What Makes Christianity? Summary

Jude was James's brother. He wrote a very short letter "to those who are called". If that's you, then it was written to you. His initial intent is quite clear: "Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3). "The faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" -- that is what Jude asks us to contend for. "Contend for the faith."

For the past several days I have been contending for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. I haven't been telling why these points were true. I've simply been outlining why they are necessary. If Christianity is to be a viable, valid religion, these doctrines must be true. Without them, Christianity either becomes just another religion among many or it evaporates entirely. (Note: Due to the repeated claims of exclusivity in the Bible, if Christianity is relegated to "just another religion among many", then it is nullified.) What doctrines did I list as essential? In what I consider a somewhat logical order:

1. The Inerrancy of Scripture
2. The Sinfulness of Man
3. The Atonement
4. The Trinity
5. The Resurrection of Christ

Other people might make their arguments about essentials. They may list more things. A popular one, for instance, is the Virgin Birth. I didn't list that one because, given the first point, the Virgin Birth is a necessary conclusion. (The Bible doesn't equivocate on the Virgin Birth. It's not up for debate whether or not the Bible teaches it. Remove it and you remove Item #1.) There are many things that are clear in the Bible, and they are unavoidable given the first point. And others might argue down a path that include other things (like the Second Coming, etc.). The things I listed I consider inviolable. The others are up to you.

Now, I, again, need to make it clear. When I say "essential to Christianity", I do not mean that in order to become a Christian you need to believe all these things. I am not saying that a person who does not have a clear understanding and agreement with, for instance, the mystery of the Trinity cannot be saved. These are not essential for salvation. They are essential for Christianity. They form the primary substance of Christianity. Without them, you have something that is not Christianity. And, if all believers have the same Holy Spirit dwelling in them (as the inerrant Scripture says we do), then it stands to reason that all believers would come to the same conclusion regarding these doctrines when presented with them. We would, then, all stand in agreement on these key issues, not as a condition of salvation, but as a result of salvation.

There are many things in Scripture that are abundantly clear. It's not up for debate. There are other things that are questions in the minds of many. We can argue about premil/post-mil/amil stuff. There is room for discussion on election or modes of baptism or the like. We can debate whether or not the gifts of the Spirit are still in effect. These are not essentials. There is lots of room for discussion, and in these matters we ought to be charitable to each other. But on the basic structures that make Christianity Christianity, there is no room for disagreement. Without those we ought to simply surrender the faith as null and void. No, on those we ought to be united. They are essential.