FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES OF FAITH
"Other foundation can no man lay than that which is already laid, which is Jesus Christ."
(1 Corinthians 3:11)
Jesus Christ is our foundation, the basis of the true Christian faith. This foundation is the Word of God itself, since Christ is the Word made flesh. It is not possible to receive Jesus and, at the same time, reject the Scriptures that reveal to us about him. Therefore, it is in the Holy Bible that we find the basis on which our faith rests. This foundation, which is Christ, unfolds in great truths clearly revealed in the Holy Scriptures. These are facts that we can organize into very important topics, which, once gathered, present us with a correct worldview, that is, a cosmovision according to the biblical perspective, and not according to what culture and society try to impose on us. It is important that we have our worldview corrected before we know the teachings of Christ. Otherwise, it becomes difficult to understand the importance of what he ordered us to do. And how can anyone want to obey what he does not understand? The fundamental truths that we will see below start from the premise that “Scripture with Scripture is interpreted”, which in other words means that the Bible explains the Bible itself. That is, they are not particular ideas, but the Bible explaining and agreeing with the Bible itself. This can be proved by examining the biblical references that appear just below each sentence. Each list of references is not exhaustive, and even more biblical texts can be added, but it is enough to confirm the veracity of the doctrines that are clearly revealed in the Scriptures.
The Scriptures reveal to us that:
GOD
is the only creator, possessor and sustainer of the universe, who, while being one God - completely holy, perfect, immutable, immortal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent and prescient - also reveals himself distinctly in three divine persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit – being equal in the purest love, in perfection and divine attributes, but with distinct and harmonious offices.
Gen 1:1; Ex 15:11; 34:6-7; Deut 4:39; 6:4; 32:4; 1Sa 2:2; 6:20; Ne 9:6; Job 34:21; 37:23; 42:2; Ps 18:30; 86:5,15; 90:2; 99:9; 111:9; 115:3; 139:1-13; 145:17; 146:6; 147:5; Prov 15:3; Eccl 3:14; Isa 6:1-3; 42:8-9; 43:13; 44:24; 45:12,18; 46:9-11; 57:15; 66:1-2; Jer 23:23-24; Dan 2:28; Mal 3:6; Mt 3:16-17; 5:48; 11:27; 19:26; 24:36; 28:18,19; Luke 1:37; Jn 1:10;18; 10:30; Acts 1:24; 3:18; 17:24-28; Rom 8:29; 1Co 8:6; 12:4-6; 2Co 13:11-14; Eph 2:4,18; 3:9; 1 Tim 1:17; Heb 4:13; 12:29; 1Pe 1:2; 1Jo 1:5; 3:20; 4:8;16; 5:7; Rev 4:8; 15:4
JESUS
is the only begotten Son of God, co-author of all creation, the only Lord and Savior of mankind, who temporarily left his glory with the Father to be born as a man, to live without sin, to overcome the devil and his demons, to undo their evil works, proclaim the gospel, teach about the kingdom of God, make disciples, build up the church, die on the cross for sinners, be resurrected for the justification of those who believe in him, and ascend again into heaven, where he baptizes in the Holy Spirit, being at the right hand of the Father. , from whom he received all power, and from which he will return at the end of time to raise the dead, snatch the saved to meet him, judge humanity, totally eliminate evil and create new heavens and a new earth, where with his people he will establish the his kingdom of righteousness forever.
