To Believe or Not to Believe?

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Essential doctrines of the Christian Faith
Chart: Essential Doctrines of the Christian Faith
To Believe or Not to Believe?
Why Does Doctrine Matter?
Essential Doctrines - Research Resources

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Not all doctrines necessary for salvarion are necessary for a person to believe in order to be saved.

There is a distinct difference between what must be true in order for us to be saved and what must be believed in order to be saved. For instance, nowhere does the Bible say it is necessary to believe in the Virgin Birth in order to get to heaven; nonetheless, the Virgin Birth assures us that God took an active role in breaking the bonds of sin through his Son, Jesus.
There are certain essential doctrines that one may not believe and still be saved (for example, the Virgin Birth, Ascension of Christ, the Second Coming), and there are certain things one must believe in order to be saved.
A person must believe that Christ died for sins and rose again (Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:1-6).
One must "believe in the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 16:31). Since the word "Lord" (kurios) when it refers to Christ in the New Testament means "deity," one cannot deny the deity of Christ and be saved (Acts 2:21, 36; 3:14-16; 5:30-35; 10:39; 1 Corinthians 12:3)
- Source: Dr. Norman Geisler, Essential Doctrine Made Easy Rose Publishing

Chart: Essential Doctrines of the Christian Faith

Why Does Doctrine Matter?

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