What Are the Core Beliefs of Christianity?

The whole narrative of the Bible is centered around the relationship that God has with humanity, beginning with Genesis, culminating in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and ending with a glimpse into eternity. This relationship is the center of the Christian faith. While there are some things people will not know until all things have come to an end, there is enough information in the Bible to understand who God is, where the world came from, why there is a separation between God and man, and how to restore that relationship.

So, what are the primary principles of Christianity as outlined in the Bible?

Who Is God?

God, as presented in the Bible is an omnipotent, omnipresent being who is outside of the human understanding of time. He has always existed. He exists in a Triune state, both three persons and one simultaneously as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He is perfect in His character, loving, just, and holy.

Supporting verses

“This God — his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him” (Psalm 18:30).

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased’” (Matthew 3:16-17).

“And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’” (Revelation 4:8).

Key Point: God is real, and He is holy.

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The Bible is clear about the origins of the universe, the earth, and life on the earth. God created the world, and all living things on it. Man was made distinctly different from all other living things, making humanity in the image of God, with a spirit, a will, and dominion over the earth.

Supporting Verses

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:26-27).

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements — surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7).

Key Point: God created everything.

What Is the Moral State of Man?

Despite being made in the image of God, and God walking with the first man and woman, Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, bringing sin and death into the world. Because of this original sin, all of creation is impacted, and people are fundamentally separated from God. People will always choose sin, motivated by evil. Because God is holy and perfect, He must judge humanity for its sin.

Supporting Verses

“Then the Lord God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever’ therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:22-24).

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? ‘I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds’” (Jeremiah 17:9-10).

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire” (Matthew 5:21-22).

“And he said, ‘What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person’”        (Mark 7:20-23).

“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God” (Romans 3:11).

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Key Point: People chose to sin, and rebel against God, earning His judgment and condemnation to hell.

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God loves His creation and humanity, so He instituted the law to show the world their sin and their need for repentance and forgiveness. No matter how hard they tried, people always failed. To create a way to forgive sin that was everlasting, the second person in the Trinity, God the Son, came to earth and lived as a man.

Jesus Christ lived a sinless life, was hailed as the King of the Jews and the Messiah, but the religious leaders hated him, and had the government of Rome help them execute Him. In that moment, God poured out His wrath on His Son, and Jesus died. This death paid the price for sin, if people would repent and accept Jesus as their Savior. More than that, Jesus rose from the grave three days later, returned to Heaven, and will return.

Supporting Verses

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:16-18).

“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30).

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it —  the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins” (Romans 3:21-25).

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

Key Point: By dying on the cross and rising from the grave, Jesus paved the way for everybody who puts their faith in Him to have an eternal relationship with God through the forgiveness of their sins.

These beliefs are so essential because they are the core things that must be understood to seek a saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Believing that God exists, that He created the world to be good, that man sinned and broke that relationship, and that it can be restored eternally through the blood of Jesus is the difference between an eternity with God in Heaven or an eternity under the condemnation of one’s own sins in hell.

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When considering what is core doctrine for Christians, it should boil down to a simple premise – is understanding this issue necessary for someone to be saved from their sins? Some of the best ways to evaluate these issues are to look at the people who were saved by faith during Jesus’ ministry on earth. A thief being crucified next to Christ believed he was a sinner, that Jesus was going to inherit a kingdom rightfully even after death, and that Jesus had done nothing wrong. And He was saved (Luke 23:39-43). The Gospel is the simple good news that Jesus had made a way for sinners to have an everlasting relationship with God if they repent and put their faith in Him, creating and pursuing an eternal relationship.

Some of these non-essential issues include but are not limited to: When is the millennial reign going to take place? When should someone be baptized? Should Christians eat meat? Are you a Calvinist or an Arminist?

These issues are still important to wrestle with, but are not going to impact someone’s salvation. What matters most is their belief in God, their own sin-nature, their need for Jesus, and a right understanding that Jesus is God who came to earth, died in the place of sinners, and lives forever after a bodily resurrection.

Christianity is more than a series of beliefs and practices; it is a relationship with the God of the universe, whose love was so great that He shed His own blood so that people who earned His wrath and condemnation could be forgiven of their wickedness in full. Seeking God is something that all people do through their life, but there is only one true way to Him, through Jesus Christ.

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13-14). God loves all people, and has made a way for all to find Him, if only they will believe.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Sources

Horton, Michael. Pilgrim Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013.

Grudeman, Wayne. Christian Beliefs 20 Basics Every Christian Should Know. Westmont: IVP Books, 2010.

Sproul, R.C. What is the Gospel? Sanford: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2020.

Wilmington, H.L. Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible. Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1981.

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