After looking at a few peoples 'Doctrinal Basis' recently I've decided to have a look more closely at what should be in them and what shouldnt. For example one church (see here) decided that the first key point on thier doctrinal basis was "We believe that the King James Bible is the word of God without error."Obviously something important has been missed here. What is to follow then is what I believe should be in a doctrinal basis and why.
The First question to ask is "What is a doctrinal Basis and why bother?". A doctrinal basis [for our purpose] is a list of understood principles (doctrines)which sums up what a Christian believes. My aim here then to test what I believe is neccessary for one to be a christian with your keen eyes of course.
1) There is one God in three equal, eternal persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Deut 6:4; Matt 28:19)
I believe that the Trinity is a vital Christian doctrine. The bible is clear on this one and much of the Christian's understanding of God's nature and redemption of man rest upon this understanding of God.
2) God is sovereign: He is the creator and sustainer of all things and as such the rightful ruler. He created mankind in his image and as such have free will. (Isa 46: 8-11; Gen 1)
This tends to go too far one way or another. Either that God controls every single fasset of life (determinism) and therefore we are not accountable for our actions (supralapsarianism) or God gives up all his soverignty all together as the Gospel depnds wholly on mankind (pelagianism). Both of these are wrong. The Bible is clear that God is the rightful ruler of everything and that he has the power to do as he wishes. However, the Bible also states that we are responsible for our actions and therefore God must lay aside some of his severign power for the sake of our free will. Although this term gets used by different groups the principle is similar. God is Ruler had has the right to do as he wished with his creation.
3)Since the fall, the whole of humankind is sinful and guilty, so that everyone is subject to and deserves death. God's wrath and condemnation is rightly on us becuase of sin. We are spiritually blind because of this sin and refuse to seek God of our own accord. (Gen 3; Rom 3:23; 2 Cor 4:4)
As if often said "The Gospel is bad news before it is good news". Unless we state that God is just in condemning us what is the Good news? We need to know what state we are in before we can know why we need saving.
4)God chose a special people, the Israelites, to whom he made a covenants with Abraham and his descendants to Bless the world through them. It is by them that the Law was recieved and the relationship with God and Man was founded. It was through them the the final means of redemption would come: Jesus Christ.(Rom 9:4-5; Gen 26:4-5)
5) The Lord Jesus Christ,born of a virgin, is God's incarnate Son: fully God and fully man, yet without sin. He lived the perfect life, proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom, died on the cross as a once-for-all sacrifice to save the world of its sins, was raised bodily from death to defeat death once and for all, and is now sat at the right hand of God the Father and is the only mediator between God and man. (John 1:1-2,14; 1 Pet 2:22; Mk 1:14-15; Heb 10:10; Luke 24:46; Acts 2:32-33; 1 Tim 2:5)
Jesus as the God-man is vital as unless he is both then we cannot be fully redeemed and interceeded for. His perfection is also vital as it was necessary that the atoning sacrifice was unblemished if it was to the worthy. Is death is the propitiation of our sins and his physical resurrection the proof of defeat of sin and the Grave. It also proves that he has the power to remove ur sins and to raise us up on the last day. Due to this Jesus is the only way to God and thus explaining why all other means are futile.
6) The Holy Spirit alone makes the work of Christ available to individual sinners, enabling them to turn to God from their sin and to trust in Jesus Christ. (John 16:7-11)
As stated before man is spiritually blind and cannot seek God of his own accord. The spirit then opens our eyes to the Gospel so that we may respond.
7) Those who have faith in Christ are pardoned all their sins and accepted in God's sight only because of the righteousness of Christ and his vindication of us; this justification is God's act of Grace and undeserved mercy, received solely by trust in him and not by their own efforts. Baptism is the outward mark of this inward committment to Christ. (Eph 2:8-9)
We are justified by grace though faith, as Paul writes, and not of works so that no-one can boast. The preparation, will, practicalities and delivery of salvation is all a work of God and is made effectual to us wholly by faith in Jesus Christ with no addition or subtraction.