Isa 53; Mt 1:18,21; 3:11; 11:27; 13:40-43; 25:31-46; 28:18-20; Mark 3:14; Luke 1:32-33; 24:49; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:1-5,9-18,29-34; 3:16-17.36; 5:22-29; 7:39; 8:46; 10:30; 14:6,16-17; 16:7,15; Acts 1:4-5,9-10; 2:22-36; 4:12; 5:30-32; 10:36-42; Rom 4:25; 8:34; 14:9-12; 1Co 8:6; 2Co 5:10,21; Eph 1:20-22; 4:8-10; Php 2:5-11; Col 1:15-18; 2:15; 2 Thes 1:7-10; 1 Tim 2:5; Titus 3:5-6; Heb 1:2; 2:14; 4:15; 7:25; 12:24; 1Pe 2:22; 2Pe 3:11-13; 1Jo 2:1-12; 3:5.8; Rev 21:1-7
HOLY SPIRIT
also called the Comforter, is the indispensable co-worker of the church, sent by the Lord to indwell every true Christian, to guide, encourage, and empower them with power, both through gifts for the edification of the church and through the fruit resulting in the life of whoever fills it
Mt 10:1,19-20; Mark 16:17-18; Luke 4:18-19; 24:49; Jn 7:39; 14:15-17.26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Acts 1:4-5.8; 2:4.33; 4:29-31; 5:3-4; 9:31; 10:44-46; 11:15-16; 13:2.52; 19:1-6; Rom 5:5; 8:9.15-16.26-27; 12:6-8; 14:17; 1Co 2:9-12; 12:4-13, 28-31; 14:1-33; Gal 5:22-25; Eph 1:13-14; 4:7-15; Titus 3:5; Heb 2:3-4; 1Pe 1:12
THE BIBLE
it is completely inspired by the Holy Spirit and reveals to us the will of God for humanity, there being no other scripture to which the same can be said, being our only source of spiritual guidance and Christian practice.
Jer 23:29; Ps 19:7-11; 119:97-104; Pr 6:23; 30:5; Isa 40:8; 55:11; Mt 5:18; 24:35; 26:54-56; Mark 12:24; Jn 10:35; Acts 1:16; 20:27; 28:25; Rom 3:2; Gal 3:8; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 4:1-4; Heb 4:12; 1Pe1:24-25; 2Pe1:19-21
THE SIN
also called iniquity, is any transgression of the divine will, the result of which is separation between God and men, just divine punishment for the crime committed, and finally death, both physical and spiritual.
Gen 2:17; 3:6,19; 6:5; 1Ch 10:13; Eze 18:4; Ps 51:5; 53:3; 130:3; Prov 11:19; 20:9; Isa 59:1-2; Jer 5:25; Eze 18:4, 20; Mt 15:19; Jn 5:14; Rom 5:12; 6:23; 7:11; Jas 1:15; 4:1-4.17; Heb 3:13; 1Jo 3:4; 5:17
THE HUMANITY
primordially created by God to be according to his image and likeness, has lost the divine glory since the fall of Adam, inheriting a nature inclined to evil, which enslaves every human being to sin, and he cannot by himself free himself from this practice and from its deadly consequences, except through the Savior God himself has provided.
Gen 1:26-27; 3:1-8,17-19; 1Ki 8:46; Ps 14:3; Eccl 7:20; Isa 64:6; Mt 9:6; Jn 8:34-36; Rom 3:23-26; 5:17-21; 6:21-23; 8:1-4; 2Co 5:21; Gal 3:13; Eph 2:1-7; 5:2; 1Pe 2:24; 3:18; 1Jo 1:8-9; 2:1-2; 3:5-8
THE SALVATION
it is obtained only by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ as the only Lord and Savior, who gives the believer the Holy Spirit to enable him to persevere in that saving faith to the end.
Ps 37:39; Isa 12:2; 53:11; 55:7; Mic 7:18; Mt 10:22,32-33; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 2:11,30; 19:10; Jn 3:16-18,36; 5:24; 7:38-39; 10:9; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 10:42-43; 15:11; Rom 1:16-17; 3:23-24; 5:20-21; 6:23; 8:1-2,32-34; 10:9-10; 1Co 1:21; 15:1-2; Gal 3:14; Eph 2:8-10,16; Col 1:20-23; 2:13-15; 1 Thes 5:9-10; 1 Tim 1:15; 2:5; 2 Tim 2:10; Titus 2:11; Heb 3:6,14; 1Pe 1:9; 1Jo 5:11-12
THE CROSS
This is the means by which Jesus Christ had to die to save humanity - when he was crucified, the sinless one became a curse, taking upon himself the sins of all who believe in him in order to redeem them through his blood, freeing them from the empire of darkness and bringing them to eternal life with God.
