Is belief in certain doctrines essential for salvation?
Although belief in Christian teachings is intimately and inseparably related to salvation, doctrines are not what save us. We are not saved by knowledge, nor are we saved by what we have learned. Rather, we are saved by our faith in God through Christ. Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life. (Romans 5:1, 10) Yet, when we say that we are justified, not by teachings, but by faith; we are articulating a doctrine. Whenever we use words to proclaim our Christian faith to others, we are teaching Christian doctrines. Doctrines are not our faith, but they are the articulation of that faith. We can have a belief in doctrines; we have faith in God through Jesus Christ.
