What are the core Christian beliefs?

One part of the clearing, crying out to be explored, is that, having become convinced that Jesus is Who He said He is and that the Bible is reliable, what are the beliefs which follow from that and why?

The Cosmic picture

Despite some differences in belief and practice between different Christian traditions, most are agreed on the overarching view of Heaven and Earth and Humanity.

1. In the beginning, God Created All Things Good

• In the beginning, God created the heavens, the earth and everything in it as an act of love and it was declared “very good”.
• The universe is not accidental but purposeful. It is a reflection of God’s wisdom and beauty and was created in order to share in God’s life and to glorify Him.
• God created Humanity in His own image. He breathed His Spirit into them and gave them the gift of free will and creativity. They were intended to be stewards of Creation, to “tend the garden” and to have a close and harmonious relationship with God.

2. Sin Fractured the Harmony of Creation

• Humans chose to disobey God and, as a result, sin and death entered the world.
• The image of God in us was wounded and our relationship with God and one another distorted, Creation itself was subjected to decay.
• Nevertheless, the divine image remains, and God in His love consistently calls creation back to Himself and toward healing, reconciliation and restoration.
• Because of the situation we have been born into, we are all in need of Salvation. We cannot rescue ourselves; we need God’s help. Jesus Christ is God’s way of providing it.

3. Christ Has Redeemed the World

• In Jesus Christ, God Himself entered creation to defeat sin, death, and the powers of evil.
• After being put to death by the Romans, He physically rose from the dead three days later, conquering sin and death, and appeared to many witnesses.
• Through His life, death, and resurrection, He reconciled all things to Himself and began the renewal of the cosmos. (Col 1:20)
• Christ heals what was corrupted, satisfies what was lacking, redeems what is enslaved and defeats the Powers of Evil and Death.
• He is able to do this because He is fully God and also fully human as set out in the Nicene Creed which is affirmed by most Christian traditions. There is one God in three co-equal, co-eternal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit comprising the Trinity
• Christ’s work is multifaceted and includes His sacrificial death on the cross, His victory over sin and death as shown by His resurrection, and His bringing about renewal.
• The vast majority of Christian traditions affirm that each individual has the freedom to accept or reject the salvation which Jesus offers. All who choose to accept and to follow Jesus will be saved. All who knowingly reject Jesus will be eternally separated from God and His Kingdom.

4. Personal Reception of Christ.

• All traditions affirm a personal response is essential for salvation although most believe that this is not sufficient. See below.
• God’s initiative always comes first. His mercy and grace always come before our response. (1 John 4:19).
• We are saved by God’s grace, and this salvation is received through faith—a trusting reliance on what Jesus has done for us, not on our own efforts.

5. Baptism

• Baptism is central across all Christian traditions as the initiation rite into becoming a follower of Jesus and being saved.
• Some see it as an essential step by which the grace of Salvation is conveyed, others see it as a sign of obedience and a public identification with Christ.
• All traditions affirm that, in particular circumstances, God can save outside of baptism although this is not the norm.

6. Ongoing Growth (Sanctification / Theosis)

• All traditions affirm the need for a life-long spiritual journey of which a personal response to Jesus is just the first step. God calls us to grow in holiness, to become more like Him.
• Divine grace and human response work together in the ongoing shaping of the believer into Christ’s likeness.
• The soul is nurtured and sanctification happens mainly through spiritual practices which may involve training in the virtues or in preparing ourselves to receive God’s grace. Both are important although different traditions often emphasise one or the other.

7. Final Union with God.

• All traditions affirm that those who persevere in Christ will be raised from the dead and share God’s glory forever.
• Different language is used in different traditions. (Theosis, Beatific Vision, Glorification).
• Though the vocabulary differs, the shared hope is eternal union with God in love.

8. God Will Renew All Things in Christ

• The story moves toward cosmic renewal, not just of Humanity but of the whole of Creation.
• When Christ returns, He will raise the dead, judge with justice, and make all things new: There will be a New Heaven and a New Earth filled with His presence. (Isa 65, Rev 21).
• Humanity’s redemption is the first fruit of this transformation; Creation itself will share in the freedom of the children of God.
• All Humans who choose to be a part of God’s Kingdom on the New Earth will be enabled to do so and they will reign with Him as the culmination of what was intended in the beginning.

Where are we now?

• The Gospel, or Good News, is that Jesus Christ is Lord, He has won the battle against the Powers of death, sin and evil so that Creation , including Humanity, is set free from them.
• The language is that of Empire and liberation.
• Imagine being born in an oppressive and corrupt empire where freedom was severely limited. Then a liberating force wins a decisive battle against the ruler of the empire and starts a policy of restoration and liberty.
• As soon as the battle is over, heralds are sent throughout the Empire to announce the “good news” that the oppressors have been defeated and the people are no longer subject to them.
• Nevertheless, it takes time for the effects on the battle field to be felt in all parts of the defeated Empire. It is still a hope, albeit a certain hope, for the future.
• In the mean time, the people are called to prepare for the time when the victorious King will claim His Kingdom and to be ready to welcome Him.
• Jesus Christ won the battle on the cross and by His resurrection. His followers are called to proclaim the Good News throughout the Earth and to prepare for the time when He will return to reign with His people.

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Rom 8:19:25

An alternative description of core Christian beliefs can be found here.