8) The Holy Spirit lives in all those he has regenerated. He enables them to increasingly become Christ-like in character and behaviour and gives them power for their witness in the world. A true believer is proved by his actions but not saved. To a believer the promises of full life and eternal life are given. (2 Corinthians 3:18; Gal 5: 16-26; John 10:10; John 3:16)
The spirit is the one who continues to reform us and is the mark of the promised things to come. Without the spirit we have no guarantee of the promise and no hope of living and becomeing Christ-like.
9) The Lord Jesus Christ will return in person. The dead will be bodily raised and He will judge everyone to execute God's just condemnation on those who have not repented and to receive the redeemed to eternal glory in the new creation. (Rev 19:11; Rev 20:12)
God will judge all. The Christian, because of Jesus' worth, to eternal life, and the rest to eternal death as just punishment for thier sins. The exact nature of this punishment is intentionally left vague as there a various 'orthodox' positions.
10) The Bible, as originally given, is the inspired Word of God. It supremely bears God's authority in all matters of belief and behaviour. (2 Tim 3: 16-17)
The Bible being the inspired word of God is a key concept as it is the eternal, solid reference in an ever changing world. It is indeed God breathed and is useful to the believer. Its infallibility is not mentioned here however as the Bible never openly makes such claims and there is more then one possible understanding of God breathed.
11) The one holy universal church is the Body of Christ, to which all true believers belong. This is marked by unity and the taking of the Lord's supper together. (Eph 4:4-6; 1 Cor 11:23-26)
The Church is not a building but the people of God. Therefore all who are saved are part of this body, with Christ at the head. A Christian is never a lone believer. If one serates themselves from the body then thier salvation is rightly opened to questioning
I believe that is all for now but as the title suggests it is open to reforms so I look forward to your CONSTRUCTIVE criticism.
Till next time!
N.B. I have used the UCCF Doctrinal Basis as my template. Please see here for the original.
Firstly Pete before creating a Doctrinal Basis you have to ask what is its purpose. Is it to create boundaries of "orthodox belief" or to have a clear, unambiguous, statement of belief. I was toying with writing an entry on Heresy to attempt a cogent conception of it though I realised the final extent of the basics of the Gospel lead to (I'm not going here now) to Open Theism. However to declare all classical theist heretics is absurd. I thus shelved the venture. I write this merely to point out the issues and problems when creating a DB.
ReplyDeleteNow to the basis:
1) There is one God in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Deut 6:4; Matt 28:19)
Good start though they'd be disagreements as to how it's cashed out.
2) God is sovereign. (Isa 46: 8-11; Gen 1)
Don't use Calvinist terms. It has also infected your explanation when it says God lays aside his sovereign power concedes to much. Sovereignty is to do with a ruler- Chambers defines it as supreme and independent power. What he does with this has no bearing on the former.
3)Since the fall, the whole of humankind is sinful and guilty, so that everyone is subject to and deserves death. God's wrath and condemnation is rightly on us becuase of sin. We are spiritually blind because of this sin and cannot seek God of our own accord. (Gen 3; Rom 3:23; 2 Cor 4:4)
That's great up and till your use of "cannot". Romans 1 makes it clear that we reject the knowledge of God and are thus blind. We reject God thus sin and don't seek Him. It is possible though that we can.
4) The Lord Jesus Christ, God's incarnate Son, is fully God; he was born of a virgin; his humanity is real and sinless. He lived the perfect life, proclaimed the Gospel, died on the cross as a once-for-all sacrifice to save the world of its sins, was raised bodily from death to defeat death once and for all, and is now sat at the right hand of God the Father and is the only mediator between God and man.
I'd equivocate on Jesus being fully God but that's a detail here. I would add propitiation to the clause as it is at the heart of the Gospel.
5) The Holy Spirit alone makes the work of Christ available to individual sinners, enabling them to turn to God from their sin and to trust in Jesus Christ. (John 16:7-1
Sounds like previenient Grace. However I think this clause is especially difficult to draft for a general orthodoxy. Here's my previous attempt-
h. The Holy Spirit is the power in the Gospel, written and spoken, which convicts men of their sin; thus allowing them to turn from their sin to God and to trust in Jesus Christ.
