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UNPACKED – Essential Doctrines

As we continue these nights together, we’re diving into how to navigate theological differences and what it means to stay unified as the Body of Christ. Read the notes below as we explore essential and non-essential doctrines, why denominations differ, and how to approach it all with confidence, humility and love.

KEY QUESTION: How Should We Approach Theological Differences in the Body of Christ?

Have you ever wondered why different churches believe different things? Maybe you’ve got a Catholic friend, a Baptist co-worker, or a Pentecostal background yourself and you’ve thought, “Who’s right?” or even “Are they still saved?” These are real and important questions. In this Unpacked, we’re going to explore how to navigate theological differences with clarity, confidence, and a heart that reflects Christ.

Overview

When it comes to studying and understanding theology, a very common question comes to mind: “Why do different denominations believe different things?” You may have a co-worker who is Catholic or Baptist. How does what they believe differ from what you believe? Are they still saved? How come there are so many different ‘types’ of Christians? And then of course… who is right?

We’re going to unpack how we approach these differences.

A helpful quote often (though uncertainly) attributed to Augustine says:

“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”

This gives us a framework:

  • In essentials, unity – there are core doctrines all Christians must agree on.
  • In non-essentials, liberty – there is room for different views.
  • In all things, charity – our posture must always be love.

This protects us from two extremes: treating everything as essential (which leads to division) or treating nothing as essential (which leads to confusion and error).

Essential Doctrines

Essential doctrines are the core truths of Christianity. These are non-negotiable and directly tied to the Gospel. If a church rejects these, it steps outside of historic Christian belief.

These include:

  • The deity and humanity of Christ
  • The Trinity
  • The authority of Scripture
  • The reality of sin
  • Salvation by grace through faith
  • The atoning death of Christ
  • The bodily resurrection
  • The exclusivity of Christ

These doctrines centre on who Jesus is and what He has done. Without them, the Gospel itself is lost.

The Apostle Paul warns strongly about altering these truths:

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.”
– Galatians 1:8

Across denominations like Anglican, Baptist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, and more, there is unity on these essentials. This is what makes them part of the global Church.

The Creeds

From the early Church, believers needed a clear way to identify true teaching. This is where the Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed came in.

These creeds summarised the essential doctrines of the Christian faith and were often memorised. If a teaching contradicted the creeds, it was recognised as false.

They helped unify believers around core truth and protect the Church from false teaching—something Scripture repeatedly warns about.

Non-Essential Doctrines

Non-essential doctrines are important, but they don’t determine salvation. Christians can disagree on these and still be united in Christ.

Examples include:

  • Baptism (timing and method)
  • Communion theology
  • Church governance
  • Spiritual gifts
  • End times views
  • Worship styles
  • Women in leadership
  • Free will vs predestination

These differences explain why denominations exist. They reflect different interpretations of Scripture, not different Gospels.

Important note: non-essential does not mean unimportant. These doctrines still matter deeply, but they are not the foundation of salvation.

Attitudes Toward Diverse Theology

So how should we respond to these differences?

We approach them with:

Liberty – recognising there is freedom in non-essential areas.

Security – being confident in what we believe without feeling threatened.

Maturity – engaging in disagreement with humility, not division.

Charity – choosing love in every interaction.

Jesus said:

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
– John 13:35

Our love for other believers matters just as much as our theology.

Conclusion

As we navigate theology, we must hold tightly to the essentials while holding the non-essentials with humility.

When we elevate non-essentials to essential status, we risk division and legalism. At the same time, when we ignore essentials, we lose the truth of the Gospel.

The goal is to be grounded in truth, secure in our faith, and gracious toward others.

We don’t want to miss the heart of the Gospel by becoming overly rigid on secondary issues. Instead, we stay united in Christ, trusting that while differences may remain, our shared foundation is what truly matters.

As we continue exploring this topic, we’re unpacking a key tension in the Christian life: why we still struggle with sin even though Jesus has already defeated it. Read the notes below to understand what Christ has done at the cross, what we experience today, and how God is shaping us through the ongoing journey of sanctification.

The Power of Sin

  • Overview
  • The Defeat of Sin’s Power
  • The Struggle with Sin’s Influence
  • Why We Still Struggle With Sin
  • The Victory We Can Have Over Sin
  • Conclusion

Overview

Many of us understand that when Jesus gave His life on the cross, He defeated the power and authority of sin. He became sin in our place so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Yet, it’s clear that sin is still present in the world, and many Christians still struggle with temptation and sinful habits. This can feel confusing. If sin has been defeated in Christ, why do we still struggle with it?

