Foundational Christian Doctrines

Christians are often known as ‘People of the Book,’ reflecting our reliance on the Bible as the ultimate authority for our beliefs and teachings. This concept revolves around Special Revelation, distinct from General Revelation, which encompasses God’s self-disclosure through nature and conscience. Through His Word, God has chosen to reveal Himself, enabling us to truly know Him— though not exhaustively, but in accordance with what He has chosen to reveal in Scripture.

This article considers three foundational Christian Doctrines that hinge on Special Revelation. It approaches its subject with both humility and ambition.

It’s essential to recognize that Jesus is described as the Word of God (Revelation 19:13), fully embodying both divine and human natures. Similarly, Christians regard the Bible as the written Word of God, containing truths revealed through human authors who were inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21).

The Trinity

The God who exists has revealed Himself to us, and His nature is different from our human expectations. Indeed, without His disclosure, it would be impossible for humanity to grasp the reality of God’s nature. The Doctrine of the Trinity cannot be deduced through logical deduction alone; though many notable attempts have been made, it requires the explicit teaching of Scripture to be understood.

The Doctrine of the Trinity teaches that God is one being in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. Understanding how one God can exist in three distinct persons without being three separate gods is a profound mystery and a significant challenge for many.

No analogy can fully encapsulate the profound mystery of the Trinity, and many analogies, such as likening it to water existing as ice, liquid, and steam, tend to oversimplify and can even lead towards heretical misunderstandings. Therefore, it is crucial to avoid relying on such analogies, recognizing their tendency to distort or trivialize the theological depth and uniqueness of the Trinity.

What is crucial to note is that the Trinity is assumed as the default reality in the New Testament. The Apostles were experiential Trinitarians—they heard the voice of the Father from heaven, walked with the Son, and witnessed the Spirit descending from heaven (Matthew 3:13-17). As the New Testament authors wrote, they weren’t attempting to explain the Trinity systematically; rather, it formed the warp and woof of their theological framework.

In the Second Letter to the Corinthians, for instance, as Paul concludes the epistle, he greets the church using a trinitarian formula: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” Christ instructs us to baptize new believers “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). These passages, among others, vividly portray the unity of God and the distinct personhood and deity of the Father, Son, and Spirit (John 1:1-3, 14; John 10:30; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; Ephesians 4:4-6).

The Incarnation

Taking it one step further, the Bible not only asserts the Triune nature of God; before the dust settles, one is immediately confronted with the claim that one of the persons of the Godhead, namely the Son, took on flesh.

This claim is historically significant; if you had lived in the Middle East approximately 2000 years ago, there would have been a genuine possibility that you could have personally encountered God. It’s a startling assertion, yet the biblical authors boldly proclaim it, many of whom later died as martyrs for their faith in this truth.

The Apostle John, in his First Epistle, emphatically states,

“By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist…”

This is not merely an optional belief in Christianity; it carries profound significance. To deny that God took on flesh is to oppose God Himself. It is a dividing line.

The second Person of the Trinity, who was with the Father from all eternity, entered into His own creation. He was sent according to the eternal will of the Father to unite all things in Him, both in heaven and things on earth, and His name is Jesus (Ephesians 1:7-10). It was uniquely the Son, not the Father or the Holy Spirit, who took on flesh in the Incarnation.

The Incarnation did not diminish His deity in any way; rather, humanity was added to His divine nature (Philippians 2:7). These two natures are not blended or confused, yet both are always fully present within the one person of Jesus without exception. There is no division or separation between them. The complexity of this doctrine should not be taken lightly, nor does its complexity discredit its reliability. We must embrace all that the Bible teaches, holding onto its truths while also resting in the mysteries it presents (John 1:14, Galatians 4:4-5, Hebrews 2:14-18, 1 Timothy 3:16).

The Resurrection

Considering these doctrines as foundational blocks, the Resurrection stands atop the Incarnation, which itself rests upon the doctrine of the Trinity. These truths are interconnected: God the Son, Jesus Christ, who took on flesh, died on a Roman cross—a substitutionary death prophesied in Isaiah 53:5. Then, something extraordinary occurred—something that angels long to look into: three days later, Jesus rose from the dead. This act stands as the pinnacle of the Christian faith.

This historic event was not merely symbolic; it embodies all the hope Christians share. The Apostle Paul emphasized its critical importance, stating,

“…if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14). He goes on to add, “…If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

Jesus’ resurrection forms the basis of our future hope: He is the firstfruit, and at His coming, those who belong to Him will also be raised (1 Corinthians 15:23).

Following Jesus’ resurrection and preceding His ascension, numerous eyewitness accounts are documented. Matthew describes the discovery of the empty tomb by Mary Magdalene and the other Mary and their encounter with the risen Jesus (Matthew 28:1-10). Mark recounts similar events, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome finding the empty tomb and encountering an angel proclaiming Jesus’ resurrection (Mark 16:1-8). Luke provides a detailed account of Jesus appearing to two disciples on the road to Emmaus and later appearing to the eleven disciples in Jerusalem, demonstrating His resurrected body and eating with them (Luke 24:13-49). John records Mary Magdalene discovering the empty tomb and encountering Jesus, followed by His appearances to the disciples, including Thomas (John 20-21). Additionally, Luke writes in Acts about Jesus’ appearances over forty days, teaching about the kingdom of God and instructing His disciples before ascending into heaven (Acts 1:1-11).

Jesus, in one of His “I AM” statements in John 11:25, declared, “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” Here, Jesus asserts Himself as the very source of resurrection life—not merely someone who performs resurrections, but the essence of resurrection itself. His statement underscores that He is the ultimate source of life and hope beyond death, exemplified powerfully in His raising of Lazarus (John 11:25-26). This hope is uniquely held by Christians: Jesus’ resurrection anticipates the future resurrection of all believers, who, through Him, will experience eternal life and rise from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). Jesus’ declaration is exclusive: He affirms that salvation and eternal life are found solely in Him, as He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

Do you believe this?

Conclusion

In closing, these three doctrines are foundational to every other Christian doctrine, like threads intricately woven into a tapestry. They not only touch upon but also uphold the integrity of the entire fabric of Christian theology.

There are other doctrines that are equally significant or closely related to those mentioned above. For instance, the Doctrine of the Atonement, Predestination and Free Will, the Problem of Evil, the Sacraments, and Eschatology, to name a few, each vary in prominence but deserve individual attention and study.

The fact that God has spoken in His Word should spur us on to desire to know more. This foray is merely to whet your appetite. Understanding these doctrines ensures adherence to orthodox Christian teaching, safeguarding against heresy and doctrinal error.

I pray that you deepen your worship of our Triune God, hold firmly to orthodox beliefs, and exhibit spiritual maturity. May you grow in personal evangelism, confidently sharing the gift of salvation and adeptly defending it against objections and misunderstandings. May you also find personal assurance and comfort in knowing the hope of the Resurrection, which brings true peace. Finally, may you diligently study your Bible, becoming deeply rooted in its text and committed to biblical fidelity.

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Romans 16:25-27