Who are the true Christians?

Question

What is a true Christian? What is the true Christian church? Are Protestants the only ones going to heaven? Are Catholics going to hell? I mean I see quite often on here how some Protestants say that Catholicism is a false religion and the Catholic church is a false church. Now if you say Protestantism thern which sects or denominations are the true sects and denominations? Aren't we all who accept Jesus Christ as lord and savior Christians?

Answer 1

It is impossible to give a universal statement on the salvation of all members of any denomination of Christianity. Not ALL Baptists are saved. Not ALL Presbyterians are saved. Not ALL Lutherans are saved. Salvation is determined by personal faith in Jesus alone for salvation, not by titles or denominational identification.
A true Christian is a person who has put his or her faith and trust in the person of Jesus Christ and fact that He died on the cross as payment for sins and rose again on the third day to obtain victory over death and to give eternal life to all who believe in Him. John 1:12 tells us: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” A true Christian is indeed a child of God, a part of God’s true family, and one who has been given new life in Christ. The mark of a true Christian is love for others and obedience to God’s Word (1 John 2:4; 1 John 2:10).

Answer 2

Religions were created to divide the body of Christ. Not all religions that claim to be Christian are. You can't say you are a Christian and believe that Jesus never came in the flesh (Gnostism) because that is nullifying the cross of Christ, that is saying that He never really died or suffered. You can't say you are a Christian and believe that Jesus was just a great prophet, a mere man as some do. So you see, you are right. We must accept Jesus as Lord and Savior but if we believe or do things that go against the gospel too, then we are not true Christians. Remember what Jesus said to the churches in Revelations. They were all saved established churches and yet if they didn't stay on the narrow unadulterated path He was going to spew them out of His mouth, blot their names out of the book of life and take away their lampstand.

Answer 3

The authority of the Church rests on three pillars:

Scripture- The Bible is the inerrant word of God and is to be read as the earliest Christians read it: in the light of Tradition and under the guidance of those ordained to teach.

Tradition-the teachings which the Church has preserved and passed down from Christ, His Apostles, and the unanimous teachings of the early Church Fathers .

Magisterium - the teaching authority of the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The Church has 7 Sacraments -- "outward signs of invisible grace" and media of sanctifying grace. The Sacraments were given to us by Christ so that we may receive His grace and become more like Him. The Seven Sacraments are:

Baptism
Confirmation -Sacrament of the Seal
Eucharist
Penance
Holy Matrimony
Holy Orders
Extreme Unction

The Church teaches by looking not only at Sacred Scripture, but into History and by reading what the earliest Christians have written, what those who've sat on the Chair of Peter have spoken consistently with Scripture and Tradition, and what they've solemnly defined.
To believe that the Bible is our only source of Christian Truth is unbiblical and illogical

Answer 4

Jesus is the only way! Regardless of which "Denomination" you are affiliated with.
Denomination are what man devised due to non essential truth located in scripture. They cause division and separation which is the exact opposite of the heart of God. God is even now calling a bride unto himself that is to be without spot or blemish from all areas of Christianity. Jesus is coming back soon - those with ears to hear, hear what the Spirit is saying.

Answer 5

Depends on what you mean by "true". If you mean "sincere" and "faithful", then there is little difference between Catholics and Protestants. If you mean actually teaching the fullness of Christian truth, then the truth remains today exactly where Jesus placed it, in the one Church He personally founded upon the Apostles, the Holy Catholic Church.

Manmade denominational churches teach a mixture of geniune truth, retained from their Catholic roots, and modern traditions of men introduced by their various human founders. It is obvious that many if not most of these new teachings are false, first because they are new - no Christian on earth ever heard of such ideas until a few hundred years ago, so how can such ideas be considered "Christian"? And secondly, we know such teachings are false because the teachings of each dnomination conflict with those of the others. Conflicting teachings mean false teachings, for truth cannot conflict with truth. I bet that's why the stated will of God on the matter is "that they all may be ONE".

Answer 6

You don't have to be affiliated with any religion to get to Heaven. Belief and acceptance in the Son of God,Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior is a definite requirement,though.

Answer 7

In my opinion... "The True Christian Church" not only believes that Jesus is Lord, but are those whom have the same Teacher/messenger... God's own Holy Spirit.... and whom take responsibility over their own walk with the Lord regardless of belonging to, or NOT belonging to, any of man's churches.

Peace be with you :)

Answer 8

The true Christians are the ones who FOLLOW Christ's teachings. It's not certain church. Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst". Just get together with family and friends and thats good enough.

Answer 9

Christians are what the Scriptures call the ecclesia, the out called ones. If you are of the elect, have received forgiveness through the blood Christ, justification by His resurrection, and the indwelling of the Spirit, then you are saved and part of the Church. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. It doesn't matter which building you sit in on Sunday morning.

Answer 10

That was my understanding of salvation, too. I don't think God's going to ask us what church we belonged to on earth, but whether or not we accepted His Son as our Savior.

To the best of my knowledge, that's what defines a true Christian -- not what pew they plopped their posterior down on during their time on earth.