What must you believe to be a Christian?

Christian Post ^ | 03/15/2021 | Robin Schumacher

[campaignPete R-CT]

Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has an English translation of the Nicene Creed. It goes as follows:

We believe in One True God,
The Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible;
And in the One Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all world, Light of Light, True God of True God, begotten, not made, being of one essence with the Father, and by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven;
†And was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and of the Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and became man;
†And was crucified for us in the days of Pontius Pilate and suffered, and died, and was buried;
†And on the third day, He rose again according to His will, and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father, and shall come again in His great glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end;
And in the one Living Holy Spirit, the life-giving Lord of all, Who proceeds from the Father, and Who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets and apostles;
And in the One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church; and we confess one baptism for the remission of sins, and look for the resurrection of the dead and the new life in the world to come. Amen.

[IrishBrigade]

‘It gives us true purpose, an objective moral path to follow, and meaning in this life as well as glorifying God both now and in eternity.’

one may have true purpose, a moral path, and meaningful life without imputing the existence of supernatural beings...

[MHGinTN]

‘God is, and He is a rewarder of those who dilligently seek Him’

[Safrguns]

The biblical answer to the question is in 1 John:

---

1Jo 4:1

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

---

This was pretty much confirmed by Jesus when He asked Peter who he said He was... to assure Peter of his status after his betrayal.

Who do YOU say that Jesus IS?

That is the test of one’s belief.

[campaignPete R-CT]

But those who say: ‘There was a time when he was not;’ and ‘He was not before he was made;’ and ‘He was made out of nothing,’ or ‘He is of another substance’ or ‘essence,’ or ‘The Son of God is created,’ or ‘changeable,’ or ‘alterable’— they are condemned by the holy catholic and apostolic Church.]

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Who do YOU say that Jesus IS?

So, it is enough to confess that Jesus is come in the flesh and is of God and still not believe everything ELSE the Bible teaches (e.g. the LGBT lifestyle is fine ) and be considered a Christin?

[ShadowAce]

So, it is enough to confess that Jesus is come in the flesh and is of God and still not believe everything ELSE the Bible teaches (e.g. the LGBT lifestyle is fine ) and be considered a Christin?

If you confess Christ as your Savior, why would you NOT believe His words? It's kind of a dumb question, and one which has no basis in reality.

And before you start bring up the "Christian" Left--no, they are not Christian, no matter what they may claim.

[infool7]

The One True Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Christ Jesus
                                                                                                                            , that built Christendom(western civilization.)

          The Nicene Creed
          I believe in one God,
          the Father almighty,
          maker of heaven and earth,
          of all things visible and invisible.
+10 One God
          I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
          the Only Begotten Son of God,
          born of the Father before all ages.
+15 Christ Jesus
          God from God, Light from Light,
          true God from true God,
          begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
          through him all things were made.
+ 1 Consubstantial with the Father
          For us men and for our salvation
          he came down from heaven,
+ 1 For our salvation
           and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
          and became man.
+ 1 Virgin Birth
          For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
          he suffered death and was buried,
          and rose again on the third day
          in accordance with the Scriptures.
+10 Suffered, Died and Rose
          He ascended into heaven
          and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
+ 1 Ascended, Seated
          He will come again in glory
          to judge the living and the dead
          and his kingdom will have no end.
+10 Come Again in Glory to Judge
          I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
          who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
          who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
          who has spoken through the prophets.
+10 Holy Trinity
          I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
+10 One Visible Church
          I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
+ 1 One Baptism
          and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
          and the life of the world to come.
+10 Resurrection of the Dead

          The Ten Commandments:
          1. I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God
              and Him only shall you serve.
          2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
          3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
          4. Honor your father and your mother.
          5. You shall not murder.
          6. You shall not commit adultery.
          7. You shall not steal.
          8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
          9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
          10.You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
+10 The Ten Commandments

          The Greatest Commandment
          1. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy
               whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength
          2. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
+ 2 The Greatest Commnadments

          The Seven Sacraments Catholic Church:
          1. Baptism.
          2. Eucharist.
          3. Confirmation.
          4. Reconciliation.
          5. Anointing of the sick.
          6. Marriage.(XY+XX, Till death do us part)
          7. Holy orders.
+ 7 The Seven Sacraments

