What are some doctrinal issues that must be upheld by all Christians in order for them to be called Christians

Question

I know we don't all agree on everything,do we sprinkle,pour,or immerse when baptizing etc.But what would have to be some truths, that we would all have to agree upon in order for us to be called Christians?

My question is not on baptism,nor do I believe that one should be baptized without being saved first.So plaese what is the foundation that every CHRISTIAN must stand upon to be a Christian?

Sorry if I changed the question on you.I don't always write what I am thinking.I must be a Dutchman or not the brightest candle in the bunch.Thank all of you for your great answers.

Their was so many os you that gave such godly answers it just wouldn't be fair for me by myself to pick the best answer.I will wait until this evening to put this question up for a vote.So don't forget to Vote.Your Vote counts!

I would like to add my comments to the question as well.

We must be Born Again, John 3:3.Without this Jesus says we ''will not see the kingdom of God'' thats pretty clear.

The old man that was given to sin must die.
Matthew 9:16
Mark 2:21-22
Luke 5:36-37
*Romans 6:6
*2 Corinthians 5:17
Ephesians 5:22
Colosians 3:9

We must be profitable servants.We can't sing "Standing on the Promises of God my Saviour" and just sit in the pews.Not all of us are called to the mission field.Some have 5 Talents others have 1 talent.Anyone can give a cup of cold water in the Name of Jesus.
Matthew 25:1-30 *verse 30

The Rich young ruler went away sad because he was not willing to give up all that he had and follow Jesus.This man obeyed all of the Ten Commandments but lacked one thing.
I don't believe that we are all supposed to go down and give all of our possesions away.Jesus knew that he loved these riches more than he love God.If there is something that we have that stands between us and God,get rid of it now.We are to pick up our cross and follow Jesus.

No man is without sin.If we say we have no sin then we make Him a liar.But we cannot willfully sin.If we are sinning then we need to call it that.Saying God made me this away will never do.He loved me enough to except me just as I am,but He also loves me enough not to leave me that away.

And last of all we must believe that God is Triune.He is Three in One.I do not go along with all of the fuss that is going on with this doctrine that used to never even be an issue.Questions about it have risen and I think it left us all a little confused and that is just what satan wants.We need to sometimes just say I don't understand all of this God,Your just to big for me to completly understand everything about you,But I want so much to know you as best that I can.I look to 2 John 1:7-11 and it says in verse 9 that we are to have "both" The Father,and the Son.

Answer 1

To be a Christian, you have to be a follower of Christ.

Answer 2

1) The Deity of Jesus Christ & the Holy Spirit, Both being Co-Equal with The Father, Three distinct Persons in the Godhead making up the One God.

2) The Bodily Resurrection of our Lord

3) Salvation by Grace through Faith ALONE.

4) The Return & Second Coming of our Lord (though the details may vary between christians)

5) Salvation is possible due to His Work on the Cross, the shedding of His blood for our sins.

6) Being truely repentant we acsess this Grace by being Born Again (or from above) into the family of God.


This is the MINIMUM that a Christian must believe and accept. A christian may not understand HOW all this works (none of us understand it completely), but this is the "Gospel".


...theBerean

Answer 3

The only truth is Christ is the son of God and through Him is the only way to forgiveness and Grace and Heaven. The job of knowing what is right or wrong is in Gods word and nowhere else. The Holy Spirit teaches us what that is or is not. The only Church is Jesus Christ not some building down the street with a set of rules they think are the best. All the fighting over whose rules are the right ones is as Jesus said " Swatting at gnats and swallowing camels." Coming together as Christians is for fellowship, prayer, learning the Bible and to be accountable as Christians. All are supposed to know the Word and be accountable for living, not looking to some Priest or pastor to do it for us.

Answer 4

First, nobody can be called a Christian until God has brought them to spiritual life. Until that miracle of grace occurs, people are dead in their trespasses and sins. The new birth has to take place, and that is all of God's doing and choosing. Only after that has happened can the new-born believer start doing the good works God had prepared for them to do before the founding of the world.

