In a world that says “your truth, my truth,” what does the Bible mean by the truth? In this episode, Austin W. Duncan walks through the core doctrines that make Christianity what it is—and why some beliefs are matters of preference while others are matters of spiritual life and death.

Starting at Nicaea and that famous “one iota” debate, we look at how the church has guarded the truth about who Jesus is and why it matters for your salvation, your worship, and your daily walk with God. From the Trinity and God’s character, to the person and work of Christ, salvation by grace through faith, and the authority of Scripture, this episode lays out the non-negotiables of historic Christian faith.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• What makes a doctrine “essential” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4)

• The Trinity and God’s attributes as the foundation of Christian belief

• Who Jesus is: fully God, fully man, virgin-born, sinless, crucified, risen, and returning

• Why salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone—not by works

• Why the Bible is trustworthy, “God-breathed,” and the final authority for faith and life

• How these doctrines shape our worship, relationships, and witness

If you’ve ever wondered, “What are the core truths I must believe as a Christian?” this episode is meant to give you clarity and confidence.

Chapters:

00:00-02:05 – Introduction02:05-03:28 – The Nature of Essential Doctrine03:28-07:18 – The Trinity07:18-07:38 - The Trinity: There is One God07:38-07:56 - The Trinity: Baptism of Jesus07:56-08:46 - The Trinity: Each Person is Fully God08:46-09:14 - The Trinity: The Holy Spirit is God09:14-09:38 - The Trinity: Each Person is Distinct09:38-11:21 - The Trinity: This Has Always Been True11:21-18:05 – God’s Attributes18:05-19:10 – Christ | Fully God and Fully Man19:10-24:35 – Virgin Birth of Christ24:35-29:32 – Christ's Sinless Life29:32-32:50 – Christ's Substitutionary Death32:50-36:27 – Christ's Resurrection36:27-44:06 – Salvation Through Christ Alone44:06-45:11 – The Authority of Scripture45:11-46:18 – Divine Inspiration46:18-48:04 – Trustworthiness and Authority48:04-56:26 – Inerrancy and Infallibility56:26-01:00:35 – Application