I ask this because I'm becoming more and more confused as a Christian as to what to believe as well as what not to believe in terms of Mary, Jesus whether or not he's just the son of God and a servant who came to die on the cross or if he's God the Son and in terms of the trinity.
2007-10-13 10:04:00 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The main belief that Christians share is that Jesus was born of a virgin, died on the cross for our sins, and that He rose from the dead three days later.
After that, you are going to get a whole bunch of differing opinions.
2007-10-13 10:08:40 · answer #1 · answered by flashypsw 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Sadly, the answer is almost nothing, except maybe that Jesus is the son of God (but even that would be interpreted differently).
People will be tempted to espouse "mere Christianity," as the beliefs held in common by the broad cross-section of Christians, whether Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant. They would probably list belief in the Bible, belief in the Trinity, belief that Jesus himself is both the son of God and God, belief in the Virgin Birth of Jesus.
All that is true of *most* Christians, but the problem is the Protestant revolt. Catholics and Orthodox have been separated from one another for nearly a thousand years, yet 95% of their doctrines are the same (they disagree on the primacy of the Bishop of Rome, and one the use of the Filioque). The Protestants have been around for less that five hundred years, and they continue to spawn ever new permutations of beliefs. Protestants try to say who is and is not Christian, but even the wackiest groups are a logical extension of them, and still wackier groups will arise.
In the earliest days, the Protestants believed in baptism, in the permissability of icons and statues, in the Trinity, in Sunday as the chief day of Christian worship, in the importance of communion. Since then, however, there have been sects which deny baptism, which deny that Jesus is God, which deny the Trinity, which deny the virgin birth, which deny that Sunday is our chief day of worship, which deny the very existence of sin, which deny that Revelation/Apocalypse was the last book of the Bible, which deny the inspiration of the Pauline epistles and second Peter, and so on and so forth.
2007-10-13 17:12:59 · answer #2 · answered by Sayid Abu Khamr al-MaseeHee 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sayid please note, Protestants as you call them have been around for more than 500 years, they are members of the one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church of Christ, commonly called Christians. They objected to the errors that had crept into the Church, and they were called Protesters, at that time. You Confuse the reformed Churches with the many Sects that have sprung up over the years.
Regarding the question asked, the following may be of help to the person who asked the question.
All Christians share in their Faith, that Jesus is the Son of the Living True and only God, who is the Creator of All the Universe, All Humans, Animals, Fish, Birds, Trees, etc.
In the Words of Jesus he is in the Father and the Father is in Him. Jesus came down to the Earth as a Baby and went on to Die on the Cross for to redeem All who believe in Him. This was God's promise from the earliest days. After Jesus Rose from the Dead, and returned to his Father, He Sent the Holy Spirit to all who believe, and he will Guide us Daily.
Christians believe that Jesus was born of a Virgin, called Mary, and who married a Man called Joseph. Jesus came to the earth not as a Master, but as a Servant for All.
What Christians differ on regarding Mary is on the Question of what happened to Mary After the Death of Jesus. There is no mention about her in the Bible, nor is there any record that she was Assumed into Heaven. Also, Christians differ about Praying to or through Mary, and the Saints, as Jesus taught us to Pray to the Father, through him.
However, Christians today are working together, to spread the Gospel of Christ, the Good News that he brought to the Earth, and respect each others believes. We are told in the Bible that we see through a dark glass now, but in God's Time, all will become clear. Do not loss your Faith, God knows and Understands our Doubts and Questions, but continue to Worship him together with a Body of Christians in whatever church you attend, and continue to meet with All Christians in our Lords Name. God Bless you, and continue in Your Faith.
2007-10-13 17:58:42 · answer #3 · answered by The Questioner 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Trinity is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Son of God. You are correct in both statements. Continue to study and don't be afraid to ask questions. It's better to be humble and admit you don't know than to compromise your faith over some questions. God Bless!
2007-10-13 17:12:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
As a highly respected Christian theologian, I am best qualified to answer this question:
All Christians MUST BELIEVE THE FOLLOWING:
1. You must be baptised in the name of Jesus
2. You have to believe in the miracles of the Old Testament
3. You must believe that the earth is only arouns 7,000 yearsw old.
4. You must believe that Mary was a virgin when she conceived, and AFTER.
5. You must believe that Jesus is the very Son of God and that he rose fromthe dead and died for all men's sins (substitutionarily)
6. You must know what SUBSTITUTIONARY means.
7. You must believe that Jesus lived a sinless life and that He was tempted in all areas as we are
8. You must believe that Jesus was a virgin til he died.
9. You must be filled with the Holy Spirit and you must speak in tongues.
10. You must believe in the TRINITY
It's easy to be a Christian, you see. These things are all that is required to believe.
11. Oh, and you may not blaspheme the Holy Spirit, because if you do, all that other stuff is thrown in the trash and you're going to Hell.
If you want to know if you've blasphemed the Holy Spirit, you can order my book online for a donation of 35 dollars...
God Bless!
2007-10-13 17:18:19 · answer #5 · answered by John Galt 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Thi is the one and only thing I am sure all Christians believe:
Jesus is the Christ. He is the Son of God. He was sent to save all mankind. Jesus is The Way.
It is what makes us all Christians.
All the rest is "window-dressing".
2007-10-13 22:04:50 · answer #6 · answered by Ja'aj };> 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are reading but not listening. Jesus is the son of God and God and he and the spirit are one. John chapter 17.
2007-10-13 17:08:57 · answer #7 · answered by God is love. 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jesus is a living incarnate of god in human form. this is so he could better relate to us, and we to him.Mary was just a vessel, and should not be deified. It's all in black and white in the Bible. the NIV is easiest to understand
2007-10-13 17:08:49 · answer #8 · answered by bikerwolfpack 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KeZB2EsPqGE
to many to name
2007-10-13 17:20:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