Core Faith: Understanding the Essentials of the Christian Life

James F. Davis

Preface
In the past several years my wife Trece has introduced me to the Pilates exercise
program. Unlike me though, she has been faithful to consistently use of this wonderful
exercise system. I also to a much more limited degree have experienced its benefits. One
time in particular I was experiencing nagging back and neck pain but after a few weeks of
Pilates this pain began to subside and eventually disappeared. The basic philosophy of
Pilates is to strengthen the inner core muscles of the body. The theory then is if the core
of the body is strong the rest of the body will be strong and healthy as well. Thus, I have
entitled this book and course Core Faith. It is the basic faith and practice that all
Christians need understand and do whether they know it or not. If the Christian is strong
in the basic core beliefs and disciplines then as with Pilates the entire Christian life will
be strong and vital as well.
Welcome to Core Faith. E. M. Blaiklock, Professor of Classics at Auckland
University once stated: “I claim to be an historian. My approach to Classics is historical.
And I tell you that the evidence for the life, the death, and the resurrection of Christ is
better authenticated than most of the facts of ancient history . . .”1 Our faith has a
historical basis, the historical life of Jesus, the historical death of Jesus and the historical
resurrection of Jesus. This should give us the confidence to pursue the path of Christian
life with confidence. But as we get started on the Christian journey or are on the way we
all have certain questions.
Questions that some of us may have are: 1) Who is God and what is he like? 2)
How can I be sure I am going to heaven? 3) How can I grow in my Christian life? 4)
What does God want me to do? 5) What is the nature of the Bible and where did it come
from? 6) How do I interpret the Bible? 7) Who is Jesus and how does his life impact me?
8) Who is the Holy Spirit and what does he do? 9) What does the Bible say or not say
about the future? These are some of the questions that the following lessons are going to
address.
The first reference to a disciple in the New Testament is found in Matthew 5:1-2,
which states, “When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his
disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them by saying: . . . .”2 What follows is
perhaps the greatest Sermon of all time known as the Sermon on the Mount, a sermon for
disciples of Jesus. The Greek word for disciple is Mathetes (Μαθητης). Its dictionary
definition is: “1. one who engages in learning through instruction from another, pupil,

1
As cited by Josh McDowell, “Evidence for the Resurrection”,
[Link] (Date accessed October
29, 2012).
2
Unless otherwise noted Bible citations are generally taken from the NET Bible,
New English Translation © by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
apprentice 2. one who is rather constantly associated with someone who has a
pedagogical reputation or a particular set of views, disciple, adherent.3 In short a disciple
is a student, a learner. But let’s look at Jesus’ definition of a disciple. “Then he [Jesus]
said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up
his cross daily, and follow me’” (Luke 9:23).4 Being a disciple is for “anyone.” The
invitation is open. But there are conditions. First, a disciple must deny himself and take
up his cross. When we think of self denial it’s something like I will only eat one donut
today instead of two. Jesus is talking about denial to the point of death, death on a cross if
need be. Second, discipleship is daily. It’s not a one-time thing but every day I need to
get up and be a disciple. Third a disciple follows Christ. It’s his example, his teaching, his
call.
I would like to address two questions that are related to Core Faith. The first
question is why is theology important? And secondly, why read this book or use it as a
course? Why is theology important? The word theology means the study of God.
Theology may seem intimidating but anytime we form an opinion about God or make an
assertion about him or look to him for anything we are in essence doing theology. If we
say God is good that is a theological proposition. If someone curses God they are saying
God is bad. If we say a prayer to God, we are implying that he not only exists but that he
acts in our lives in a personal way. So most of us are theologians whether we think we are
or not. I would like to suggest two basic reasons of why theology is important.
First is that we are commanded to love God. This is referred to as the greatest
commandment. Jesus was once asked, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the
greatest?” Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your
soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matt 22:36-
38). If the most important commandment is to love God then we must learn who God is
with our total being, heart soul and mind. How can we love someone we do not know and
strive to know? Some people want to experience God emotionally which is good but then
in practice neglect learning about God with their mind. The mind is an area that the
evangelical church has neglected and it has even been described as serious as a “scandal.”
Christian historian Mark Knoll states, “The scandal of the evangelical mind, is that there
is not much of an evangelical mind.”5 God has revealed himself in creation and more
specifically and importantly in his Word. Theology then is learning about the one God we
are to love. This may be dismissed as merely head knowledge but as someone once well
said how can we love God less when we know him more?
Second, sometimes when we encounter difficulties in life we do not have the
answers we want or need. The problem we face is perplexing and seems to defy
resolution. It is times like this when we need to fall back on the character of God. But if
we do not know what the character of God is for sure, we may lack confidence in it. Job

