Session 2:
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Christianity is one of the largest religions on earth and, therefore, comprises many beliefs and practices. However, basic tenets are part of the belief system and set the faith apart from other systems of belief (Baker et al., 2020). Christopher Hitchens, an atheist, gives a unique observation by noting the following about what constitutes a Christian: believing in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the forgiveness of sins through the shedding of Jesus’ blood. The Trinity concept is entrenched in the Christian faith and mainly identifies Jesus Christ as God’s Son. Christians believe that Jesus is not a prophet or a teacher but divinity revealed in the human form. The Gospel of John explicitly supports this claim: Thus, from writings, the valuable truth is that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God” (John 1:1 NIV). This passage depicts Jesus as the Son of God, a fundamental tenet of faith in the Christian belief system. This also defines the basis of the Christian faith structure, for without Jesus being God, His divinity was how redemption was achieved.
It is significant to understand that the resurrection of Jesus is considered a very important component of Christianity. According to the Apostle Paul, the resurrection is essential for the Christian faith: “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17, NIV). They include the sign of victory over death and the symbolic representation of life everlasting for those who believe. This event is among the sources of historical evidence found in all four gospels of the New Testament, namely Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20-21 and is a core tenet of belief among Christians. The resurrection confirms Jesus’ godliness and dominion over life and death, guaranteeing resurrection for all who genuinely believe in Him.
The other major tenet is Jesus Christ’s belief in salvation. The crucifixion of Jesus is seen as the act of the redemption of humanity from transgressions. This belief is encapsulated in John 3:16: “God does not like leaving the world helpless and despairing, which is the fact indicated in these words ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’.” The notion of salvation through Christ alone is echoed in Acts 4:12: “Jesus the Christ is the only one who can save, for there is no other name in heaven, on the earth or among the people that can save them” (NIV). This aspect of salvation being only in Christ is one of the key aspects of the Christian faith and underlines the need for the shedding of blood and a subsequent rising again for humanity’s salvation.
The doctrine of the Trinity is an important component of Christianity and an article of faith. This doctrine posits that there is one God in three persons: An important aspect to understand is that it comprises three substances commonly referred to as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. While the word Trinity is not used in the Bible, the doctrine of the Trinity is substantiated by textual references. For instance, the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 teaches: “And Jesus came up and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” (ESV). The idea of the Trinity concept emanates from the Christian faith. The doctrine of the TrinityTrinitys on the concept of oneness as well as regards differences in the Godhead, positive stating that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one in essence and are co-eternal and co-equal and perform unique functions in creating, saving and sanctifying.
The tenets of Christianity are set on the belief that the Bible is the inerrant revelation of the word of God, which is the final and ultimate source of authority on any matter of faith and practice. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 states ‘Every scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that one will be capable, having been trained in goodness and righteousness, to the extent to which of doing God’s will”. It provides Christians with Core beliefs and ethics on which to base their life. The authority of the Bible is rooted in the fact that it is inspired by God, which places it as the final reference to reality and model to be followed in Christians’ practice. God’s will and plan concerning the lives of His people, particularly the decisions they make and the actions they undertake, are made clear through the Scripture, which is very central to any Christian belief system.
These fundamental practices, worshipping Jesus as God’s Son, His crucifixion and rise to the spiritual realm, delivering eternal life through His death, the teachings of the Triune God, and the Bible, are fundamentals of Christianity. These are an integral part of the Christian framework of beliefs and behaviours. These are the fundamental beliefs that, if omitted, an individual and group cannot be considered authentically Christian, as these principles are core to the faith. These yesterday’s favours offer the framework for the entire faith, which remains consistent and contiguous in its development down the ages.
However, these core tenets are indisputable regardless of the variety of ways Christianity is viewed and practised. They offer a systematic approach that describes the purists’ concept of religion. Using the references to Hitchens and the Holy Bible, the following fundamental principles can now be seen, as envisioned by Hitchens, as defining Christianity. In this way, thanks to the observance of these basic principles, Christians preserve the indissoluble link between themselves and their faith from becoming something that has nothing to do with the path broken with Christ’s death.
In summary, what Christians believe in exemplifying the most fundamental truths encompass the divinity of Jesus Christ, the crucifixion and subsequent resurrection of Christ, which are hinged on His sacrificial role as a saviour, the belief in the Triune God, and the inerrancy of Scripture. These doctrines are fundamental to Christianity because they define and help to frame the faith. By holding to these beliefs, the partisans help maintain the Christian faith’s integrity and purity because it does not blend with other religions; instead, it gives a coherent and continuous understanding of Jesus’ redemptive work.
References
Baker, J. O., Perry, S. L., & Whitehead, A. L. (2020). Crusading for Moral Authority: Christian Nationalism and Opposition to Science. Sociological Forum, 35(3), 587–607. https://doi.org/10.1111/socf.12619
Groothuis, D. (2022). Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith. In Google Books. InterVarsity Press. https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=UVI2EAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA19&dq=Without+adherence+to+these+doctrines