IgnatioDeLoyola Posted April 24 Group: Junior Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 9 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 85 Content Per Day: 0.14 Reputation: 38 Days Won: 0 Joined: 09/21/2022 Status: Offline Birthday: 03/24/1981 Share Posted April 24 Dear All, I've started this thread out of genuine interest in the response. The question is, what is absolutely mandatory to believe in to be called a "Christian"? Or, are there beliefs that, if you profess that you hold them or do not hold them, we can be certain that you are not in the Body of Christ (the Church)? There are some obvious answers to this for me: 1. That God exists. (yes, I know, this is really basic, but I've met atheists and agnostics who claim to be Christians) 2. That God is made up of 3 persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). 3. That man fell into sin and was seperated from God as a result, that God made a series of covenants with man to save him from sin, and the final covenant is the blood of Jesus Christ, God's son, the perfect and spotless Pesach lamb who died on a cross at Calvary for all of us. 4. That the only known path out of sin, and towards reconcilliation with God, is through uniting ourselves with the sacrifice of Jesus. 5. We do this through professing inwardly and outwardly that Jesus is our Lord and Saviour, and committing to listen to him and follow him, however imperfectly, in all we do. After that it gets hard. There are many other statements in the Nicene and Apostle's creed that add to this theologically. But would I say that, if you disagreed with one of those, you cannot be a Christian? There are epistemological statements you could add: do you believe the Bible? How much of it do you believe? What other sources of truth are there about God, in your opinion? There are statements on sacraments and salvation: have you been, or do you intend to be, baptised in water? Do you believe that baptism is necessary to belong to the Church? etc. There are many moral statements also that one might add to this also - could you be a Christian if you think murder is okay, for example? I would love your opinions on this, and to understand how other people see this question. Best I Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RdJ Posted April 24 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 66 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 1,128 Content Per Day: 0.36 Reputation: 640 Days Won: 0 Joined: 10/11/2015 Status: Online Birthday: 05/25/1970 Share Posted April 24 1. Yes 2. Not necessary 3. Everyone has sinned and you need Jesus to forgive your sins. He died for your sins. Rest is not necessary. A 4 year old can become a christian without having heard about/ understanding all that stuff. 4 and 5 yes That's it I guess. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick-Parker Posted April 24 Group: Royal Member Followers: 8 Topic Count: 200 Topics Per Day: 0.23 Content Count: 4,271 Content Per Day: 4.92 Reputation: 1,855 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/17/2021 Status: Offline Birthday: 06/03/1955 Share Posted April 24 Jesus died on the Cross for forgiveness of sin. Without the Cross, there is no forgiveness of sin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
other one Posted April 24 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 29 Topic Count: 598 Topics Per Day: 0.08 Content Count: 56,171 Content Per Day: 7.56 Reputation: 27,900 Days Won: 271 Joined: 12/29/2003 Status: Offline Share Posted April 24 Quote Rom 10:9-10 if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ESV That sounds simple, but there is a lot to declaring Jesus as your Lord. A lot of responsibility goes along with that so as not to make yourself out to be a liar. If he is your Lord, you must do as he says, and lead a life of righteousness. Basically by living by his two commandments... Every day all day and night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IgnatioDeLoyola Posted April 24 Group: Junior Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 9 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 85 Content Per Day: 0.14 Reputation: 38 Days Won: 0 Joined: 09/21/2022 Status: Offline Birthday: 03/24/1981 Author Share Posted April 24 (edited) Dear @RdJ 4 hours ago, RdJ said: 2. Not necessary Hmmm. Not sure I agree there. If someone, for example, believed that only God the father existed and had no son, I don't think they could be Christian. Jewish, sure, but not Christian. 4 hours ago, RdJ said: A 4 year old can become a christian without having heard about/ understanding all that stuff. Agreed. I was sort of assuming we are dealing with an adult. Imagine, for example, that I didn't believe that Jesus was the lamb of God - that I specifically denied that. Would that still be Christian? I guess I was also thinking: are there other things, besides the 5 I wrote that people think are necessary? Dear @Rick-Parker, Obviously agreed. Dear @other one, 2 hours ago, other one said: That sounds simple, but there is a lot to declaring Jesus as your Lord. A lot of responsibility goes along with that so as not to make yourself out to be a liar. Agreed. I think it "sounds" simple. But when you actually start asking hypotheticals, it's harder. For example, John 3:16 says that "whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." But when you look at it, it can't just be intellectual belief. Satan believes in Jesus, knows exactly who Jesus is, met and tempted him to try to disrupt his ministry, and is absolutely convinced of His truthfulness, love and power of His name and blood. But Satan isn't saved or a Christian for sure. Edited April 24 by IgnatioDeLoyola Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
other one Posted April 24 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 29 Topic Count: 598 Topics Per Day: 0.08 Content Count: 56,171 Content Per Day: 7.56 Reputation: 27,900 Days Won: 271 Joined: 12/29/2003 Status: Offline Share Posted April 24 1 hour ago, IgnatioDeLoyola said: whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Actually the original Greek doesn't say shall, it says might not perish or should not perish. The not is a conditional thing. There is more to it than just believe. One has to believe to even start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RdJ Posted April 24 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 66 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 1,128 Content Per Day: 0.36 Reputation: 640 Days Won: 0 Joined: 10/11/2015 Status: Online Birthday: 05/25/1970 Share Posted April 24 1 hour ago, IgnatioDeLoyola said: Dear @RdJ Hmmm. Not sure I agree there. If someone, for example, believed that only God the father existed and had no son, I don't think they could be Christian. Jewish, sure, but not Christian. Yes that's true. I was thinking about Oneness pentecostals here. 1 hour ago, IgnatioDeLoyola said: Agreed. I was sort of assuming we are dealing with an adult. Imagine, for example, that I didn't believe that Jesus was the lamb of God - that I specifically denied that. Would that still be Christian? No. That's a basic thing you have to believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IgnatioDeLoyola Posted April 25 Group: Junior Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 9 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 85 Content Per Day: 0.14 Reputation: 38 Days Won: 0 Joined: 09/21/2022 Status: Offline Birthday: 03/24/1981 Author Share Posted April 25 13 hours ago, other one said: Actually the original Greek doesn't say shall, it says might not perish or should not perish. Oh wow really? Could you link me into an explanation of the original Greek and explanation of that translation @other one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Marsh Posted Wednesday at 01:06 AM Group: Diamond Member Followers: 5 Topic Count: 126 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 2,087 Content Per Day: 0.57 Reputation: 500 Days Won: 0 Joined: 04/03/2014 Status: Offline Birthday: 09/15/1956 Share Posted Wednesday at 01:06 AM I cor 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
other one Posted Wednesday at 01:19 AM Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 29 Topic Count: 598 Topics Per Day: 0.08 Content Count: 56,171 Content Per Day: 7.56 Reputation: 27,900 Days Won: 271 Joined: 12/29/2003 Status: Offline Share Posted Wednesday at 01:19 AM On 4/25/2024 at 5:09 AM, IgnatioDeLoyola said: Oh wow really? Could you link me into an explanation of the original Greek and explanation of that translation @other one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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