What are the basics of the Christian faith?

[GoldenEagle]

1. What are the basics of the Christian faith?

2. What does it take to be considered a Believer or Christian?

[Guest man]

Matthew 22

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

38 This is the first and great commandment. 

39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

 

 

Romans 13

8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 

9 For the commandments,

“You shall not commit adultery,”

“You shall not murder,”

“You shall not steal,”

“You shall not bear false witness,” 

“You shall not covet,” 

and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

[GoldenEagle]

Matthew 22

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

38 This is the first and great commandment. 

39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

 

 

Romans 13

8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 

9 For the commandments,

“You shall not commit adultery,”

“You shall not murder,”

“You shall not steal,”

“You shall not bear false witness,” 

“You shall not covet,” 

and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

 

Great passages man what is the gist of what Scripture is saying here to you?

God bless,

GE

[GoldenEagle]

1. What are the basics of the Christian faith?

2. What does it take to be considered a Believer or Christian?

 

 

1. To me the basics of the Christian faith are (in no particular order):

A. the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit and completely trustworthy/true;

B. mankind is sinful and in need of a Savior to be restored to a right relationship with God;

C. Jesus was born of a virgin through Holy Spirit, Jesus was 100% God and 100% man;

D. Jesus was tempted and yet did not sin so He could be the perfect sacrificial lamb;

E. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of humanity;

F. Jesus rose again on the third day after His death;

G. Jesus will return a second time to judge the nations;

H. Salvation is through Jesus Christ alone, a free gift by faith alone from God, for God's glory alone;

I. God is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - three in One

 

2. Topics that are non-salvation issues IMO:

A. Evolution;

B. Captialism vs socialism;

C. Abortion;

D. Death penalty;

F. Gun Control;

G. Re-distribution of wealth;

H. Involvment or lack thereof in politicis,

I. Pre, Mid or Post Tribulation as well as End Times Discussions;

J. Keeping the Sabbath;

K. Whether the entire earth was covered during the flood;

L. We all have to dress or look a certian way to be saved;

M. We all have to view and interpret Scripture the exact same way;

Anyone care to add to, disgree with, or discuss these lists?

God bless,

GE

[~candice~]

1. What are the basics of the Christian faith?

2. What does it take to be considered a Believer or Christian?

 

 

The historical bedrock argument seems to be rooted in the 1 Cor 15 "creed"

 

15 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

 

This seems to be an early oral tradition, encorporated into the Scriptures by Paul.

[Guest man]

 

Matthew 22

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

38 This is the first and great commandment. 

39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

 

 

Romans 13

8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 

9 For the commandments,

“You shall not commit adultery,”

“You shall not murder,”

“You shall not steal,”

“You shall not bear false witness,” 

“You shall not covet,” 

and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

 

Great passages man what is the gist of what Scripture is saying here to you?

God bless,

GE

 

 

 

Either one of those passages can be viewed as the Gospel in a nutshell. When that one simple trait is incorporated into our lifestyle, when treating people the way you want to be treated becomes second nature, you are fulfilling every commandment God ever gave.

 

Acknowledge and pledge your allegiance to the One true God of Israel and treat people the way you want to be treated.

 

It doesn't get any more basic than that.  

[Guest man]

2. What does it take to be considered a Believer or Christian?

 

 

Who's measuring stick are we using? Who's doing the considering?

[Willa]

1. What are the basics of the Christian faith?

2. What does it take to be considered a Believer or Christian?

 

 

The historical bedrock argument seems to be rooted in the 1 Cor 15 "creed"

 

15 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 

4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

This seems to be an early oral tradition, encorporated into the Scriptures by Paul.

AMEN! Or it may have been spoken to Paul by the Holy Spirit, as well.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that yousoever believes in Him should not parish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His so into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

1 John 4:9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. v.15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God.

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you which also is Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in the appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 1 Cor, 5:3b And no one can say that Jesus in Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made. v 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us , and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Acts 1:8-9 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of ther sight.

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembraance all things that I said to you. 2 Timothy 3:16; All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitabe for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness..

[Guest]

Man sins and is separated from God. God  sent His eternal Son the become man in Jesus of Nazareth, to save sinful man, by paying the penalty for mans sin by suffering and dieing on the cross, and proved his mastery over death in His resurrection from the dead. By His grace, God forgives the sins of those who believe in His Son and in His resurection, and yields to God claim of onwership of the believers life.

