Essential Truths of the Christian Faith

by R.C. Sproul

For those who yearn for a deeper walk of faith, their journey can begin here.
Dr. R. C. Sproul takes theology down from the dusty shelves of theological libraries and expounds in clear and simple terms more than one hundred major Christian doctrines. He offers readers an essential understanding of the Christian faith that will kindle a lifelong love for truth, which is foundational to maturity in Christ. Here are theologically sound explanations of the biblical concepts every Christian should know, written in a way that we all can understand. Sproul’s homespun analogies and illustrations from everyday life make this book interesting, informative, and easy to read.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christianity, Nonfiction, Religion, Christian Living, Faith

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Dr. R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Orlando, Fla. He was founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.

Ligonier Ministries began in 1971 as the Ligonier Valley Study Center in Ligonier, Pa. In an effort to respond more effectively to the growing demand for Dr. Sproul’s teachings and the ministry’s other educational resources, the general offices were moved to Orlando in 1984, and the ministry was renamed.

Dr. Sproul’s radio program, Renewing Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around the world and can also be heard online. Dr. Sproul produced hundreds of lecture series and recorded numerous video series on subjects such as the history of philosophy, theology, Bible study, apologetics, and Christian living.

He contributed dozens of articles to national evangelical publications, spoke at conferences, churches, and academic institutions around the world, and wrote more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, and Everyone’s a Theologian. He signed the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy and wrote a commentary on that document. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible, previously known as the New Geneva Study Bible.

Dr. Sproul had a distinguished academic teaching career at various colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Jackson, Miss. He was ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book after having finished Everyone's a Theologian. The two books are very similar, but I feel that this one is easier to understand. There are 102 short chapters of about 5 pages or less that can be read as a supplement to Bible study, in a book group, or (as was my case) on a lonnnnng airplane ride.

Most of the chapters are excellent. The author gives Scripture-based explanations for Christian doctrines such as the Holy Trinity, baptism, communion, etc. Most of his explanations are easy to understand -- though I'd still highly recommend "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis to new or young believers as that is even easier to grasp.

However, I feel that this book is poorly titled. It really should be something along the lines of "Essential Truths of Calvinist Christianity" or something like that, as the author is pretty clearly a Calvinist and obviously believes that is the only Scripturally sound way to view salvation. That being said, I took issue with several of the chapters. There are strong, Scripture-based arguments both for and against Calvinism, and I repeatedly find myself in the "against" camp.

I would recommend this book to those who aren't entirely new to the Christian faith but aren't considered "mature" believers yet either. I guess figure out where you are on your journey and decide if this book is right for you. :)

[Dan Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good tool to get insight on specific topics. Really great conversation starter

[Vanda Dien · Rating 5 out of 5]

first off, this book is really a great work, meaningful for Christians or non-Christians who want to know about the essentials of the Christian doctrines without going into the details. It gives explanations in wonderful wordings (simple and clear) about christian basic theology. Believe me you wont be bored with it...

if one reads it faithfully, you can finish it in one night! He chops it off into small parts discussing one theme in 3 pages at the most, that made me want to savor every theme and felt a bit loss when it was all done.

The first few chapters (I - VI) describing what CS Lewis said in Mere Christianity as 'HCF' highest common factors, factors that can be said to be held by all Christians regardless denominations. However starts on chapter VII (the doctrine of human being and the fall, salvation, etc) the color is thickly Calvinism, so if you are not in this group i have warned you, don't be surprised because there is no mention in the covers about the book being in the league of Calvinism considering not everyone knows who Sproul is.

the point that the book covers almost everything important to Christianity (including the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, infant baptism etc) made it a must read especially to all Christians. The book is a plus, many times over!

i highly recommend it!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book over the course of several months as a supplement to my daily devotions. Each "chapter" (section?) is only 2-4 pages long and provides a concise overview of topics in systematic theology. Sproul also provides five Biblical references per topic for further independent study. Though I was familiar with almost all of the doctrines, some of the explanations provided by Sproul confused me more than aided in deeper understanding. I'll admit that it was due to his usage of theological terms that I had never heard or been exposed to. Accordingly, some of the concepts were made more complicated than need be. I'm also not a big proponent in using the Westerminster Confession of Faith---or any catechism---as explanation for Biblical doctrine. I prefer that pastors and teachers expound upon a Biblical reference/passage/verse to reiterate a point.

Even though I've hounded somewhat on why I didn't give this book a full 5 stars, I really did enjoy it and looked forward to reading it each morning. It deepened my understanding on several foundational principles of Christianity. I greatly appreciated the structure of this book as well. A few pages per doctrine were enough to whet my appetite on certain topics and spark further personal study, while still being succinct enough to use during my daily devotions.

