CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALS

BASIC BELIEFS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE

Forgive me if I seem to start with the obvious. The foundation of the Christian faith is the Lord Jesus Christ. We are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone. (see Ephesians 2:20).
It is prophesied in Scripture (Isaiah 28:16) and it is recorded as fulfilled in 1 Peter 2:6. Indeed one of our popular hymns states: "The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord".

Having affirmed our faith in the one and only foundation, the Christian faith may be expressed in a number of Bible-based propositions: I believe in........ It is good for Christians to express occasionally what they believe!

Shortly after the Ethiopian eunuch had trusted Christ (Acts 8:26-36), the eunuch asked: What doth hinder me to be baptised? (verse 36). Philip replied: "If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest". It is unfortunate that the following verse 37 is questioned or even omitted in many modern versions, for it contains a very important confession: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. It was upon this confession of faith (so important to Christ - see Matthew 16:13-16) that Philip baptised him (Acts 8:38-40).

Such fundamental truth is important. It is not enough to say, as many do today: "I love Jesus!" It is important to define which Jesus we love! In a similar way, it is not enough to say: "I believe in the Christian faith..." It is important to define exactly what we mean by the Christian faith.

The first Christian fundamental we shall consider is:

"Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation so that whatsoever is not read therein nor may be proved thereby is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of the faith, or be thought requisite to salvation."

There are two very important scriptures you should take time to learn by heart:
2 Timothy 3:15, 16 and 2 Peter 1:20, 21

You will find that these will confirm your faith in God's written word. They affirm how God in-breathed His word and moved men to convey what He wanted us to know.

It is very important that we come to the Bible in the right attitude of mind. We do not come to it to judge or question it, but for it to judge, teach and question us!

It is intended for you to look up each of these Scripture references and consider them carefully.

SOME REASONS FOR BELIEVING IN ITS INSPIRATION

• 1. The SAVIOUR Himself did so.  - Matt 5:17-19
• 2. The SCRIPTURES claim it.  - 2 Tim. 3:16
• 3. The SPADE has confirmed it. (Archaeology!)
• 4. The SIGNS predicted have come true!  See Micah 5:2, Psalm 22, Isaiah. 7:14
• 5. The SAINTS are new creations!  - 2 Cor. 5:17

SOME IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT THE BIBLE

• 1. It is HISTORICAL  - Hebrews 11:3
• 2. It is DOCTRINAL  - Psalm 119:97-104
• 3. It is PROPHETIC  - Isaiah 11:1-3
• 4. It is PRACTICAL  - Ephesians 6:1-9
• 5. It is COMPLETE  - 2 Peter 1:3, 4
• 6. It is UNIQUE  - Galatians 1:6-9

The second Christian fundamental we shall consider is:

The emphasis is on that word "full". There are scriptures which teach that He was a man among men, and there are scriptures which teach that He was co-equal with God!

Throughout the history of the Christian Church there have been those who have denied the one or the other. There are cults that do this today.

In the 3rd century there was a fierce controversy concerning the Person of Christ. It resulted in the Nicene Creed (A.D. 325:)

"I believe... in one Lord Jesus Christ the only-begotten Son of God, Begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light Very God of very God, Begotten, not made, Being of one substance with the Father, By whom all things were made...."

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS GOD.
 

He actually receives our worship!
 

That Nicene Creed goes on to confess-

".....Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man, And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried....."

  To continue with the Nicene Creed:-

"...And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead: Whose kingdom shall have no end."

The third Christian fundamental we shall consider is:

• We do not believe His death was an accident
• We do not believe His death was that of a martyr, dying for a cause.
• We do not believe His death was only an example, or to declare God's love.

THINK ABOUT THE ASPECTS OF HIS DEATH

• It was substitutionary - Isaiah 53:5
• It was sacrificial - Isaiah 53:10, 11
• It was redeeming - Galatians 3:10-13
• It was reconciling - 1 Peter 3:18
• It was justifying - Romans 4:25, 5:1

THINK ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD

THE NATURE OF THE DEATH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

"If Christ be God and He died for me, then no sacrifice that I can make could be too great."  (Hudson Taylor)

Because the sinless Saviour died,
My sinful soul is counted free,
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him - and pardon me.

The fourth Christian fundamental we shall consider is:

• It is by God's grace that we are convicted of our sin and need of forgiveness.
• It is by God's grace we recognise that in Christ we have our sin-bearing substitute.
• It is by God's grace that we are enabled to repent and believe.

