Bare minimum requirements to be Christian

[S.T. Ranger]

I agree the creeds are good but they do not define essential doctrine. They have doctrine that is not essential in them. Well at least for me. Please don't jump to the conclusion many do that I am saying the creeds are not correct. That is not what I am saying but just that they are not a list of essential beliefs.

Essential beliefs are recognising the need of a saviour and accepting Jesus as your lord and saviour and that he is the Son of God. My mind has just gone blank on the others that I would normally list but that is only one or two more points. Essential doctrine can be counted on one hand basically.

 

I know what you mean about the creeds. Lutherans and Anglicans believe in the communion of saints (not the same way Catholics do) but I don't think an Evangelical would ever make that claim. And I don't believe that would make or exclude someone from being Christian.

I hear a lot of emphasis being placed on having a relationship with Christ. Not sure what that means because it's such a personal statement. To have a relationship with Christ is going to mean different things to different people.

For me I think the top three are:

Belief in the trinity

Believing that Jesus died so that our sins can be forgiven and was raised from the dead and is body and soul in heaven.

Being Baptized.

Think back to when you were saved: did you understand Christ's death as you do now?

 

A thought dawned on me just as I was hitting the post button.

For me, I have a personal relationship with Jesus. Not because of an alter call or sinners prayer. But because of what I believe. My relationship with Jesus is a result, the fruit perhaps of what I believe. Take away what I believe, and I would not have a relationship with Jesus.

Maybe I'm just speaking semantics on this point. But I get the impression that believing in things like the Trinity or the resurrection are unimportant as long as you have "a relationship with Christ"

Now ask yourself concerning what you understand better today than when you were first saved: do you think it is important that you understand them better, and, does that make you any more saved than when you first turned to the Savior?

Now let's really ask a tough one: are you doctrinally flawless now, or do you still have a lot to learn? If the former, how does that change the fact you were saved without being flawless in doctrine, and if the latter, how does it impact your salvation?

Doctrine does not save. Understanding the Bible does not save. Only the Savior saves, and it is He that teaches us and imparts truth as we grow, and as we are able to digest those truths. You don't give a baby steak, and if we find grown men eating out of Gerber jars we know there's a problem, right? Salvation is a growth process just as much as physically growing is. We take in and process according to the ability we have, which ability, I might add, is contributed to by our Teacher the Holy Spirit (just as mom and dad feeds us as a baby), as well as by our selves (mom and dad might help us walk but they do not walk for us).

Neither ignorance nor knowledge contribute to salvation itself, but like learning the ability to walk or getting teeth impacts our physical lives, even so our gain of both knowledge and ability impact our walk with the Lord and the relationships we have with others.

God bless.

Edited December 25, 2014 by S.T. Ranger

[Willa]

When I was saved I was aware that our Father was aware of me and cared about me personally. I had sinned and needed forgiveness. I asked for forgiveness and became aware that I was forgiven because Jesus loved me and died for me, and He arose from the dead. God led me to try to make restitution and confess my faith to these people. Then He drew me to read the New Testament. I finally was baptized because my mom convinced me to do so. God was instead dealing with the lack of love in my heart, and my need to allow His Spirit to love through me. But it took me years to understand that. I saw lack of love in everyone else but myself. The essential is that we start walking in the Spirit in obedience to what God leads us to do.

It was the habit of some in the early centuries to put off baptism till shortly before death--not that I recommend that. I am only saying that some people cannot physically be immersed. I do not believe that these people are not saved due to lack of baptism if disabilities prohibit this. Each person is responsible to the light given him. If God does lead a person to be baptized and he refuses, I still believe that God is patient and will continue to draw that person to obey.

Blue Gem, I watched a guy go through that fear of baptism. He couldn't swim and watched helplessly as his brother drowned. So he was terrified to be immersed. It took a few months, but God convinced him to trust Him in this. Obedience in baptism is the fruit of salvation. It does not cause a person to be born again--it is the fruit of our new birth and one of the good works prepared for us to walk therein. We are saved by faith, and even that is a gift from God.

