What is Christianity? Define it!

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Nov 23, 2021
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#21
A body of believers with Jesus as its head.
 

justbyfaith

Well-known member
Sep 16, 2021
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#22
Yeah', but... everyone who reads the Bible gets something different from it; and all the so called "authorities" on the matter have been arguing for millennia!

Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

What I'm after is the core of Christianity, those undeniable precepts that we all must agree upon. What, in the simplest of terms, is the "good news" that unites us without argument, and will not allow us to be fooled by the antichrist?
I do believe that the Deity of Christ is essential for salvation as a doctrine (John 8:24).

Also, that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures is the gospel of Jesus Christ and we cannot be saved without retaining that information.
 
Nov 23, 2021
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#23
Let them argue. You have an encounter with God yourself and get to know Him. You don't do it alone. "He that hears my sayings and does them Rock He that hears my sayings and doesn't do them Sand". Kabbish ?
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
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#25
The word Christianity tells it all---it is about Christ.

If we go to what Christ said about what he was sent to do it was to tell us to repent for the kingdom of heaven is near. , It was John the Baptist’ work, also. Christ told us to pray for this in our daily prayer: “Thy kingdom come, they will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.

Matt. 3:1-2 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near

Christ said his ministry was about repentance for the kingdom of heaven was near.

"Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’" (Luke 10:9)

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:17)

"As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.'" (Matthew 10:7)

The sermon on the mount is the most complete and concise explanation of how to live in this kingdom. Christians follow that rather than following the ways of living in the world. Christians are strangers in the world, their real home is the kingdom of heaven through the indwelling of Christ.
 
J

JAPOV

Guest
#26
Imagine that I'm completely ignorant and have never heard the name Jesus before....

The resurrection... Is it truly important to know Christ was resurrected to be saved?

Prophecy... Do I really need to know the old testament prophecy to have the gift of faith?
Do I even need to know new testament prophecy?
 

1ofthem

Senior Member
Mar 30, 2016
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#27
God so loved the world that He sent his only begotten Son (Jesus Christ) to suffer and die for the sins of all humanity. He was buried and rose again the third day defeating sin, death, hell, and the grave. That any that should believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

No need to make it complicated. Christianity is the putting of your faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and savior, having a personal relationship with Him, and walking with and following Him.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
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#28
Christianity is simply the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.

Christian is one who follows these teachings.
I like this answer.

Christianity's so many things but it's all there in the Bible, God's word to mankind—the ultimate truth. People should study (Not just read, it requires study and understanding) it for themselves and honestly weigh whether it's the truth or not.
 

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
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#29
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

John 15:4-5
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.


You can just do it and you will be a Christian.

If you want to actually try to begin to understand it you must study scripture and pray. A lot.

This would be a good prayer to start;

Ephesians 1:17-19
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
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#30
Imagine that I'm completely ignorant and have never heard the name Jesus before....
Everyone has heard the name "Jesus". In fact it is used in Latin America as a name for boys. But pronounced differently.
The resurrection... Is it truly important to know Christ was resurrected to be saved?
If you are a Christian you should not even be asking this question. How could anyone be saved unless Christ rose from the dead?
Prophecy... Do I really need to know the old testament prophecy to have the gift of faith? Do I even need to know new testament prophecy?
(a) The gift of faith is not tied to prophecy and (b) you do not need to know anything about prophecy other than the fact that Christ will come back to earth again "with power and great glory".
 
Nov 23, 2021
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#31
Imagine that I'm completely ignorant and have never heard the name Jesus before....

The resurrection... Is it truly important to know Christ was resurrected to be saved?

Prophecy... Do I really need to know the old testament prophecy to have the gift of faith?
Do I even need to know new testament prophecy?
Well , yes because Jesus is Alive. He is the savior and the one who makes you alive. Without faith it is impossible to please Him , unquote. "He that comes to God must believe that He is ( alive ) and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him ( unquote) It's not an easy road at first mostly because loved ones don't know Jesus as the Savior. But what is great and this is what worked for me is that because I had faith through HIS WORD AND the work of HIS SPIRIT and my eyes were opened I got to know that those promises of God ( It is impossible for Him to lie ) gave me hope that I could pray my family into faith and relationship . What a Joy to pray for others what a privilege to take Him at His Word and come before His mercy seat with boldness because of the precious blood to see family members saved and trusting God.
 

FlyingDove

Senior Member
Dec 27, 2017
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#32
1- The Christian Bible is not a religion.
2- Come as you are, all are equally welcome.
3- Your dues have already been paid.
4- Peace beyond understanding is your reward.