Isa 53:4-12; Mt 20:28; 26:28; Jn 3:14-15; Acts 20:28; Rom 3:25-26; 5:9; 8:3; Gal 3:13; 6:14; Col 2:14; 1 Tim 2:6; Heb 9:13-14; 1Pe 1:18-19; 1Jo 1:7; Rev 1:5; 5:9; 7:14; 12:11
THE CONVERSION
it is the newness of life experienced by a truly saved person, in which the Word and the Holy Spirit are working a complete regeneration in Christ, which can be evidenced by forsaking sins and striving to live for the glory of God.
Jn 1:12-13; 3:3-7; Acts 3:19; 26:18; Rom 6:4,17-19,22; 1Co:1:2; 3:16; 6:19-20; 2Co 7:1; Gal 5:16-26; 6:15; Eph 1:4, 2:10; 4:1-3; Col 3:5-14; 1 Thes 4:1-8; 2Th 2:13; Titus 2:11-12; 3:3-8; Heb 12:14; Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:2-3,13-16,23; 2:11-12; 1Jo 2:6; 3:6.9; 5:1-5
THE CHURCH
is the congregation of converts to Christ, who, no matter where they meet, organize themselves according to the gifts and direction they have received from the Lord, so that, in the power of the Holy Spirit, they build each other up in the Word, preach the gospel , make disciples of Christ and prevail in the name of Jesus against every power of darkness, destroying the works of the devil and expanding the kingdom of God throughout the earth
Mt 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Jn 10:27-30; Acts 9:31; 11:26; 12:5; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:3-4,22,41; 16:4-5; 20:17,28; Rom 16:5,23; 1Co 1:2; 3:9-11; 4:17; 6:1-5; 14:12; 16:1-3.19; 2Co 6:16; 11:8; Eph 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:10-12; 4:11-13; 5:23-32; Php 4:15; Col 1:18.24; 4:15; 1 Tim 3:15-16; Fm 2; Heb 3:1-6; Jas 5:14; 1Pe 2:4-10; Rev 1:4; 22:16
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
It is Christ's perfect government over mankind, which began at his first coming, is partially manifested to the world through the church, and will be fully established at his return, when then there will be new heavens and a new earth where righteousness will dwell for ever.
Ps 145:13; Isa 9:6-7; Dan 2:44; 7:18,27; Mt 12:28; 21:43; 28:18; Luke 1:32-33; 11:20; 1Co 15:24-25, 50-52; Eph 1:20-22; 2Pe 3:13; Rev 11:15; 21:1.27
THE ANGELS
they are spiritual beings who serve God, as messengers and executors of his will, collaborating with the church to fulfill its mission, but for whom we should not pray or worship.
Ps 103:20-21; Dan 3:28; Mt 4:11; 13:41.49; 16:27; 18:10; 22:30; 24:31; 25:31; 26:53; Luke 1:19; 2:8-14; 15:10; 16:22; 20:36; 24:23; Jn 20:12; Gal 1:8; Heb 1:14; Rev 7:11; 22:8-9
THE DEVIL
also called Satan, tempter, dragon and ancient serpent, is an evil spiritual being who opposes the human being, seeking to deceive him through his angels, the demons, who try to seduce him into sin, but who have already been, both the devil and the demons, conquered by Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary, having no power against the church of the Lord and being destined for damnation
Gen 3:15; 1Ch 21;1; Job 1:6; Mt 4:1,10; 8:29; 13:39; 16:23; 25:41; Mt 25:41; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:13; 8:12; 10:18; 13:16; 22:3,31; Jn 8:44; 13:2; Acts 5:3; 10:38; 26:18; Rom 16:20; 1Co 7:5; 2Co 2:10; 11:14; Eph 4:27; 6:11; Col 2:15; 1Th 2:18; 2Th 2:9; 1 Tim 2:14; 5:15; 2Ti 2:26; Heb 2:14; Jas 4:7; 1Pe 5:8; 2Pe 2:4; 1Jo 3:8; Jude 6; Rev 2:10; 12:9; 20:2,10
WARNING
The fundamentals that we will see next concern events that have not yet happened. They are: the second coming of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the rapture and the final judgment. Several biblical passages give us absolute certainty that such events will occur. Therefore, they could not be left out of our list of fundamentals of faith. However, there are many disagreements in the Christian environment regarding the interpretation of how the details of these events will be given. This is normal to happen, as the biblical texts referring to the future are usually not very clear in certain aspects. Therefore, we must respect the brothers who interpret in another way the themes referring to eschatology, that is, to what is yet to come. They are not obligated to think like you, any more than you are obligated to think like them. So on these topics, we just need to agree on the fact that all of them will happen: Jesus will return, the dead will rise, we will be caught up to meet the Lord, and there will be a final judgment. As to the details of how these facts will come about, this should not be a reason for contention between the brethren. Don't let anyone force you to think one way or the other. Carefully examine the biblical texts and feel free to come to your own conclusions, but then don't want to impose your ideas on your brothers either.
