persons together.
    • What do I actually need to believe? God is one essence, three Persons
    • What is at stake? The unity and relational nature of God
    • Key Scripture? Mt. 3:16, 17; 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14
  • Human Depravity.  Since God is a personal Being, He wants personal relationships with human beings.  Human depravity means that every human is spiritually separated from God, totally incapable of saving himself.  When Adam sinned, he died spiritually and his relationship with God was severed.  Additionally, all of Adam’s descendents are “dead in trespasses” (Ep. 2:1).   Without a new birth no one can enter life (Jn. 3:3).
    • What do I actually need to believe? We are sinful and cannot please God by our own good works alone.  We will never be “good enough.”
    • What is at stake? When we try to deal with the problem of separation and death on our own terms, we will fail, resulting in eternal separation from God.
    • Key Scripture? Rom. 3:10, 11
  • Christ’s Virgin Birth.  Jesus was born as a result of a miracle: Mary, Jesus’ mother, became pregnant without ever having sexual relations.  The doctrine of Jesus’ Virgin Birth is not primarily about Mary’s virginity and miraculous conception.  Though this miracle fulfilled a preordained prophecy (Is. 7:14), the reason it is essential has to do with god’s supernatural intervention.  Our sin is not merely something we do – it is who we are.  It is inborn.  Our depravity is transmitted to us from our parents (Ps. 51:5; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Romans 5:12-15).  Because God interrupted the natural birth process in the case of Jesus, Jesus did not inherit a sin nature.  In other words, Jesus no only did not sin, He had no inclination to sin even when tempted.  He was perfect.
    • What do I actually need to believe? Jesus became a human being through supernatural conception in Mary’s womb
    • What is at stake? God’s supernatural intervention in order to break the chain of sin.
    • Key Scripture? Matthew 1:18-23
  • Christ’s Sinlessness.  Christ was born of a virgin; He did not suffer the effects of a sin nature.  Throughout his life Jesus remained sinless.  Because of our sin, we could not have a relationship with God; but because Jesus did not sin He was perfectly able to represent us before God.
    • What do I actually need to believe? Jesus was perfect.
    • What is at stake? The ability of Christ to represent us before God and thus provide salvation to us.
    • Key Scripture? 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22
  • Christ’s Deity.  The only way for humans to be restored spiritually to God was for God to build a bridge across the gap of separation.  So God, while retaining his full God nature, became a perfect man in Christ in order to bridge the chasm.  It He is not both God and man He cannot mediate between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5).  Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity.
    • What do I actually need to believe? Jesus Christ is, in essence, God.  He is divine, not just a good teacher or a righteous man.
    • What is at stake? Jesus’ ability to save.
    • Key Scripture? John 1:1; Col. 2:9; Hebrews 1:8
  • Christ’s Humanity.  Jesus was also fully human.  Jesus got tired; He slept; He sweated; He got hungry and thirsty.  Without being fully human, Jesus could not pay the price for human sin.  He needed to be divine to have the power to save us, and He needed to be human in order to adequately represent us.  Christ had to be both divine and human.
    • What do I actually need to believe? Jesus Christ was fully human, as well as fully divine.
    • What is at stake? Confidence in Jesus’ ability to fully represent humankind in atonement
    • Key Scripture? John 1:14; Phil. 2:7, 8; Heb. 2:14
  • The Necessity of God’s Grace.  Because of human depravity, we cannot save ourselves.  It is by God’s grace alone that salvation is possible.  God is right to call humankind to account for sin.  However, by His grace, undeserving people will be united in fellowship with him and avoid judgment.  Without God’s grace, no one could come into relationship with God.  Relationship with God is peace, joy and eternal life itself (Jn. 17:3).
    • What do I actually need to believe? God – and God alone – is able to rescue us.
    • What is at stake? Our relationship to God, eternal life.
    • Key Scripture? Eph. 2:8, 9; Jn. 15:5; Titus 3:5-7; Rom. 9:16
  • The Necessity of Faith.  Faith is trusting that God can and will save us.  No one can earn salvation.  No amount of good works can every repay the debt that is owned to God.  However, by trusting in Him and thankfully accepting His gift of salvation, we can be united with God.  Faith is an act on our part, but it is not a work.  Faith is trusting God to do what we could not do for ourselves (Eph. 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5).
