What are the minimum theological beliefs to be called Christian?

[Yeshua1]

the OP i thought explaines the context of the question. What doctrine seperates a "Christian" organisation/denomination from a "Christian Cult" organisation. What seperates Anglicans/Presbyterians from Jehovah Witnesses/Mormons? The latter deny certain doctrines that remove them from orthodoxy.

Yes, as they deny the real God and the real Gospel cults!

 

[Van]

Does it matter what people call people, or are Christians those God caused to be born anew?

 

[Yeshua1]

Does it matter what people call people, or are Christians those God caused to be born anew?

Does it matter what we believe in?

 

[37818]

The minimum is to believe God gave His sinless Son to die to pay for one's sins and guilt. As His Son having done this, came back from the dead. And by believing this God gives one complete and full forgiveness and eternal life as a gift. And in this God cannot lie.

References:
John 3:16.
Titus 1:2.
Romans 6:23.
Romans 5:8. Isaiah 53:6.
Romans 10:9.
Hebrews 10:17.
1 John 5:9-13.
John 10:27-28.
Ephesians 2:8-9.

 

[37818]

Does it matter what we believe in?

Matthew 7:21-23.

 

[George Antonios]

In the recent thread on cults, the issue of what is necessary to believe to be called Christian. Some argued that Roman Catholics could not be called Christian,others disagreed.

What doctrines need to be believed to be called Christian? Or in other words what Christian doctrine cannot be denied?

Becoming a Christian, positionally/judicially/spiritually speaking (as opposed to practically) is not dependent on holding the following permanently, but on at least having believed them at one point in a man's life (since you can't lose your salvation even if you cease believing):

1. Believed that Jesus is God.
2. Believed that he's a sinner under judgment and that Christ's substitutionary death and resurrection alone can save him

If at any point in a man's life he sincerely believed 1 & 2, were it but for minutes, then at that point he got born again, and therefore got the new nature, and is therefore a Christian, though he may not live like one.

 

[George Antonios]

Matthew 7:21-23.

That's an Old Testament passage.
(yes)

 

[George Antonios]

No it was not. You consistently infer non Cal's are lost.

@Dave G as well, though only once, when apparently "pushed" into a corner. But that's OK, we love him anyway

 

[37818]

That's an Old Testament passage.
(yes)

How is Matthew 7:21-23 an OT passage? Please explain your thinking.

 

[George Antonios]

 

[AustinC]

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

 

[Dave G]

what is necessary to believe to be called Christian.

My opinion stated:

In the beginning?
1 Corinthians 15:1-7.

Overall?
Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4.

To me, one cannot be a child of the living God without growth in both grace and knowledge.
One cannot be a child of God without being led of the Holy Spirit ( Romans 8:9-17 ).
Please keep in mind that I see the Bible teaching that as babes in Christ, we will fight amongst each other...
We can be and are "carnal" in the sense that we are not grown into maturity as believers, and can walk as unbelieving men ( 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 ), even though we are not.

Part of that growth in grace includes seeing the fruit of the Spirit ( Galatians 5:22-23 ) in one's life.
If one continues to see the works of the flesh ( Galatians 5:19-21 ) dominate their lives over a long period, then I don't see how they can be saved.
If one is not being led into all truth and continuing in His word over that same long period, then I equally do not believe that that person is saved.


Growth takes time...
A lot of it, if my understanding on the subject is correct.
That growth relies on 1 Peter 2:2 and 2 Timothy 2:15...
His word and constant study of it are vital for our growth, spiritually.

That said, it would be wrong for me to expect even "middle aged" Christians to never get angry or to have heated disagreements.
But I should be able to expect those who name the name of Christ to at least be cordial, at some point in their lives, in their discussions.


Finally, we as believers should be able to one day come into the unity of the faith...
And I don't mean in the next life, as I see nowhere in Scripture that that is when that is supposed to occur.

Rather, I see a lot of people simply assuming that.

 

[Dave G]

@Mikey :

At the end of the day, I cannot dictate what "minimum doctrines" one must believe to be saved.
From my perspective, it's not that simple.

I think we must remember that the Lord has the final say on who is saved and who is not.
He alone has the authority to tell someone that He never knew them ( Matthew 7:21-23 ).