          The Precepts of the Catholic Church:
          1. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation
               and rest from servile labor.
          2. You shall confess your sins at least once a year.
          3. You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the
              Easter season.
          4. You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by
               the Church.
          5. You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church.
+ 5 The Precepts

          The seven chief corporal works of mercy:
          1. To feed the hungry.
          2. To give drink to the thirsty.
          3. To clothe the naked.
          4. To visit the imprisoned.
          5. To shelter the homeless.
          6. To visit the sick.
          7. To bury the dead.
+ 7 Corporal Works

          The seven chief spiritual works of mercy:
          1. To admonish the sinner.
          2. To instruct the ignorant.
          3. To counsel the doubtful.
          4. To comfort the sorrowful.
          5. To bear wrongs patiently.
          6. To forgive all injuries.
          7. To pray for the living and the dead.
+ 7 Spiritual Works

          Pro-Life - From Conception Until Natural Death
+10 Pro-Life

          _____ How Catholic am I?
                                   >15 Praise God!
                                   16-87 Good Candidate for RCIA
                                   88-100 Impressive
                                   > 100 You are on the Way.

7

[frnewsjunkie]

Believe Jesus is the Son of God.

And serve Him instead of the old master you used to serve,

Jesus said *I am the Way, the truth, and the light. No man comes to the Father except by Me!*

[SeekAndFind]

RE: And serve Him instead of the old master you used to serve,

Is that also a necessary condition?

[MHGinTN]

Works based religion relies on laws. I can't find any of that sorting in the letter sent from the first Church Counsel. Did it not seem good to the Holy Spirit to leave those fealty requirements out?

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Sola Fides

[MurphsLaw]

One might also consider the mathematical proposition when looking at their faith life... in that while there can be many answers to a mathematical problem that can come CLOSE to the one true answer.... we know in reality ... that there can ONLY BE ONE TRUE answer for the one seeking a solution for the absolute Truth...

[Safrguns]

>>> So, it is enough to confess that Jesus is come in the flesh and is of God and still not believe everything ELSE the Bible teaches

According to the word, one cannot confess Jesus is God come in the flesh except by the Spirit of God.

I would say that coming to the realization and belief that is described in 1 John is not even possible until one first realizes their own condition (sinner), and see’s Jesus as their only chance at salvation. (Jesus’s deity and perfect sacrifice)

Once ANYONE comes to this realization, everything else falls into place because Jesus makes them a new creature when they place their faith in Him for their salvation. Their changed lifestyle is EVIDENCE of that change which already occurred, not a re-requisit to salvation, which would make that salvation by works.

Those who remain in un-Godly lifestyles see no need for their salvation, so their sins remain.

There is a big difference between christians who still struggle with sin, and those who say they have none.
For the latter, the truth is NOT in them.

[Old Yeller]

Works result during sanctification. Works are not required for justification.
The Church of Rome has it backwards.

[P8riot]

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost
Born of the virgin Mary.
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into Hell.
On the third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
And is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From thence He will come again to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost,
The holy catholic Church,
The communion of the saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting.
Amen.

[firebrand]

The answer is in Matthew 10:42:

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

That to me is one of the most comforting verses in the Bible. Although you are his forever if you just decide to be, this little act seals the deal.

Not only that, but everything you do for someone else after that in Jesus’ name is even better, because you are not doing it selfishly for your own salvation anymore. You’re just doing it for him.

[infool7]

I can’t begin to imagine what you are talking about but

here is a fill in the blank for you.

Faith without works is ________

7

[Old Yeller]

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9

Why is it not by any works?
1. Because if someone could boast about having something to do with their own salvation through works, then God would be sharing His glory with a creature.
2. Because if a person could boast about having something to do with his own salvation, pride enters the picture.
3. Because if a person could boast about having something to do with their own salvation, it diminishes the work of the cross, where Jesus declared it is finished.
4. Because if our salvation depends (even partially) upon our own effort, we can never have assurance of our salvation. This is why when you ask most Catholics if they will go to heaven when they die, the best they can respond is "I hope so". Why is that? Because no one know how much works is enough. It becomes a points-based system where you have to do more good than bad. The bible says in multiple places we can have assurance of our salvation, because we are putting our trust in Him. I won't even get into the false teaching of that "safety net" called purgatory.

I am so grateful to the Lord for rescuing me from the Church of Rome.