the second coming of christ
His visible return will be from heaven in power and great glory, which will be preceded by signs, but which will take place in a day and hour that no one knows, for the purpose of judging the living and the dead to establish his eternal kingdom of God. justice and eliminate all evil forever. Note: There is no consensus if the Lord will first rapture his church and only after seven or three and a half years return with her, or if the rapture will be simultaneous with his coming.
Zec 12:10; Mt 16:27; 24:27,36,44; 25:31-32; 26:64; Mk 14:62; Luke 12:40; 21:27; Jn 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1Co 4:5; Php 3:20.21; 1Th 4:15; 5:2,23; 2 Thes 1:7-8; 1 Tim 6:14; 2 Tim 4:1; Titus 2:13; Heb 9:28; 10:37; Jas 5:8; 2Pe 3:10; 1Jo 2:28; Jude 14:15; Rev 1:7; 3:11; 16:15; 19:11-16; 22:7,20
the resurrection
it will be a supernatural event in which the souls of all human beings who have ever lived on earth will be resurrected in their physical bodies, either to eternal salvation or eternal damnation. Note: There is no consensus on whether the saved and the lost will be resurrected at the same time, or if this will occur in two stages.
Ps 49:15; 71:20; Isa 26:19; Eze 37:12; Ho 13:14; Dan 12:2; Mt 22:29-32; Luke 20:35-36; Jn 5:28-29; 6:40; 11:23-25; Acts 24:15; Rom 6:5; 1Co 15:20-23;51-53; 2Co 4:14; Php 3:11; 1 Thes 4:13-16; Heb 6:2; 1Pe 1:3; Rev 11:11; 20:5-6,13
the rapture
it will be a supernatural event that will take place at the second coming of Christ, in which the saved who are resurrected and the saved who are alive will be taken from the earth to meet the Lord in the air, being instantly transformed into incorruptible bodies. Note: There is no consensus on whether the rapture will be visible or secret, nor if it will occur before, during or after the great tribulation.
Mt 24:30-31; 38-41; Mark 13:26-27; Luke 17:26-36; 1Co 15:50-54; Php 3:21; 1 Thes 4:13-18; 2Th 2:1
The final judgement
will be the last event in human history, where every person who ever lived on earth will be judged by his deeds before God: those who were saved by Christ will inherit eternal life, in a new heavens and a new earth, but those who did not believe in God to repent of evil will be thrown into the lake of eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Note: There is no consensus as to whether the final judgment will take place soon after the second coming of Christ, or if it will only occur after the so-called millennium, a doctrine about which there is also no consensus.
Ps 62:12; Eccl 12:14; Jer 17:10; 32:19; Eze 7:27; Dan 2:22; 7:10; Mt 13:49-50; 16:27; 25:31-46; Jn 5:22-27; Rom 2:1-16; 14:9-12; 1Co 4:5; 2Co 5:10; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 6:8; 2 Thes 1:7-10; 2 Tim 4:1; Heb 4:13; 9:27; 1Pe 1:17; 2Pe 2:9; 3:7,13; 1Jo 4:17; Jude 14:15; Rev 19:20;20:11-15; 21:8