[Greg Busch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. Sproul had a "facts-only fru-fru free" style that appealed to me and I would recommend it to Christians at any stage of their journey.

[Angie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, the title pretty much says it all. I think RC Sproul says it best in the Preface of this book.
"Every Christian is a theologian....We are what we think. When our thoughts are corrupted, our lives follow suit.....Sound theology is not enough to live a godly life. But it is still a requisite for godly living. How can we DO the truth without first UNDERSTANDING what the truth is?...No Christian can avoid theology....The real issue is, do we have a SOUND theology? Do we embrace true or false doctrine?"

And that is just a few snippets from the first few pages. Good stuff and so accurate. There are a lot of false doctrines out there and as Christians we need to be confident in what we believe, and why we believe what we believe otherwise the world will tear us apart.

This book is a very easy read, short chapters and not TOO in- depth, but enough to give you an idea of specific doctrine and then you can see what you want to study further. You do not have to be a student of theology to read this book. It is easily assessible and very beneficial. 100 biblical concepts that every Christian should know! Highly recommend!

[Katie Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great place to start when it comes to basic theology! It touches on everything from the character of God, to the church, to end times in an organized manner.

It is written from a Reformed perspective of Biblical teachings, but it goes into issues such as the Apocrypha, various heresies, and the issues debated in fourth and fifth century counsels.

My favorite section was about the Holy Spirit, as Sproul really focused in on the importance of recognizing the Spirit as a person and part of the trinity, rather than a force. This has always been a Biblical point that I care deeply about, so it was cool to read more about it.

I do disagree with some of Sproul’s takes, specifically when it comes to infant baptism, but I don’t feel like that took away from the value of the book, since I would consider that a tertiary belief.

This definitely isn’t a super in-depth book on theology, but the scriptures given at the end of each chapter can definitely serve as a way to deepen your study. Over all, I loved this book!

[Billy Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book with bite-sized pieces of doctrine which I found helpful to read a few each night without much difficulty. Sproul does well to summarise doctrinal truths in one or two page chunks, which left me at the end with a much-improved all round knowledge of biblical doctrine.

[Alex Yauk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, quick summary of “reformed” Christianity. Sproul quickly summarizes 102 doctrines in 2-3 page chapters. Would recommend to believers and to non-believers who are curious what many Christians actually believe.

[Jaymee Pilarta · Rating 5 out of 5]

The greatest joy of heaven is the beatific vision, seeing the face of God. This unspeakeable joy, however, comes through the eyes of the soul. God is spirit, and in spirit the elect shall see Him. This is the reward, earned by Christ, enjoyed by His children.

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Sproul: clear, skillful, and approachable. Recommend for Late high-school through adulthood. Beneficial to all at any point in their walk.

[Corey Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book that my wife and I used as a devotional before our Bible reading and prayer. I first heard about it in a Voddie Buacham’s book “Family Worship.” Would highly recommend.

[Ethan Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Reference for Basic Christian Doctrine! The notes in this book are helpful to begin your deep dive into Christian Theology and Truth!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enlightening Christian book that help to understand anything about Christianity and to grow your faith! Highly recommend.

[Coram Deo Church]

Essential Truths of the Christian Faith is available in print form from Kitsap Regional Library and can be accessed here:

https://catalog.krl.org/polaris/searc...

[Kyle Lipstreu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best intro books to Christian thinking. R.C. Sproul is very understandable and not only feeds those new to the faith but also gives many resources to seasoned believers.

[Jesse Kessler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never has a book been more accurately described on the front cover than here, "100 key teachings in plain language."

Excellent brief teachings on so many key topics we come back to again and again. Feel like you are having trouble articulating or understanding the basics of some doctrine? This is a great place to quickly grab some fundamentals, clearly described, in only a page or two.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

During my research into Christianity, one of the biggest hurdles I kept encountering was how to properly define or identify the basic tenets of the faith. Having grown Catholic, I was already familiar with many of them, but not as an adult, and certainly not as a studious seeker. So I searched for books apt for people new to the faith or looking to learn the basics of the faith, and the first one that popped up on a couple of lists was Sproul's Essential Truths of the Christian Faith. So off to the library I went.

The cover proclaims "100 key doctrines in plain language," and it actually delivers. Sproul is an experienced pastor and writer, and after an introduction that talks about the need for the lay Christian to study theology and how it should be done, he brings his knowledge to the reader in one- to two-page entries that distill the doctrines into their essence, explaining them in simple and direct language, offering supporting Bible verses for each entry, closing each with a quick summary of the key points. These almost encyclopedic entries do a fantastic job of explaining the doctrines and why they are important to Christian life in the past and today.