6) Those who have faith in Christ are pardoned all their sins and accepted in God's sight only because of the righteousness of Christ and his vindication of us; this justification is God's act of Grace and undeserved mercy, received solely by trust in him and not by their own efforts. (Eph 2:8-9)
Sounds good.
7) The Holy Spirit lives in all those he has regenerated. He makes them increasingly Christlike in character and behaviour and gives them power for their witness in the world. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
I'd replace increasingly with enables as it assumes an inexorable increase in holiness which is unbiblical. We should be but not necessarily.
8) The Lord Jesus Christ will return in person, to judge everyone, to execute God's just condemnation on those who have not repented and to receive the redeemed to eternal glory. (Rev 19:11; Rev 20:12)
Good stuff.
9) The Bible, as originally given, is the inspired Word of God. It is the supreme authority in all matters of belief and behaviour. (2 Tim 3: 16-17)
I think you should through inerrancy in there. I'm not sure if you don't think it's all correct, with the usual caveats, I can't think you within Evangelical orthodoxy. How else out of interest can God breathed be taken?
10) The one holy universal church is the Body of Christ, to which all true believers belong. (Eph 4:4-6)
Great.
Not bad Pedro but some thing need tightening.
If I were writing a doctrinal basis, I'd try and communicate more of the big story of God's plan in creation, fall and redemption, rather than a semi-disembodied set of bullet points. I'll go through it commenting on what I'd add or change.
ReplyDelete1) There is one God in three equal, eternal persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Deut 6:4; Matt 28:19)
Sounds fine - I might add something about their unity being one of loving fellowship or community. It's important to mention his love explicitly, because it's so foundational.
2) God is sovereign. (Isa 46: 8-11; Gen 1)
I don't think this really says anything particularly clear. "Sovereign" can be interpreted in lots of different ways. If you're trying to say something about God's omnipotence and human responsibility, I'd go for something like "God holds supreme and complete authority and power; equally and without contradiction, he gives human beings responsibility, and our choices are real and meaningful."
I'd also say something about Creation at this point - for example, "God is the maker of heaven and earth. He made humanity in His image and likeness, to care for and steward His creation in joyful service to Him".
3) Since the fall, the whole of humankind is sinful and guilty, so that everyone is subject to and deserves death. God's wrath and condemnation is rightly on us because of sin. We are spiritually blind because of this sin and refuse to seek God of our own accord. (Gen 3; Rom 3:23; 2 Cor 4:4)
I think that could be shortened a little, though I'd also mention that sin brings brokenness into every area of life.
Rather than skipping straight from the Fall to Jesus, I'd also add a point about God's promises to Israel, something like "God made promises to Abraham and his descendants to bless the world through them, etc." and maybe saying a little about the Law and the Prophets, and the promise to establish his Kingdom.
4) The Lord Jesus Christ, God's incarnate Son, is fully God; he was born of a virgin; his humanity is real and sinless. He lived the perfect life, proclaimed the Gospel, died on the cross as a once-for-all sacrifice to save the world of its sins, was raised bodily from death to defeat death once and for all, and is now sat at the right hand of God the Father and is the only mediator between God and man. (John 1:1-2,14; 1 Pet 2:22; Mk 1:14-15; Heb 10:10; Luke 24:46; Acts 2:32-33; 1 Tim 2:5)
I'd go for "fully God and fully man, without sit" rather than "fully God... his humanity is real and sinless". I'd amend "proclaimed the Gospel" to "announce the good news of the Kingdom".
5) The Holy Spirit alone makes the work of Christ available to individual sinners, enabling them to turn to God from their sin and to trust in Jesus Christ. (John 16:7-11)
This is quite a tricky one to get the right balance... I think "makes the work of Christ available" is a clumsy phrasing, I might go for something like The Holy Spirit works in the hearts of sinners, enabling them to turn to God from their sin and to trust in Christ.