3
Baur, Danker, Arnt and Gingrich, Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament
and Other Early Christian Literature (3rd edition; University of Chicago Press, Chicago:
2003), 609.
4
Scripture references are taken from the NET Bible unless otherwise noted.
5
Mark Knoll, The Scandal of Evangelical Mind (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994),
4.
in the Old Testament is a good example for us in this regard. He was a godly man with an
abundance of blessings: wealth, health and family (Job 1:1-3). But one by one these
things were taken away. First, Job lost all his children when they were attacked and taken
captive or killed. Also, all his possessions were destroyed or stolen (Job 1:13-22). He was
stricken with some kind of malignant skin disease (Job 2:7). The question of the book
then is why? Job’s friends bring many theologically wrong answers that suggest that Job
had sinned and this was the result. But the trials were not due to Job’s sin. Finally, Job
has an encounter with God and no final answer to Job’s suffering is given except that
God is God and one has to trust in who he is in such problems. In the end, God blesses
Job beyond what he had before (Job 42:10-17). But the point is that sometimes all we
have is to accept and trust in the character of God. So we need to know that character to
be able have assurance in it and to recognize our experience with it.
More examples include Joseph who was beaten and sold into slavery but
reminded his brothers who had done the act, that even evil things can be used by God for
his purposes. In theologically reflecting on the situation he stated, “As for you, you meant
to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of
many people, as you can see this day” (Gen 50:20). Jonah who was displeased that God
had not judged Ninevah but rather saved them attributed this action to the character of
God. “He prayed to the Lord and said, “Oh, Lord, this is just what I thought would
happen when I was in my own country. This is what I tried to prevent by attempting to
escape to Tarshish! – because I knew that you are gracious and compassionate, slow to
anger and abounding in mercy, and one who relents concerning threatened judgment”
(Jonah 4:2). Jesus himself trusted in God and his character as he was dying on the cross
and said, “Into your hands I commit my Spirit” (Luke 23:46).
So all these examples show how understanding God and his character can relate
to hard situations. This is theology. So let’s go to the next question. Why use these
lessons?
1) The first and foremost reason is to get to know God better and grow in our
relationship with him. Jesus said: Now this is eternal life – that they know you, the only
true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent (John 17:3). This course will have a God
focus. We are on a lifelong and even eternal pursuit to know God and his Son Jesus
Christ.
2) The second reason is to better appreciate and understand God’s gift of
salvation through the gospel and basic Christian doctrine. This course will have a Bible
focus. The Apostle Peter said “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word,
so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation) (1 Peter 2:2; NASB). As physical food
moves a baby toward growth toward adulthood, so the “milk” of the Word is how we
grow spiritually. It’s our spiritual food.
3) The third and last reason is so that we will be able to share the gospel with
others and be able to help others to grow in their faith. This course will also have a
people focus. Jesus gave the commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” When I was in college, I
benefited from a man by the name of Ted Boyls who met with me every week for about
two years to help me understand God and the Christian life. Like Ted did, we should
desire to help others.
We have a saying in America, “live and learn.” It refers to learning from mistakes
or learning from the school of hard knocks. But the Bible encourages the opposite
approach, to learn first and then live. What is the course procedure? This course has 11
lessons not including this introduction that give a basic overview of the Christian life and
doctrine. Each lesson concludes with potential discussion and application questions. The
material can be used in one of three ways. First you as an individual can study the
material yourself. Second, this material can be covered by two individuals in a one on
one discipleship relationship perhaps at a rate of one lesson per week. Both parties may
read the lessons together or separately and then come together for questions,
individualized application and use of the discussion questions. Thirdly, the following
lesson materials may be used in a small group setting in Sunday School or home.
Whenever I have taken Bible courses, I always been interested in the person
teaching me. What are their credentials? Are they qualified? My name is Dr. James
Davis. You can reference my ministry profile on the [Link] website. But in short I
have been a Christian for over 30 years and have been involved in teaching the Bible in
various venues since that time from dorm Bible studies, to small groups, Sunday school
classes, and seminary classrooms. Since 1999 I have taught seminary classes as a
professor of New Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary, Capital Bible Seminary and
Liberty University. I have a Masters in New Testament from Capital Bible Seminary and
a PhD in New Testament from Dallas Theological Seminary.
I want to thank Dave Austin, Hampton Keathley IV, Bob Deffinbaugh and Lauren
Menge for the help they have given me in producing these lessons by their
encouragement, ideas, insight and editing.
So I now invite you to this journey of learning about Core Faith. And as a
Christian or soon to be one I encourage you to be a better disciple of Jesus. May the Lord
bless your study of Jesus and God’s Word.
Table of Contents
Preface
1. The Study of the Gospel
2. Understanding World Views
3. The Study of God
4. Personal Spiritual Growth
5. The Study of the Bible
6. Principles of Biblical Interpretation
7. The Study of Christ
8. The Study of the Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts
9. The Study of the Church
10. The Study of Future Events
11. Principles and Practice of Disciple Making