The book is divided into sections covering doctrines dealing with Revelation, the Nature and Attributes of God, the Works and Decrees of God, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, Human Beings and the Fall, Salvation, the Church and Sacraments, Spirituality and Living in This Age, and End Times.

Sproul's book is perfect for anyone interested in the study of Christianity, offering a handy reference to the doctrines of the faith that is useful regardless of where in the spectrum of learning you fall. For me, it was the right book to read at this point in my life, as it answered a lot of questions about the basic beliefs of Christianity, while challenging me to keep studying those questions that didn't have easy answers. Although I read a copy borrowed from the public library, I'll be getting a copy for my personal library for sure.

[Happyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cut and dry. 102 Christian concepts succinctly explained in a couple of pages each. If there is a disagreement among sects, he quickly explains Catholics believes this, Protestants believes that and here’s where everyone differs from the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses. No overt judgments about the differences. Some judgment though about anyone claiming certain beliefs and still proclaiming themselves as Christian (antinomianism and legalism are two concepts that come to mind) but I guess that’s to be expected of someone writing a book called Essential Truths. Regardless, would recommend for anyone, Christian or not, who is curious about the beliefs of the Christian faith. An easy-to-comprehend primer.

[Katerina · Rating 4 out of 5]

R.C. Sproul’s Essential Truths of the Christian Faith gives 2 or 3 page explanations of 102 points of Christian theology. With each topic he lists 5 or 6 Biblical references which support the truth discussed. I have used it with my sons over the past few months as a morning devotional. We each read the summary, looked up verses and discussed them. Essential Truths offers sound, conservative teachings, and we were able to discuss the few points where we differed from Sproul’s Calvinist leanings. We each have our own copy, and my hope is that my boys will continue to use theirs as a reference. There is no objectionable material, so it easily earns a G rating.

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had read this book much earlier. It explains a lot of doctinal truth that many young christians face in the midst of skeptical down right unbelieving society in which they live.
I would recommend this book to any youth leader, or any young christian so that they may be able to understand in what they believe and to give an answer for the hope that we have.

In one of the chapter, it deals with the question of the omnipotence of God. Can God create a rock so heavy that he can not move? The answer is NO. But does it mean that God is not omnipotent? How the author explain this dilemma?

[Rachelskirts · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Textbook from junior year of high school. Used in conjunction with Louis Berkhof's Manual of Christian Doctrine.)

While Sproul does a decent job explaining some difficult and essential doctrines in simple terms, Essential Truths of the Christian Faith is not a very useful reference tool in that it doesn't provide nearly enough detail on any one topic. Perhaps it is an informative overview for someone looking for very basic answers, but I can't remember the last time a two-page summary of the doctrine of predestination was enough to answer anyone's questions.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that every Christian ought to read, young or old, new to the faith or mature in the faith, as it is a refresher to some of the fundamental truths to our faith. For anyone who does not adhere to a confession of faith, or know the benefits of catechisms, would benefit the most to this systematic and easy to understand approach...

See full review on my blog: http://assertionsofahousewife.blogspo...

[C.J. Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I go back to this book more than any other in ministry. It's its own type of systematic theology but in the most simplified manner you can imagine. It is a great option for leading those new in the faith to learn significant theology. Sproul also includes biblical references throughout for further reading on each topic. Beware though - it is Reformed in nature. If that's not your thing, you probably won't enjoy it.

[Stephie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is 101 essential truths of the Christian faith -each condensed to about 1-3 pages. It simplifies difficult concepts and makes them tangible, but it's helpful to already have somewhat of a solid theological framework to really benefit from these doctrinally reformed "cliff notes" - at least I think so.

[Glyn Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good fundamental truths here. Though I would disagree with Sproul on a couple of issues, but then again, no-one agrees fully with another do they? This is a must have book for all pastors and theological students as it gives clear, concise explanations of 100 fundamental issues of the Christian Faith, many of which the modern church has forsaken.

[Gabriel Wallis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book! R.C. Sproul's Essential Truths of the Christian Faith was used/read for a Biblical "book club" I'm currently in called A-TEAM for Powell Valley Church in Gresham, Oregon. I learned a lot from this book, and relearned a lot of material I haven't studied in a while. Do I recommend it? Yes.

[Amy Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for anyone wanting a crash course in orthodox Christian doctrine. Great for seasoned Christians as well as those curious about what Christians believe. Presented in a Q and A format, the answers are straightforward and easy to understand.

[Corey Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The deep things discussed in this book are absolutely essential for every believer to grasp. Sproul does an excellent job at making the truths of Scripture more easily read and understood.
This book is a great tool for personal devotion time with God.

[Craig Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

R.C. Sproul does it again! A short simple book explaining the truths of God's word. I would recommend this book to anyone who is new in the faith. Personally, I would even take Christians through the book.