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Date Posted: 00:43:20 10/03/08 Fri
Author: Roger
Subject: Re: Christian - definition of
In reply to: Michael 's message, "Christian - definition of" on 14:24:26 10/01/08 Wed

I think that to be a Christian, you must believe:

In God, the creator of all

That Jesus was God, the Second Person of the Trinity, and in His time on earth was fully God and fully Man. The term 'Son of God' is literally true for Jesus the Man, and otherwise is a good shorthand for a relationship we cannot fully comprehend

That Jesus's death on the Cross, however poorly we understand what happened there, was an act of reconciliation between God and human beings

That Jesus was resurrected, and taken bodily into Heaven

That Jesus will judge us after our deaths, and decide whether we go to heaven or hell

That the Trinity consists of the Father/Creator, the Son/Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit/Sanctifier which acts on us and through us, and that these three are One God, and coeternal. Understanding of the above is not required.

I think Christians should believe that the Law is summed up in the words "Love God with all your heart," and "Love everyone as if they were you."

I would add that Jesus came to tell us that our sins were forgiven for the asking, but these last two points might get me into trouble in some Christian circles.

I believe Jesus was born of a virgin, but I don't think this belief is necessary, any more than that Shepherds came to Bethlehem and worshipped Him when He was born.

BTW, not all evangelicals are biblical literalists.

There, did that muddy the waters sufficiently? :D

Roger

>Whilst thinking about what people believe, I came to
>wonder what Christians are supposed to beleive.
>Putting aside the evangalicals who declare every word
>of the bible to be literaly true, I was wondering of
>our 'resident' Christians what they think are
>necessary beliefs in order to be Christian.
>Which of these are 'required' beliefs:
>
>1. Christ was the 'Son of God' (might need to define
>'son')
>2. Virgin birth
>3. Christ dying on a cross
>4. Ressurrection of Christ's body
>5. Miracles such as water into wine, curing the blind,
>lame
>6. The Holy Ghost (might need to define that)
>Any others?

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