    • What do I actually need to believe? That faith, not works, connects us to God.
    • What is at stake? Whether we want to be judged by what we deserve or with God’s underserved favor (grace).
    • Key Scripture? Heb. 11:6; Rom. 4:5
  • Christ’s Blood Atoning Death.  The penalty for sin is death – not only physical death (separation of the soul from the body) but also spiritual death (separation of ourselves from God).  The penalty we owe to God was paid by Christ through His death, the shedding of His innocent blood, on the cross (Heb. 9:22; Luke 22;20; 1 Peter 1:19).
    1. What do I actually need to believe? Only Christ’s sinless life, sacrificial death and bodily resurrection can bring us to God.
    2. What is at stake? The unique nature of Jesus’ work of salvation on the cross.
    3. Key Scripture? Lk. 22:20; Heb. 7:27; 9:22; Mk. 10:45; 1 Peter 1:19; 2;24; 3:18; Jn.14:6
  • Christ’s Bodily Resurrection.  The atoning death of Christ paid our sin debt, but the process was not complete until He had defeated death by being physically resurrected in the same body (John 2:19-21).  Because Christ is the victor over death and the prototype of a new, glorified physical body, all of humanity will be resurrected and live forever in either heaven or hell.
    1. What do I actually need to believe? Jesus rose bodily from the grave.
    2. What is at stake? The proof that Jesus conquered death.
    3. Key Scripture? Romans 4:25; 10:9; Luke 24:39
  • Christ’s Bodily Ascension.  Christ died for our sins and was physically resurrected for our salvation.  The 40 days later, He was taken up (“ascended”) bodily into heaven.  Because Christ has ascended to the Father, the Holy Spirit now guides us, shows us where we are wrong and comforts us when we hurt.  Jesus’ going to the Father means our life is kept safe in heaven with God.
    1. What do I actually need to believe? Jesus ascended, body and soul, to God.
    2. What is at stake? The Holy Spirit’s work in the life of the believer.
    3. Key Scripture? Jn. 16:7; Lk. 24:50, 51; Acts 1:9, 10
  • Christ’s Intercession.  Christ’s bodily ascension allowed Him to serve as our mediator (or high priest) before God.  In God’s presence, Christ prays continually on our behalf.  Like a lawyer defends someone before a judge, so Jesus defends us before the bar of God’s law and against the accusations of Satan (Rev. 12;10).
    1. What do I actually need to believe? Christ represents our best interests before God
    2. What is at stake? Assurance that my prayers are heard by God.
    3. Key Scripture? Heb. 1:3; 4;15; 7:25; 1 Jn. 2;1
  • Christ’s Second Coming.  Just as Christ left the world physically, so He will return in the same manner.  His second coming is the hope of the world.  When He returns, dead believers will receive their resurrected bodies.  Believers that are alive when He returns will not die, but will be transformed into immortal, physical bodies.  Christ’s bodily return to earth will be visible to all, and believers will rule with him in His kingdom and live with Him forever.  Those who do not believe will be separated from God’s goodness forever.
    1. What do I actually need to believe? Jesus is coming again soon, and we should be ready.
    2. What is at stake? Our hope of being together with Christ.
    3. Key Scripture? Mt. 24:30; Rev. 22:12; Col. 3:3, 4; Lk. 12:40

Conclusion: Although Scripture addresses many areas, the basic application for us today is the total and complete sufficiency of Christ in our lives, both for our salvation and our sanctification. We must know and understand the gospel so as not to be led astray by subtle forms of legalism and heresy. We must be on guard for any deviation that would diminish the centrality of Christ as Lord and Savior and his atoning work of shedding His blood on the cross. Any “religion” that tries to equate itself with the truth using books that claim the same authority as the Bible, or which combines human effort with divine accomplishment in obtaining salvation must be avoided. Other religions cannot be combined with or added to Christianity as Christ gives us absolute and exclusive standards in the form of doctrines.  They regulate our thinking and consequently our conduct. God’s will is revealed in His word, made plain and confirmed by His Spirit, thus providing the basis for our doctrinal positions.