The Fundamentals
Duane Hanson

Pastors Duane and Mary Hanson dedicated their lives to Christ over 30 years ago and have committed themselves to helping people know God through His Word. Having come from Protestant and Catholic backgrounds, the desire of their heart is to help people become established in the truths of God’s Word rather than the traditions of men. Helping pioneer a church in Minneapolis in 1977 gave them an opportunity to develop their teaching ministries. They responded to the call of God on their lives in 1979 and began making preparations for full time ministry. In 1982 they pioneered Established Heart Ministries in the Highland Park area of Saint Paul. The Hanson’s have lived and been actively involved in the local community of Highland Park for two decades.

Both are graduates of RHEMA Bible Training Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and hold ordination with RHEMA Ministerial Association International (R.M.A.I.), as well as the Association of Faith Churches and Ministries (A.F.C.M.). You may visit their church website at www.establishedheart.org.

If you’ve been around the “Word of Faith Movement” for any length of time, you’ll have heard a few messages that use the following passage.

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Even though we’re all familiar with this basic message, I’d like to specifically address the fundamental issues of our faith. Let’s look and see how the Message Bible translates this verse, which might help us look at it differently than we have in the past.

Hebrews 11:1 (MSG)
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living.

This translation brings out the fact that Faith is our firm foundation. That our Faith should be built upon the basic fundamentals found in the Bible. That these fundamentals should influence the way we live, and make life worth living!

In 2 Peter 1:1, we are told that through our righteousness with God, we have “obtained a like precious faith” which we share with other Christians. When writing to Titus, Paul makes a point of saying that he considers him to be “a true son in our common faith.” [Titus 1:4 NKJV]

Paul is acknowledging that they shared the same fundamental beliefs about Jesus Christ and His Word. He then begins to lay out instructions that will help Titus identify the more mature believers that can be trusted with positions of leadership. It appears that both Peter and Paul were concerned that people in positions of influence within the church should share The Fundamentals of the common faith, and be of like precious faith! They had recognized that immaturity had resulted in people not being Established in the Faith! [Colossians 2:6-8, 2 Peter 1:12]

Why is this important? Because earlier in the Book of Hebrews, the writer challenges the reader to go beyond the basics of the common faith, and to press deeper into spiritual growth and maturity. The Lord is telling us that we should all strive to become well established in what have been called “The First Principles” of God’s Word.

Hebrews 5:11-14 (NLT)
There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

Hebrews 6:1-3 (NLT)
So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.

The Church should not ignore the basic principles being defined by the writer of Hebrews. There are basic Fundamentals found in the scriptures that every Christian should accept as absolute Truth.

Over a century ago, Christian leaders from various denominations realized the damaging influence that both progressive seminaries and liberal theologians were having on the Body of Christ. Collectively they determined to identify the basic principles that should be the foundation of our Christian faith. Many Christian organizations have similar principles, or what we know as “The Tenets of Our Faith.” These Fundamentals defined their doctrinal positions and helped guide their decisions, as they had to respond to a changing religious culture. If that was true one hundred years ago, how much more does the Church of the 21^st Century need to know and stand upon these Fundamentals of faith! These basic Fundamentals were eventually established and published as a way for every Christian to take inventory and strengthen their Biblical Foundation, regardless of their religious persuasion, affiliation or denomination.

Here’s the Five Fundamentals that were published back in 1908 that every Christian should acknowledge and use as the building blocks of their Faith Foundation:

1. The Inspiration and Infallibility of Scripture		The Integrity of God’s Word
2. The Deity of Christ [Including His Virgin Birth]		Jesus Christ Is the Son of God
3. The Substitutionary Atonement of Christ’s Death		Christ’s Substitution and Identification
4. The Literal Resurrection of Christ from the Dead		The Literal Resurrection of Christ from the Dead
5. The Literal Return of Christ in the Second Advent		The Return of Jesus Christ In His Glory

 

As you can see, I’ve added some terminology that might be used today to express these same principles of truth. If you can agree with all five of these basic Fundamentals, then you’re on the right track to grow and mature as a believer. Purpose to let the Word of God be the solid foundation upon which you build your faith. Then you can trust every promise found in the Bible ~ absolutely, completely, and without question!

Let’s consider what Paul wrote to Timothy about these basic Fundamentals, the first of which we’ve labeled as “The Integrity of God’s Word.” Paul’s simple instructions to Timothy are just as true and applicable today as when he wrote them nearly 2000 years ago. [See 2 Timothy 3:1-17] After giving a specific warning about the “last days” in the first part of this chapter, Paul concludes that the best way for the Church to confront those who are “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth,” and “have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof,” is by holding firm to the truth that he taught and lived out as an example before them. [See 2 Timothy 3:10-15]

To understand what Paul’s point is, we have to read the full chapter in context, which he wraps up with this foundational truth…

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete [perfect & mature], thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Unless we hold fast to this truth concerning The Integrity of God’s Word, which is the primary foundation upon which all the other Fundamentals rest, then religious leaders and immature believers have the ability to alter and redefine the meaning of any verse they dislike, or find disagreeable to their lifestyle. The Church has been dealing with a “crisis of faith” for some time now, and yet, adhering to these Fundamentals would solve any questions that might arise due to our “evolving moral culture.” However, if every Christian accepted the validity of this passage, then it must be understood that no one has the right to edit or change what God’s Word has established as absolute truth.

As Hebrews 5:14 above makes so clear, it’s the immature believer that has not learned how to “recognize the difference between right and wrong.” In the same sense, it’s the deceived Christian leader (or possibly just ignorant) that has denied the faith and failed to discern between “truth and error.” [1 John 4:6] As we learn to trust what we read in God’s Word, and become convinced that God’s Word does not change or evolve because of our culture, then we’ll be equipped to “recognize the difference between right and wrong,” and believe, declare, and act upon every Promise of God.

[For further Biblical evidence of this First Fundamental Truth, see 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Galatians 1:10-12, 2 Peter 1:16-21].

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV)
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Galatians 1:10-12 (KJV)
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:16-21 (KJV)
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.