Essential doctrines

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In essentials unity, in non-essentials
liberty, in all things charity.

Passages in this topic are grouped under each heading based on their indication, grammatically, that believing the given doctrine is either necessary or sufficient for salvation.^[1]

God

God (non-specific)

Sufficient: Jn 4:22–24; 17:3; Eph 1:17–18; 2Pe 1:2–4

God exists (theism)

Necessary: Heb 11:1–3, 6

God is one (monotheism)

Main topics: Monotheism, Creator-creature distinction Necessary: Ex 20:2–3; Mk 12:28–34 (cites Dt 6:4–5); Jas 2:19

Jesus

Jesus (non-specific)

Sufficient: Jn 3:16–18, 36; 6:28–29, 40, 47; 11:25–27; Ac 4:12; 10:43; 11:17; 16:31; 26:18; Gal 2:16; 3:22; 1Jn 3:23

Jesus is Lord, God (Yahweh)

Main topic: Jesus is God Necessary: Jn 5:22–23 (cf. Isa 8:13; 1Pe 3:15); Jn 8:21–25 (cf. Jn 8:28, 58); Sufficient: Ro 10:9, 13 (cites Joel 2:32) — see also 1Co 12:3; 2Co 4:3–5

Jesus is Christ, Son of God

Main topic: Eternal generation Necessary: 1Jn 2:22–23; 5:5; Sufficient: Jn 20:27–31; 1Jn 4:13–15; 5:1, 10

Holy Spirit

Must not blaspheme Holy Spirit

Main topic: Holy Spirit is God Necessary: Mt 12:31–32 (cf. Mk 3:28–29; Lk 12:10)

The Gospel

The gospel (non-specific)

Main topic: Gospel Both necessary and sufficient: Mk 16:15–16; Necessary: 2Co 11:3–4; Gal 1:6–9; Sufficient: Ac 11:14; Ro 1:16–17; 1Co 1:17–18; Eph 1:12–13

We have sinned

Main topic: Total depravity Necessary: 1Jn 1:8, 10

Christ was sent by God

Main topic: Eternal generation Sufficient: Jn 16:27-28

Christ came in the flesh (incarnation)

Main topic: Hypostatic union Necessary: 1Jn 4:2–3; 2Jn 1:7–11

Christ died for our sins, was buried, was raised on the third day

Main topic: Atonement Sufficient: 1Co 15:1–4

Christ was raised (resurrection)

Main topic: Resurrection Necessary: 1Co 15:14, 17; Sufficient: Ro 10:9

Salvation by grace through faith in Christ

Necessary: Gal 2:16; 5:2–6; Sufficient: Ro 4:4–8

Regarding essentials and non-essentials

In essentials, unity

Isa 8:20; Mt 7:15–20; Jn 7:24; Ac 17:11; Ro 16:17; 1Co 5:12–13; 2Co 6:17; Eph 5:11; 2Th 2:13–15; 3:6, 14–15; 1Ti 6:3–5; 2Ti 3:1–9; Tit 1:9, 13–14; 3:10–11; 1Jn 4:1; 2Jn 1:10–11; Rev 2:2, 14–16; 18:4

Unbelief and heresy are damnable

Mt 10:32–33; Mk 8:38; Lk 12:46; 21:8; Jn 5:24; Ro 1:18–25; 14:23; 2Co 6:14–15; 11:3–4; Gal 1:6–9; 2Th 1:8–9; 2:9–12; 1Ti 1:3–7, 19; 4:1; 5:8; 6:3–5, 20–21; 2Ti 2:12; 4:3–4; Tit 1:15–16; 2:1; 1Pe 2:7–8; 2Pe 2:1–3; 3:14–18; 2Jn 1:7–9 — see also Vain thoughts

In non-essentials, liberty

Ro 14:1–5, 10, 13, 19, 21–23; 1Co 8:1-3, 8–9; 10:23–24, 28-33; Tit 1:15; Jas 4:11–12, 17

A necessary doctrine (e.g. “if you don’t believe this you cannot be saved”) must be believed for salvation but may not be enough to save by itself. A sufficient doctrine (e.g. “if you believe this you will be saved”) is enough to save by itself, but may go beyond what is strictly necessary for salvation. Considered logically, a correct understanding of any of the sufficient doctrines must in some way contain or presuppose all the necessary ones. #

[1] A necessary doctrine (e.g. “if you don’t believe this you cannot be saved”) must be believed for salvation but may not be enough to save by itself. A sufficient doctrine (e.g. “if you believe this you will be saved”) is enough to save by itself, but may go beyond what is strictly necessary for salvation. Considered logically, a correct understanding of any of the sufficient doctrines must in some way contain or presuppose all the necessary ones. #

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