6) Those who have faith in Christ are pardoned all their sins and accepted in God's sight only because of the righteousness of Christ and his vindication of us; this justification is God's act of Grace and undeserved mercy, received solely by trust in him and not by their own efforts. (Eph 2:8-9)
That's fine, though I'd add another point to explain more of the benefits of salvation. We are united to Christ, we are made heirs, seated with him in the heavenly realms, freed from the power of sin, brings wholeness and healing etc. We experience these realities in part now, and look forward to their fullness at the resurrection.
7) The Holy Spirit lives in all those he has regenerated. He enables them to increasingly become Christ-like in character and behaviour and gives them power for their witness in the world. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
I might add something about enabling us to build for the kingdom of God, and to being to undo some of the effects of the Fall.
8) The Lord Jesus Christ will return in person, to judge everyone, to execute God's just condemnation on those who have not repented and to receive the redeemed to eternal glory. (Rev 19:11; Rev 20:12)
I'd add in that Jesus will "return in person, raise the dead to bodily life, to judge everyone..."
I'd then go on to add a point that "Creation will be redeemed and restored in the new heavens and earth, where Christ will establish his eternal kingdom, free from sin, death and suffering."
9) The Bible, as originally given, is the inspired Word of God. It is the supreme authority in all matters of belief and behaviour. (2 Tim 3: 16-17)
God is the supreme authority, not the Bible, so I'd rephrase it to say something like "The Bible supremely bears God's authority in all matters..."
10) The one holy universal church is the Body of Christ, to which all true believers belong. (Eph 4:4-6)
I'd add "and is marked by the signs of baptism and communion", or something along those lines - "signs" might not be an inclusive enough term for a general statement of belief.
Greetings Peter Churcher
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of the Trinity,
I recommend this video:
The Human Jesus
Take a couple of hours to watch it; and prayerfully it will aid you to reconsider "The Trinity"
Yours In Messiah
Adam Pastor
Hi all. Thanks for posting. I've edited mainly as suggested, although not always in the exact place and wording as suggested. Please let me know what you think. Below is what I've not done and why:
ReplyDeleteSwithun:
God is sovereign: 'Don't use Calvinist terms'. It's not a solely Calvinist term. If we were to avoid all terms calvinists use we'd 1)alienate them, and 2) not be able to share the Gospel, per se. Although I have now clarified as Caleb suggested.
The Holy Spirit alone makes the work of Christ available to individual sinners, enabling them to turn to God from their sin and to trust in Jesus Christ: 'Sounds like previenient Grace.'This is probably because it is prevenient grace. Although Calvinists generally have a hissy fit about this term even in thier theology it exists.....either that or they have to admit you were saved to faith, not through faith.
The Bible, as originally given, is the inspired Word of God: 'I think you should through inerrancy in there....How else out of interest can God breathed be taken?' One can understand that the bible is Gods world written by men and therefore can contain error and be abused. It is still useful however. It is a documentation of a cross section of Gods dealing with humanity with Key points. Although I'd like to add that I personally do hold to its inerrancy
Caleb:
'It's important to mention his love explicitly, because it's so foundational.' I've not becuse then I'd also have to mention his justice, grace, mercy, righteous anger, etc, as these are all intertwined. Love is a large part of his character but no more then the rest.
'I think "makes the work of Christ available" is a clumsy phrasing'. This was intentionally worded like this as it means that various opinions on the practicalities og salvation can accept it.
Adam Pastor:
Thanks for your comment. I believe that Jesus is the second person of the trinity and is as fully God as the Father, however his humanity if full also. I believe the Bible is clear about this. I'd love to watch the video but it has been removed. Do you have another source?
What do you believe yourself to be? i.e. Messianic Jew?
Sir, the video is very much alive & kicking.
ReplyDeletePlease Try again
www.jesusishuman.com
This video does indeed focus on the trinity,
and who Jesus is.
BTW I am a Christian
Good post. Sovereign can't be a calvinist term else we can't call Jesus "Lord" any more surely!!!
ReplyDeleteLoving the passion for the gospel, Pete!