Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know

by Wayne Grudem

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 2005

Overview

God doesn’t call every Christian to go off to seminary, but there are certain matters of doctrine—that is, the church’s teaching—that every Christian simply must know. Theology is important because what we believe affects how we live. If you’re a relatively new believer in Jesus, or if you’re a more mature Christian looking for a quick brush-up on basics of the faith, Christian Beliefs is for you.

This readable guide to 20 basic Christian beliefs is a condensation of Wayne Grudem’s award-winning book on systematic theology, prized by pastors and teachers everywhere. He and his son, Elliot, have boiled down the essentials of Christian theology for the average layperson and made them both clear and applicable to life. You will learn about the Bible, the characteristics of God, what it means that we are created in the image of God, what God has done for us in Christ, the purpose of the church, and much more. Each chapter includes questions for personal review or group discussion.

Key Features

• 20 basic Christian beliefs
• Preface by the authors
• Questions for personal review or group discussion

Contents

Top Highlights

“Although some passages may at first seem difficult to grasp, the Bible is written in such a way that all things necessary to become a Christian, live as a Christian, and grow as a Christian are clear.” (Page 16)

“God wants us to pray so that our dependence on him can increase.” (Page 48)

“Since the things of God are ‘spiritually discerned’ (1 Cor. 2:14), a proper understanding of Scripture is often more the result of an individual’s spiritual condition than his or her intellectual ability. Often the truth of Scripture will appear to be ‘folly’ to those who have rejected the claims of Jesus (v. 14).” (Page 16)

“Election is an act of God before creation in which he chooses some people to be saved, not on account of any foreseen merit in them, but only because of his sovereign good pleasure.” (Page 79)

“Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature.” (Page 62)

Praise for the Print Edition

These truly are twenty basic beliefs that every Christian should know. Wayne Grudem is a master teacher with the ability to explain profound truths in simple language. He is a man of deep conviction and theological passion—and those who read this book will be both educated and encouraged in the faith.

—R. Albert Mohler Jr., president, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

. . . this summary will certainly help beginners with Christ to get the hang of their faith.

—J. I. Packer, executive editor, Regent College

As Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology contracts into a compact book, I do not lose my enthusiasm for the truth he loves and the clarity of his words.

—John Piper, author and theologian, Bethlehem Baptist Church

Product Details

• Title: Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know
• Author: Wayne Grudem
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Print Publication Date: 2005
• Logos Release Date: 2012
• Pages: 160
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Bible › Theology; Theology, doctrinal › Popular works
• ISBNs: 9780310496892, 9780310255994, 9780310322092, 0310496896, 0310255996, 031032209X
• Resource ID: LLS:20BASICSCHRBELF
• Resource Type: Systematic Theology
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-28T19:57:39Z

About Wayne Grudem

Wayne Grudem is a New Testament scholar turned theologian, author, and research professor of Bible and theology at Phoenix Seminary, Arizona. He earned a BA from Harvard University, an MDiv from Westminster Theological Seminary, and a PhD from the University of Cambridge. In 2001 Grudem moved to Phoenix Seminary after having taught at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School for more than twenty years where he was also the chairman of the Department of Biblical and Systematic Theology.