Things that Must be Believed

Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #37

Today, at the beginning of this new year, we are beginning a new series titled “The Essentials of the Faith — Things That Must be Believed”. In this four part series, we will look at the key doctrines of the Christian faith and why they are essential to Christianity. These are things that you cannot deny and still have Christianity.

Let me illustrate.

Everything in a car is not essential for the operation of that vehicle. For instance, the spare tire is not essential. I can drive my car without a spare tire. The radio and CD player is not essential. I enjoy them, but I can drive my car without the radio or the CD player. The air-conditioner is not essential. I can operate the car without the air-conditioner.

But wait a minute! The motor is essential! If you take the motor out, you may as well have a kiddie car, or a tricycle, or a skateboard. When you remove the motor, you’ve done away with the thing that makes the car operate. The motor is absolutely essential. You can’t throw the motor out and still have an automobile that works. Gasoline is essential. You can’t operate the car without gasoline; it won’t run without it. The battery is essential. If you take the battery out, the motor is dead.

Likewise, in Christianity, there are essential that we cannot deny and still have Christianity. These essentials are:

1. The virgin birth of Jesus Christ
2. The deity of Jesus Christ
3. The substitutionary death of Jesus Christ
4. The physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
5. That salvation comes only by faith in Jesus Christ
6. The verbal inspiration of the Bible
7. The second coming of Jesus Christ

Today, we will take a look at two of these essentials and what they mean to the Christian faith.

+ Plus, listen to Donnie McClurkin singing “Great I Am” and Nicole Mullen singing “Call on Jesus”.