So...., WHAT IS IT?
Christian = Christs Spirit-in-you.

How does someone become indwelt with Christ's Holy Spirit?

1st: Understand & acknowledge that there is a Creator God.

2nd: Understand & acknowledge you have sinned against His Sovereign rule. That you deserve Heavens invoked penalty (DEATH Rom 6:23) & are in need of rescue.

3rd Understand God sent His Son (Jesus the Christ) to rescue humanity.

4th: Place your faith/trust in Jesus sin atoning payment: Found in the sinless Christ's death (sins required wage, Paid) burial, (proof Jesus died) & resurrection (Father's receipt, sins required wage received & accepted)

Confess with you mouth that Jesus is Lord & Savior & believe with all your being that God raised Him from the grave/death.

Rom 10:
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Amen (Also see 1Cor 15:1-4)
 
J

JAPOV

Guest
#33
Yep! THAT'S what I forgot... CONFESSION!
 
Nov 23, 2021
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#34
If we confess our sins , He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from All unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 KJV
If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another , and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son
cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 KJV
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
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#36
Christianity Folks is just a Man Made Religion ---like all Religions are -----actually it was used by the Gentiles to describe the Disciples of Christ in Antioch ---and Paul kept the name ----

Jesus Christ has no Religion ---not one time did Jesus ever say follow my Judaism ---or follow my Christianity ---or Baptise ---or Catholicism tec -----Jesus Said Follow My Way -------So followers of Jesus ---followed His Way ----not any Religion ----

Religion keeps you in bondage with following their rules and regulations ------every different Religion has made up their own rules and regulations that people are to follow ---just like the Pharisees did and Jesus said they were white washed on the outside but filthy on the inside ------they though more of their rules than they did of their Messiah -----
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
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#37
Imagine that I'm completely ignorant and have never heard the name Jesus before....

The resurrection... Is it truly important to know Christ was resurrected to be saved?

Prophecy... Do I really need to know the old testament prophecy to have the gift of faith?
Do I even need to know new testament prophecy?
From the minute Adam and Eve disobeyed so we inherited heath, the entire scripture is about how God showed us how to prevent that death. Man lived on this earth for over 4,000 years before Christ varified it by showing he was alive after physical death. It was old news. It was told through the sacrificial system. I was shown by Moses when blood was put on the doorposts so the angel of death passed over. It was essential but old news.

Christ came with new news. Christ showed us the true law, the spirit of the law rather than the hard set of rules. Christ now lived within us, guiding us. Now the law told us how Christ guided us. Christ told us how to live in this world but belong to Him, and gave us a how to do it step by step.

It is not enough to know Christ can give us eternal life--demons know about that. We are to do as Christ says so we, ourselves, experience eternal life.

Christ says it is through repenting of our sins, forgiving others, and faith in all of Christ that we are given the gift of eternal life. nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
 

arthurfleminger

Well-known member
Aug 18, 2021
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#38
Christianity is a following of Jesus, a belief and following of all He taught as exemplified in the Gospels. It's not just a lip service belief, but an actual living of God's Word, following all Jesus teachings, obeying all His commands. Otherwise, you are are on weak and shifting sand. Jesus asked His disciples at the last supper, "How can you say you love me if you don't obey My commands?" Can you be saved without love for Jesus? I think not.
 
J

JAPOV

Guest
#39
Lol... The Spirit means so many things to so many people. There may not be a simple answer.

Think of it this way... A song is only 3:30 long. So, what needs to be the one most important repeating line about Christianity that will get the attention of the jaded masses?
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
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#40
Christianity is a following of Jesus, a belief and following of all He taught as exemplified in the Gospels. It's not just a lip service belief, but an actual living of God's Word, following all Jesus teachings, obeying all His commands. Otherwise, you are are on weak and shifting sand. Jesus asked His disciples at the last supper, "How can you say you love me if you don't obey My commands?" Can you be saved without love for Jesus? I think not.
I think you understand exactly what the Lord teaches us. It is true that Christianity is not just law keeping. You could work constantly at law keeping and not be Christian for it is only through faith, love, and repentance that we are offered salvation. But through faith in Christ we learn we belong to Him and he lives within us. If we want sin within us we cannot have Christ within, for Christ forgives sin but cannot live with sin.

To follow Christ as Christians do we follow living in the kingdom of heaven, we accept those values not the values of the kingdoms of the world. The values of the kingdom of heaven is based on love. You cannot love sin and love God, you must choose. It is called repentance.