But I see no reason that we as believers cannot reserve the right to stand in doubt of someone based on John 8:47, John 10:27, 1 John 2:15, 1 John 3:10, 1 John 3:15, 1 John 3:17, 1 John 4:15, 1 John 5:1 and many others that list evidences that must be present if a person is saved and indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
However, one thing I've come to see that is of concern for me, is if someone doesn't believe the words on the page, then to me, there's a problem that needs to be addressed...
and it isn't one to be treated lightly.

Scripture tells me that God's children welcome God's words.
All of them.


God's grace and wisdom be with you, as well as the assurance that He will deliver you from all your troubles.

 

[Steven Yeadon]

In the recent thread on cults, the issue of what is necessary to believe to be called Christian. Some argued that Roman Catholics could not be called Christian,others disagreed.

What doctrines need to be believed to be called Christian? Or in other words what Christian doctrine cannot be denied?

Great question, it really got me thinking.

The bible only has a few take them or leave the Faith behind schisms.

First comes the unspoken truth of this, the bible is the Word of God. Disagreeing with that lands you outside the Faith IMO.

Other take them or leave them positions in the bible that I can think of for now are,

1. Being church disciplined and remaining unrepentant
2. Disagreeing with the bible's few explanations of the Gospel
3. Gentiles must keep the Torah
4. Jesus did not come in flesh and blood
5. Being a church beyond the authority of the apostles

I think there are more, I will have to do a bible study and get back to you. Thank you very much for the question.

 

[Wesley Briggman]

What doctrines need to be believed to be called Christian?

None. Many professing Christians are not born-again children of God.

[Mat 7:23 KJV] 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

 

[church mouse guy]

What you think of this?

Nicene Creed plus the 5 Solas as defining the Christian faith?

The essentials are the doctrines outlined in the Nicene Creed. Period.

In practical everyday life, the quick way to reveal a cult is to look at who they say Jesus is. All cults deny that Jesus is part of the Trinity and Jesus is God in human flesh

For example, looking at the three major cults of the 1800s, Mormonism says that Jesus is just one god among many and you, too, can become a god. Jehovah's Witnesses says that Jesus is a little god but is really the Archangel Michael. Christian Science says Jesus is the Christ consciousness that is in all of us.

It makes me physically sick to read the low things that the cults say about Jesus who suffered death on the Cross for me and my sins.

 

[canadyjd]

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

First importance!! The very foundation of Christian faith. No need to bold, however. The resurrection appearances are included in the “first importance” list, as well as the authority of their “preaching” and it’s connection to their belief.

peace to you

 

[Steven Yeadon]

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

I agree that is one of the foundational aspects of the Christian faith. The bible teaches there are other ways to be outside of the Brethren completely: Claiming Jesus did not come in flesh and blood for instance. That said, I would at least highlight the following, since it is included with that thought, and rejecting Paul's authority as an apostle in Corinth damned the super apostles.

and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.​

 

[Mikey]

to respond to some of the replies. I wholly agree with the responses that a Christian is someone who is born-again and not based of a selection of doctrines. However the area i was really thinking about was not to do with an individual rather an institution. For example often we refer to different instituitions/denominations as either Christian or a Christian cult. Presbyterians, Anglicans, Baptists etc are refered to as Christian denominations, whereas Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses etc are refered to as Christian Cults. To say Presbyterians, Anglicans, Baptists are "Christian" is not to say all who belong to thoses denominations are saved. So what sepereates these two groups?

,

.

 

[church mouse guy]

to respond to some of the replies. I wholly agree with the responses that a Christian is someone who is born-again and not based of a selection of doctrines. However the area i was really thinking about was not to do with an individual rather an institution. For example often we refer to different instituitions/denominations as either Christian or a Christian cult. Presbyterians, Anglicans, Baptists etc are refered to as Christian denominations, whereas Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses etc are refered to as Christian Cults. To say Presbyterians, Anglicans, Baptists are "Christian" is not to say all who belong to thoses denominations are saved. So what sepereates these two groups?

That's the problem with saying that a Christian is someone who is born again in that Mormons and others are saying that they are born-again, also. That is why certain Christian doctrines define what is Christian belief and what is not. Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Christian Scientists (Hinduism) do not believe what Christianity has taught for over 2,000 years, as you know.

The example is given that experts in currency do not study counterfeit currency but only genuine currency. So if we are experts in what Christians believe and why they believe it, we do not need to know expertly what the cults teach--we can just say that they don't teach Christianity. Paul warns us that false teachers teach another Jesus.

2 Corinthians 11:4 (KJV) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or [if] ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with [him].