Blessings to all this Chrismas Day.

Willa

[another_poster]

 

If we went through many of the fellowships we have today, and took the Statement of Faith of each, and the distinctives taught by those groups, I would, if I were a betting fellow, lay money that at the very least...80% of each of the members of those fellowships would fail the test. What I mean by that is that most people that attend a fellowship probably are not aware, beyond what they have heard from the pulpit or Sunday School, what their fellowship/church/denomination even teaches. Some people, if they were aware, would likely find somewhere else to worship.

 

Not me. I'm basically not concerned with what the doctrine of the congregation I attend is. I have my beliefs, which have changed over the years, and until I learn otherwise I have those. i have at some places asked for a list of official beliefs simply so I know where I may be upsetting people if I give my view. I reckon there would be a number of people in the Salvation Army who know the doctrine. There are only eleven after all!

[another_poster]

Okay, this is good. I thought that this was a given and perhaps I was wrong.

Can someone reject baptism and still be Christian??

I would say no. Regardless of what you believe baptism is/does.

Matt 28:19

19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

This verse seems to be saying that you are made a disciple by being baptism. So without baptism you are not a disciple of Christ.

Curious what other think on the subject.

except when we read the bible we see people have been saved and were not baptised. That is after Jesus death just to be clear. So I don't see the verse saying that. Once again it comes down to personal interpretation. I see it as giving two instructions which are

1. go and make disciples

2. baptise them in the name of the father, son & holy spirit

It seems that Apostle Paul did not think baptism that important for salvation. He basically didn't baptise anyone with a few exceptions

 

To be clear in case you misunderstood my previous post. I have not said baptism is wrong just that it is not essential to be saved. 

[Guest Judas Machabeus]

I'm not debating whether baptism saves or not. There's already a thread for that.

What I'm asking is can you reject baptism and still be Christian?

Jesus sent his disicple out to baptize. Paul calls baptism the circumcision of the heart. What was circumcision? It was the outward sign of being part of the old covenant. Baptism replaced circumcision.

So for these reasons and others I think that being baptized is an esstial part of being a Christian.

The debate of whether baptism saves or not.... Well there's already a thread with that debate.

[Guest]

The debate of whether baptism saves or not....

 

Well there's already a thread with that debate....

 

 

I've Got High Hopes

 

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Revelation 1:5

[Mr Nice]

I see the answers "believe in Christ" and "have faith" but I do not see an explanation of what each of these is.  Is it believing Jesus is the Son of God?   Believing how He lived His life?  Believing He died for our sins and was raised from the dead?  Believe He left an example for us to follow so that we will no longer stray like sheep?  Is it having faith that our sins will be forgiven if we confess them?  Is it having faith that God will bring to pass all that He has promised?

 

Believing in Christ and having faith are very simple statements which don't mean much if they are not defined by scripture.  One cannot be a Christian unless he knows what he needs to believe and have faith in.  Believing in and having faith in Christ goes far beyond his death and forgiveness of sins.  It is believing we can do all things through Him who strengthens us.  

[Guest shiloh357]

I'm not debating whether baptism saves or not. There's already a thread for that.

What I'm asking is can you reject baptism and still be Christian?

Jesus sent his disicple out to baptize. Paul calls baptism the circumcision of the heart. What was circumcision? It was the outward sign of being part of the old covenant. Baptism replaced circumcision.

So for these reasons and others I think that being baptized is an esstial part of being a Christian.

The debate of whether baptism saves or not.... Well there's already a thread with that debate.

A genuine believer would not object to being baptized.

[rag4aCrown]

just BELIEVE...

HE has a baptism to be baptized with.

God is Spirit.

man can not do this for you

humble yourselves and seek the Truth, He will meet you there. amen