 

That is pretty basic. However, I also consider the following to be may more inclusive, but still basic list:

 

Before anything existed, God was.

 

God created the heavens and the earth, and populated the earth with life.

 

God created mankind, and placed mankind in a pristine environment.

 

Mankind rebelled against God, causing a separation between God and mankind.

 

God loved mankind, and desired to be in relationship with mankind.

 

Rather than allow mankind to be eternally separated from Him, God allowed death to happen, so that mankind, could have a second life, unpolluted by our rebellion, but does not force anyone to come to Him, that does not want to do so.

 

God exists in three persons, The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

 

Each person is God, but there is one God only, the three persons are the one God.

 

God the Father, Sent the Holy Spirit, to conceive in a human female, His Son.

 

God the Son was born into the world through a virgin, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, who was fully human, with all human frailties, yet never ceased being God. 

 

God is loving, merciful, and just.

 

All power is His to wield or to delegate, He is everywhere and all knowing.

 

His love compels Him to redeem mankind, to end the separation between Himself and mankind.

 

He desires our love in return, but gives us free will, because love cannot be compelled.

 

His justice, requires that rebellion be punished.

 

In His mercy, He provided a way to escape His justice.

 

God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world, to  live a sinless life, to teach us about the will of God, and ultimately, to pay the price of mankind's sin, by suffering crucifixion on the cross, and dying in our place.

 

In doing so, Jesus took upon Himself, the sins of the world.

 

His sacrifice, on our behalf, is sufficient to satisfy the justice of God, and free us from the penalty of our sin, which is eternal separation from God.

 

While the price Jesus paid, was sufficient to purchase us as His own, and save us from damnation, God does not force anyone to live with Him in eternity, but gives us the choice, to spend eternity in bliss with Him, or eternity in anguish, separated from Him.

 

Everyone has committed sin. Sin is nothing more, that acting outside of God's will, disobeying Him, in short, falling short of perfection.

 

Left to ourselves, we would be separated from God eternally, and that is what we deserve.

 

God loved us so much, that He sent His only begotten Son, to die in our place, and if we choose to accept that, we can be free from the penalty of our sin.

 

God offers us salvation, as a free gift, we cannot earn it through good deeds.

 

We accept God's gift, by believing, in faith, that Jesus died on our behalf, and was placed in a tomb, for three days, and then, returned to life, as a demonstration of His power and authority over death, and as a demonstration, that we can trust all that He told us.

 

After accepting by faith, that Jesus did this for us, if we ask forgiveness for our sins, God readily forgives us.

 

Once a person does this, God sends His Holy Spirit to live in the person. His Holy Spirit comforts us, strengthens our faith, and enables us to more clearly understand God's will for our lives, and empowers us to resist temptation.

 

As we grow in our faith, we also grow to love God more, and desire to live lives which are pleasing to Him.

 

Christians desire to follow Jesus example and teachings. As such, we desire, and try, to live without sin. We desire and try, to live exemplary lives.

 

Among our responsibilities as followers of Jesus, are such things as teaching others about Jesus and the will of God, loving people through action, regardless of whether they deserve it or not. This love for others, consists of seeking the physical, emotional, and spiritual well being of others.

 

Christians are all brothers and sisters, regardless of denominational affiliation. Christians are instructed to seek other Christians out for fellowship, and to help each other to live out their common faith. The worldwide family of God, all Christians, are known as the church.

 

Christians live out their faith, century to century, awaiting the day, when Jesus will return, to judge the living and the dead, and permanently deal with evil, and remove it from those He has chosen, from all centuries. Christians will then live forever, in the presence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, in the dwelling place of God, known as Heaven.

 

Two rituals we left to the church by Jesus. 1. the Lord's Supper - Communion - the eating and drinking of bread and wine/grape juice, symbolic of His body, broken for us, and His blood, spilled for us, to be taken in remembrance of Him until He returns. 2. Water baptism for believers, symbolic of being washed of our sins, and identifying with our Lord in his death and resurrection.

 

Obviously, the Bible has much much more to say that that, but that is about as far as I can distill the teachings down to a minimal essence. These things are generally accepted by Christians around the world, and across the centuries.

[clark thompson]

1 The bible and all the truth in it.

2 Our relationship with God thur Christ and our faith in Him.