True repentance involves the whole person.

• The mind is changed regarding sin and God. - Psalm 51:3
• The heart is moved in view of the sacrifice of Christ. - Galatians 2:20
• The lifestyle is redirected because of the new nature. - 2 Corinthians 5:17
• The Lord Jesus Christ taught repentance. - Mark 1:15
• The Apostle Peter taught repentance. - Acts 2:38, 41
• The Apostle Paul taught repentance. - Acts 20:21

"I hope to carry my repentance to the grave." (said a Godly Saint)

WHAT THEN IS LIVING FAITH?

LEARN THE THREE PARTS OF FAITH:

• 1. We hear a truth. (Christ can save!)
• 2. We believe the truth. (He could save me)
• 3. We commit ourselves. (At a certain place and time I commit my entire life to Him)

 

 

"I could not work my soul to save, for that my Lord has done. But I would work like any slave, for love of God's dear Son."

"We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Faith, and not for our own works or deservings."

The fifth Christian fundamental we shall consider is:

This is in keeping with the word of the Lord Jesus Christ - "Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God". John 3:3

"However gifted, moral, or refined, the natural man is absolutely blind to spiritual truth and impotent to enter the kingdom; for he can neither obey, understand, nor please God" (C.I.Schofield)

A man may be alive physically, but dead spiritually - see Ephesians 2:1. Coming to spiritual life is called the new birth. The theological word is regeneration.

THE MEANING OF REGENERATION
 

THE NECESSITY OF REGENERATION
 

THE MEANS OF REGENERATION
 

"My hardened heart was touched, Thy pardoning voice I heard;
And joy and peace came in, While listening to Thy Word."

The question: Have I been born again? is the most important question a person can ever ask. The answer will have eternal consequences. No wonder Peter said: (2 Peter 1:10.)

If you are not sure, read "Christian?", which should provide the answer in your case, one way or the other.

MAKE SURE YOU USE THE RIGHT BIBLE

Since 1611 the Christian faith has recognised basically one Holy Bible in the English language. It is known as The Authorised Version (or King James Version). However, with the passing of the years and changing of words and phrases, it was decided to render the Bible in more modern English. The first official revised translation, called The Revised Version, appeared in 1885, but since then we have seen many other versions published, and several of these have actually been revised a number of times. Christians today find this very confusing! Even non-Christians can ask which is the true one? Which of the 30 or so now on offer is the Christian Bible? To make things more difficult they are all different and they are all copyright.

There are two basic attitudes toward the authority of our faith today:

1. One is to accept by faith that all the modern versions are helpful and in some ways more accurate (as in fact is claimed for them) than the Authorised Version. We should believe that God has spoken in all of them, and we have to compare the various versions in order to discover what God is saying to us today.

2. We take the view, by faith, that the Authorised Version is the most accurate as far as the content of the Bible is concerned. We believe it is God's preserved Word and that all modern versions should be judged by this version which has guided the Christian Church (so far as the English language is concerned) for nearly 400 years. It may require some words that are not in use today to be updated, but having said that, it still remains the most accurate Bible we have in the English language. Otherwise, would God have allowed us to have an inaccurate Bible for so long? Even before the publication of the Authorised Version in 1611 earlier versions in the English language were substantially the same in their content. They were all based upon the same Greek Received Text manuscripts.

HOW SHOULD WE VIEW MODERN VERSIONS THEN?

Some believe we may refer to them as we would a commentary, but where their content questions the Authorised Version they should be disregarded. An increasing number of Christians today think it wrong to leave the old and proven for the new and changing. Within the multiplicity of versions, there undoubtedly will be corruptions; in which case, comments of those who loved and used the A.V. would be more reliable. This is a very important subject and I should like to commend:

THE OLD IS BETTER
Alfred Levell

Also....

DEFENDING THE KING JAMES BIBLE
Rev. D.A. Waite

Forgive me if I sound controversial, but it is very important that you go on to follow the Lord with the authentic guide book and final authority in your hand.
                                                                                                 Ron Smith

"Within that awesome Volume lies,
The mystery of mysteries;
And happiest they of human race,
To whom the Lord has granted grace,
To read, to fear to hope and pray.
To lift the latch and force the way;
And better had they neer been born,
Who read to doubt, or read to scorn."
                                                 Sir Walter Scott