Understanding Your Religion
7 Major Doctrines that Define Christianity
By: Mike Mazzalongo
Posted: April, 2015
This series presents 7 basic doctrinal ideas that help the viewer have a "big picture" view of the Christian religion. Done in an informal style with helpful graphics and summaries, Understanding Your Religion is a useful guide for those seeking to know what Christians believe and how these beliefs affect what they do.
Why Study Doctrine?
In this lesson, we will discuss why it is important to study the main doctrines contained in the Bible.
The Writing of the Bible: The Doctrine of Inspiration - Part 1
This lesson examines the basis for all other doctrines contained in the Bible - the inspiration of this book by God.
The New Testament Record: The Doctrine of Inspiration - Part 2
This lesson continues the review of the making of the bible with a discussion on how the Old and New Testaments were gathered and the criteria used to select the inspired books into the canon.
6 Proofs of Inspiration: The Doctrine of Inspiration - Part 3
This lesson will explain the first of six arguments that support the idea that the bible is an inspired text.
6 Proofs of Inspiration (continued): The Doctrine of Inspiration - Part 4
This lesson will examine the remaining 5 arguments that support the claim of Divine Inspiration for the Bible.
What the Bible Says About Jesus: The Doctrine of the Divinity of Christ - Part 1
The main subject of the Bible record is not only the story of Jesus Christ but also a presentation of the reasons why He is considered the divine Son of God.
The Resurrection as Proof: The Doctrine of the Divinity of Christ - Part 2
This lesson looks at the resurrection of Jesus as both evidence for the claim of the inspiration of the Bible and as the pivotal teaching of the Christian faith.
The Complete History of Mankind: The Doctrines of Original Goodness, Fall of Man and Restoration
This lesson begins the study of the three doctrines that describe the history of man's relationship with God from creation to eternal life in heaven.
Error and Consequence: The Sub-Doctrines of Election and Predestination
This lesson explains some of the results in teaching caused by a faulty understanding of two sub-doctrines (election and predestination) that explain the major doctrine of Reconciliation, and provides a more Biblically accurate view of these important teachings.
God's Method of Reconciliation: The Sub-Doctrine of Atonement - Part 1
This lesson will review how Christ's sacrifice (atonement) satisfies the requirements of God's perfect justice and love.
God's Method of Reconciliation (continued): The Sub-Doctrine of Atonement - Part 2
This second part on the subject of atonement examines the Biblical language used to describe Jesus' act of atonement.
What Atonement Achieves: The Sub-Doctrine of Redemption
Mike will explain the difference between the act of Atonement and its natural result of Redemption.
A New Life in Christ: The Sub-Doctrine of Regeneration
Once a person is redeemed from sin, he can live a new life. This lesson explains the very different lifestyle of the regenerated person.
Becoming Children of God: The Sub-Doctrine of Adoption
This lesson begins an explanation of those sub-doctrines that describe God's plan of salvation from different perspectives.
Becoming Acceptable to God: The Sub-Doctrine of Justification - Part 1
This lesson seeks to understand God's plan of salvation from a legal perspective.
Becoming Acceptable to God (continued): The Sub-Doctrine of Justification - Part 2
The doctrine of Justification explains how God resolves the legal dilemma in justifying guilty sinners without compromising the Law.
God's New Vision of Mankind: The Sub-Doctrine of Perfection
This lesson explains why and how God now sees mankind in a different light.
How Mankind Becomes Holy: The Sub-Doctrine of Sanctification - Part 1
The doctrine of sanctification provides a view of salvation from an "inward" perspective and explains how God enables mankind to share in His holiness.
The Process of Sanctification: The Sub-Doctrine of Sanctification - Part 2
This lesson examines common errors made in teaching the doctrine of sanctification, and provides a guide to the stages of this spiritual process in each Christian.
The Role of Baptism: The Sub-Doctrine of Salvation - Part 1
In this lesson, Mike reviews the "summary" doctrine of Salvation and how water baptism fits into the context of all 10 sub-doctrines that explain the reconciliation of God and Man.
The Role of Baptism and Communion: The Sub-Doctrine of Salvation - Part 2
In this lesson, Mike answers four of the most asked questions about the role of baptism in the process of salvation.
The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Doctrine of the Kingdom
In this lesson, Mike reviews the development of the idea of 'Kingdom' in the Bible as well as the understanding of this idea in the secular world throughout history.
Jesus Describes the End: The Doctrine of the Second Coming - Part 1
In this next to last lesson, Mike tackles Christianity's most exciting and complex doctrine - the events and timing of the return of Jesus and the end of the world as we know it.
The Doctrine of the Second Coming - Part 2
In this last lesson of the series, Mike reviews key passages about the end-times in the New Testament and provides a summary of the four main "Millennial" teaching positions.