First-order doctrines
First-order doctrines
Essential to the gospel and to being a Christian. Denial means a different faith. Scoring weight 3 (method).
First-order doctrines weight 3
The Trinity
One God in three co-equal, co-eternal persons.
F02Deity of Christ
The Son is true God, of one substance with the Father (Nicaea).
F03True humanity of Christ
The Son truly took full human nature (against Docetism and Apollinarianism).
F04One person, God and man
Christ is one person, true God and true man, without confusion or division.
F05Virgin birth and incarnation
Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.
F06Deity and personhood of the Holy Spirit
'The Lord, the giver of life' (381).
F07Creation out of nothing
God alone is eternal; all else is created and good.
F08Sin and the need for grace
All are sinners, cannot save themselves, and need grace (against Pelagius).
F09Christ's saving death
Christ died for our sins (1 Cor 15:3) and his death saves; how it saves is S20 and T6.
F10Bodily resurrection of Christ
Christ was truly raised in the body.
F11Ascension and session
Christ ascended and reigns.
F12Salvation by grace through faith in Christ
Salvation is God's gift in Christ, not earned.
F13Return of Christ and final judgement
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
F14General resurrection and eternal life
The resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.
F15Authority and truthfulness of Scripture
Scripture is God's inspired word.
F16One holy catholic and apostolic Church
The Church confessed in the creeds.