Second, doctrinal issues only begin to fall into their correct place once Christ occupies the correct 'spot' (i.e. the pre-eminence, sitting on the throne of the believer's heart). I would suggest that the main reason for all the doctrinal wrangling in the world is that many protagonists are not yet Christians (they only think they are but they've never been born again) and others who are Christians still haven't got Christ as Lord of their lives.

Finally, correct doctrine DOES come into the matter of being born again. Paul said, "...the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you... as of first importance, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was rased on the third day according to the Scriptures..." (1 Cor 15:1-34) People become Christians by hearing the same gospel Paul preached, realising their sin and trusing in Christ to save them. It is significant that groups that claim to be Christian (but are not) preach distortions of that gospel. They incorporate the above, yes, but they add other issues to it so that people try to do or believe other things in order to get saved. They also distort the person of Christ. So, a false gospel and a false Christ identify pseudo-Christians. It is therefore imperative to know the true gospel and the true Christ. That is of first importance.

Answer 5

1. Jesus is the "Living Word" of God
2. Born of a Virgin.
3. Is 100% God, yet because of Mary's human egg is 100% human.
4. Died on the Cross as "the" Lamb of God, the final sacrafice for mankind if man will accept Him as such.
5. Human body rose from the dead 3 days later (give or take)
6. Assended into Heaven when body was transformed from a human body into a spiritual body (as ours will be at the resurection)
7. He will return visable to all and all His followers will rise to meet him in the air.
8. Sorry but I must also insist on Baptism by immersion, that is the only way to join Him in His death and resurection, and becoming a new creature in God.
9. Continue to walk in His Truth, through-out this life.

Hey "Don" you changed your question in mid-stream. You first asked about the doctrine which we gave you now your saying, no, no, I didn't mean baptism (which is doctrine) I meant the Foundation.

The Foundation of course is "Jesus Christ".

So try not to change up on us after we have all ready answered ok? : > )

Answer 6

I think the apostles creed sums it up:
1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:
5. The third day he rose again from the dead:
6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:
9. I believe in the holy church: the communion of saints:
10. The forgiveness of sins:
1l. The resurrection of the body:
12. And the life everlasting.

Basically...It is also a very good song by Third Day (well, Rich Mullin's wrote it but I love hearing Mac Powel sing it). Basically, being a Christian, means you believe in Jesus Christ and have committed your life to Him. You believe the Bible is God's Word to His people.

Answer 7

This is the very basic requirement - a starter- which really is Huge and absolutely necessary!

That Jesus was God in the flesh on earth and that He died to save us all from eternal damnation, by the forgiveness of sins.
And if we have faith in Him, confess our sins, He will forgive us our sins and save us.

For God so Loved the World, that He sent His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish, but have Eternal Life,
John 3:16

Answer 8

Belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that His death on the cross is what bought our forgiveness of sins and made us right with God. Therefore, that Jesus Christ is the Saviour (Messiah) of all who believe in him.

Belief in eternal life: salvation for those who have given their lives to Christ, condemnation for those who reject Him.

I am not prepared to go into what "Heaven" or "Hell" is like because no one knows except Jesus and he didn't really say much about the practical aspects.

Personally I would add, belief that the Bible is the Word of God, though some theologians might prefer to interpret it out of existence.

Answer 9

To be a Christian is to follow Jesus and his teachings, not the teachings of man.

For example, EVERY instance of baptism in the Bible is immersion. The definition of the word baptism is immersion. Therefore the first century church baptized by immersion. Jesus was baptized by immersion as an example. In this example, if you practice a baptism other than immersion, are you following Christ and his teachings? The answer is obviously NO.

Many people and denominations claim to be Christian but do not follow the teachings of the New Testament. If you are not following Christ and his teachings, you are follow man and his teachings. It is either God or man, it cannot be both.

Answer 10

1. Belief in the Holy Trinity ( the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit)

2. Belief that Jesus was crucified to redeem man

I think these are the two foundations of all Christian religions. Since I'm not Christian, I can't really go too much more in dept than these, but good luck on your search.

Answer 11

God loves everyone
Keep his commandments
Salvation is acheived by faith through grace and repentance
You can walk away from Christ
The Unforgivable sin
God is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient
Whoever believes on Christ and has true faith shall be saved
That Jesus died on the Cross at calvary for ALL sins and that he rose on the third day.