If you’ve read my blog posts for any length of time, you know how much I love to study the Bible. I learned to love it even more when I began reading and studying it through a first century—or earlier—Middle Eastern lens). What did it mean to its original audience? What context am I missing because my culture is so different? What idioms were immediately understood that go right over my head?
Recently, in a study I’m completing on the book of Titus, we looked at Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary beliefs of the Christian faith. I knew and understood all of them, but this opened my eyes to see even more clearly where I must stand firm and where I can hold a different opinion or conviction from another believer but know it is a secondary or tertiary matter.
Primary Beliefs and Doctrines (essential to orthodox faith)
These include but are not limited to:
- Salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone
- The inerrancy of the Bible, the inspired word of God
- Jesus, born of a virgin, lived on earth, fully man and fully God
- Jesus was physically resurrected from the dead (His body was raised)
- The Trinity, God, three-in-one
“To deny any of these is to deny the historic and orthodox Christian faith.” (Titus: Displaying the Gospel of Grace).
Secondary Beliefs
These beliefs are important but not essential to faith in Christ. They include eschatology, methods of baptism, how long it took God to create the world, spiritual gifts, egalitarianism versus complementarianism (the role of women in church leadership), etc.
Secondary beliefs are usually well-studied, and they are often deeply held, but none are essential to salvation.
Tertiary Beliefs
These are issues where there is liberty and we must listen to the Holy Spirit to speak into our individual lives for what is right or wrong. Matters such as the drinking of alcohol, style of worship, politics, etc.
In my experience, tertiary beliefs can become giant problems when believers elevate them to secondary and sometimes even primary places of importance.
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 (NASB95)
I love that no matter how many years I walk with God, He always has something more to teach me … or to refine in my understanding.
Is there something new He’s taught you lately or refined in your understanding? Please share.
~robin
Robin Lee Hatcher
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I am constantly learning new things through studying my Bible. My pastor just began a study on Amos. Your post will be most helpful in light of what we discussed last Tuesday night. I was 45 years old when we moved to a new house and changed churches. The pastor then opened my eyes to things I had never heard, even though I had been in church since a child. Through his knowledge and presentation, my husband, a retired Marine, who at that time had worked several different jobs after retirement, was led to the ministry, graduated from Duke Divinity School, and served as a pastor for 12 years until another retirement. I have found there is so much to discover and learn if we are open to it.
Robin, I began To Find Where She Belongs today and am hooked. Thank you.
Wonderful, Betty. Thanks for sharing.
Ever since Easter, I’ve been meditating on the difference between trusting God and entrusting myself to God. I Peter tells us Jesus entrusted Himself to God when headed to the cross. I’m learning that “entrusting myself to God” as Jesus did goes much deeper than “trusting in” God. Still praying and reading scripture on all this means, but it’s the main thing the Lord has been teaching me lately.
I love that, D’Ann. It’s a lot like the difference between believing in God and believing God.
Robin, I’m late responding, but this is such a good post and spurred a great and encouraging conversation when some of our family was together yesterday. Sounds like a great class, and I so appreciate you distilling it to these concise words.
I love that it spurred that conversation, Deb. Thanks for sharing.