In this blog, we’ll explore:

  • The defeat of sin’s power at the cross
  • The ongoing influence of sin
  • Why believers still struggle today
  • How we can walk in victory over sin

The Defeat of Sin’s Power

At the cross, Jesus didn’t just deal with sin emotionally or symbolically. He broke its authority and dominion over believers completely.

We are no longer slaves to sin.

Romans 6:6–11 explains this clearly:

Our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

This is a decisive spiritual reality for everyone in Christ:

  • Sin no longer rules over us
  • We are no longer under its authority
  • We are now alive to God in Christ Jesus

Before salvation, sin wasn’t just something we did. It was something that ruled us. Paul uses the image of slavery to explain this:

“You were once slaves of sin…” (Romans 6:17–18)

A slave does not have full autonomy. In the same way, sin shaped our desires, decisions, and direction before Christ.

Freedom through Christ’s exchange.

Jesus broke that system through His death and resurrection:

“For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin…” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Through Christ’s sacrifice:

  • We are freed from sin’s power
  • We are transferred into righteousness
  • Sin is no longer our master

But this leads to an important question: If sin is defeated, why do we still struggle?

The Struggle with Sin’s Influence

Although sin’s power has been broken, its presence and influence remain in the world.

Sin is no longer our master, but it still tries to tempt, lure, and influence us. We still live in a fallen world where spiritual battle is real.

Even Jesus experienced temptation, yet He never sinned.

Scripture is clear that believers must still actively resist sin:

  • Ephesians 6:10–12 – We wrestle against spiritual forces
  • 1 Peter 5:8 – The devil seeks to devour
  • James 1:13–14 – Temptation comes through desire

We are still in a spiritual battle

While sin no longer rules us, it still:

  • Appeals to our flesh
  • Uses external influences
  • Seeks to draw us away from God

However, sin will not always remain. Scripture promises a future where it will be completely removed:

“He will wipe away every tear… death shall be no more…” (Revelation 21:4)

Why We Still Struggle With Sin

To understand the tension we live in, we need to understand the three stages of salvation (Ordo Salutis):

  1. Justification 

We are saved instantly

  • Freed from sin’s power
  • Declared righteous in Christ

2. Sanctification

We are being saved progressively

  • Freed from sin’s influence over time
  • Becoming more like Christ

3. Glorification

We will be saved fully in the future

  • Completely free from sin’s presence

Where we live now

We currently live in sanctification:

  • Sin’s power is broken
  • Sin’s influence is still present
  • Sin’s presence will one day be removed

State of sin vs acts of sin

A helpful distinction:

  • State of sin: We are no longer separated from God
  • Acts of sin: We still sometimes fall and miss the mark

Being saved does not mean we never sin again. It means sin no longer defines our identity or separates us from God.

We are:

  • Fully forgiven in Christ
  • Still being transformed in daily life

The Victory We Can Have Over Sin

We are not powerless against temptation. Scripture gives us practical ways to walk in victory.

1. Identify the sin

You cannot overcome what you refuse to acknowledge.

2. Understand there is no condemnation

“There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

Conviction leads us to God. Condemnation pushes us away from Him.

3. Recognise triggers

Identify patterns and remove environments that fuel temptation.

4. Repent quickly

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just…” (1 John 1:9)

Don’t delay restoration.

5. Bring sin into the light

Confession breaks secrecy. Sin grows in darkness and weakens in the light.

6. Remember your identity 

You fight sin from freedom, not for freedom.

“Be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” (Romans 12:2)

7. Rely on the Holy Spirit

Change is a process empowered by God, not human willpower alone.

“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion…” (Philippians 1:6)

Conclusion

Jesus has defeated sin, but sin has not yet been fully destroyed.

That is why:

  • We are free from sin’s power
  • We still face its influence
  • We still experience the process of sanctification

One day, at glorification, sin will be gone completely. Until then, we live in the tension of already free, but still being transformed.

The good news is this:

  • Sin does not define you
  • Sin does not separate you from God
  • Sin does not have authority over your life

You are justified, being sanctified, and one day will be glorified.

And in the meantime, the Holy Spirit is faithfully shaping you into the image of Christ.

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