5 Foundational Truths and Essential Tools for the Christian Faith
Discipleship is a way of life. In a previous post, I pointed out that a general understanding of Christianity often revolves around moral goodness. Moral goodness in and of itself is certainly not bad, but it is not the basis of genuine Christian faith. And yet, true followers of Christ ought to be good examples of moral goodness. But what is this moral goodness based on? It is not even based on what a person believes. But what a person believes and why they believe it is important. For a truth to be internalized a person needs to process the truth through their own thinking.
5 Foundational Truths of the Christian Faith
There are at least five basic, foundational truths essential to genuine Christianity. This is from an evangelical perspective. The work of Christ's redemption is received only by faith because of God's kindness and favor referred to as grace.
- Jesus is the Cornerstone of the Christian Faith: There are several places where Jesus is referred to as the Cornerstone, such as Ephesians 2:20 and 1 Peter 2:4-8.
- Jesus is the core of the Essential Gospel: He Came, He Died, He Rose—is laid out in the story of man's redemption.
- Jesus personally calls us to follow Him: This basic invitation is found in all three of the synoptic gospels (Matt 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23).
- Jesus gave one all-encompassing command: To love one another as He loved us.
- Jesus gave one primary mission: Called the Great Commission, this is our primary mission and the heart of God for the world.
Do you see the constant in all five of these foundational truths? It's Jesus! Instead of rattling off Scripture references to base these on, when the truth is internalized it becomes embedded in us and readily available to share with others.
The Wheel: Essential Tools for a Spirit-Filled Life
The document outlines the essential tools for living a spirit-filled Christian life, focusing on prayer, study, service, fellowship, and sacraments as the foundational elements. It emphasizes the importance of being connected to Christ, likening life to a wheel where Jesus is the hub and various activities serve as spokes.
| Tool (Spoke) | Key Principles and Components |
|---|---|
| Prayer | Must be Faithful, Led by the Holy Spirit, and centered on the relationship with Jesus. Use ACTS as a guide. |
| Study | Includes the Bible (Best-selling book of all time), Spiritual Readings, and Teaching & Preaching. |
| Fellowship | Building a Christian witness and regular communion. |
| Service | Sharing and youth involvement in church activities. |
| Sacraments | Encouraging regular communion and confession. |
Tool # 1 - PRAYER
A successful prayer life involves 3 important principles. It must be faithful; spend a time with the Lord everyday! It must be led by the Holy Spirit; be open to changing formats. Finally, it must be centered on the relationship with Jesus. Prayer is simple. It's a matter of loving God and being loved by Him.
Tool # 2 - STUDY
The Bible is our source for truth. This is the most important among the three. Spiritual readings include the Daily Gospel, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), and other Christian and Catholic based books. Teaching and preaching includes the Mass, Sunday Homily, and various formation tracks. Have a habit of taking notes while participating in these teachings.
Critical Comparisons for Being Right With God
How can anyone hope to be right with God while believing the wrong things about Him? The Bible clearly states, “For our sake [God] made Him [Jesus Christ] to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Being right with God is the gracious act whereby a believing sinner has Christ’s perfect righteousness credited to him!
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God, and it is not from works” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Christ’s resurrection from the grave proved that His mission to make our salvation possible was complete. Believe on Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness of sin and eternal life and you will be forever secure. As the Holy Spirit convicts you, express to God your heartfelt belief in Christ’s death on your behalf.