I'm curious what Catholics, Protestants, and all various denominations of Christianity actually agree upon or if there is anything at all that they do agree on?
What exactly do all Christians agree on?
- Thread starter pomeranian
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Repentance from sin by the wooing or drawing us to God through the work of Holy Spirit.
Receiving the gospel truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration within our spirit man giving us eternal life because of the blood sacrifice, the Cross.
Receiving the same Spirit that raised Christ from death, Holy Spirit for life and ministry of reconciliation of the world back to the Creator, and the power of the gospel in demonstration.
Receiving the gospel truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration within our spirit man giving us eternal life because of the blood sacrifice, the Cross.
Receiving the same Spirit that raised Christ from death, Holy Spirit for life and ministry of reconciliation of the world back to the Creator, and the power of the gospel in demonstration.
Hi Pomeranian, though many churches today are not "creedal", the Historic Creeds of the Church (The Apostles Creed, The Nicene Creed, The Symbol of Chalcedon, and The Athanasian Creed) set a basic standard of belief that is common among all of us.
Of these four however, I believe agreement with the Nicene Creed is what is most often used as the standard for determining if a church's/denomination's (or person's) core beliefs are, or are not, Christian (or at the very least, which churches/people are inside or outside the extreme reaches of the pale of Christian orthodoxy). I will post the Nicene Creed below.
That said, all Christian churches, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Lutheran, Baptist, Anglican, etc., have historically held about 90%* of the Christian faith in perfect harmony with one another (but all we ever seem to talk about are our differences unfortunately
).*(I believe this percentage of commonality will begin to shrink as the liberal fringe Protestant churches embrace more and more of this world's sinful values, and as they change their official statements of faith to accommodate their new values/beliefs)
The Nicene Creed (325 AD)
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe one holy catholic** and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
~Deut
p.s. - here are the other three historic creeds for anyone who is interested in reading them as well.
The Apostles Creed (The Earliest Creed of the 4)
I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth
And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell
The third day he rose again from the dead
He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead
I believe in the Holy Ghost
I believe a holy catholic church; the communion of saints
The forgiveness of sins
The resurrection of the body
And the life everlasting. Amen.
The Symbol of Chalcedon (451 AD)
We, then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach men to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man, of a reasonable [rational] soul and body; consubstantial [coessential] with us according to the manhood; in all things like unto us, without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the mother of God, according to the Manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one person and one Subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, and only begotten, God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the prophets from the beginning [have declared] concerning him, and the Lord Jesus Christ himself has taught us, and the Creed of the holy Fathers has handed down to us.
The Athanasian Creed (400-500 AD)
Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith; Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit.
But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit. The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal. And yet they are not three eternals but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensible, but one uncreated and one incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty. And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God; And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord; And yet they are not three Lords but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord; So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say; There are three Gods or three Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits. And in this Trinity none is afore or after another; none is greater or less than another. But the whole three persons are coeternal, and coequal. So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man. God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and man of substance of His mother, born in the world. Perfect God and perfect man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood. Who, although He is God and man, yet He is not two, but one Christ. One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of that manhood into God. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead; He ascended into heaven, He sits on the right hand of the Father, God, Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies; and shall give account of their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. This is the catholic** faith, which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved.
**The word "catholic" in the case of the creeds means "universal", not Roman "Catholic", just FYI.
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**Each time the word "catholic" is used in the four creeds above, it means "universal", ~not~ Roman Catholic, just FYI.
Christian faiths and denomination do not agree on any of this.
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Oh for Pete’s sake Waggles. That’s the basics. Pom doesn’t believe Jesus is God.
Without the doctrine of salvation, there is no life in Christ.
So at least some doctrines are absolutely critical.
Nonetheless, even though some are critical, that doesn't mean we need to get upset and bludgeon each other.
We should be able to discuss important things in a polite way.
Personally, I have a new theory about Christian debate:
If the opponent isn't listening anyway,
and he isn't hearing me whether I'm screaming or whispering...
then I might as well just relax and be polite.
I don't necessarily hold the same relaxed view toward atheists.
It depends on whether or not they're raining down like a horde of Mongols on some sweet, meek Christians.
..
Without the doctrine of salvation, there is no life in Christ.
So at least some doctrines are absolutely critical.
Nonetheless, even though some are critical, that doesn't mean we need to get upset and bludgeon each other.
We should be able to discuss important things in a polite way.
Personally, I have a new theory about Christian debate:
If the opponent isn't listening anyway,
and he isn't hearing me whether I'm screaming or whispering...
then I might as well just relax and be polite.
I don't necessarily hold the same relaxed view toward atheists.
It depends on whether or not they're raining down like a horde of Mongols on some sweet, meek Christians.
..
There are doctrines that divide. And is my point.
Doctrine didn’t save me. It was God who offered me a choice. Same as all in His body.
They do not agree.
Perhaps they only agree that ...
Yeshua/Jesus is The Christ - The Anointed One - The Messiah - The Son of God - The Lamb of God - The Word of God - The ONLY Savior, Lord and King. God in the Flesh dwelling with us on the Earth - Emmanuel.
Without doctrine you have nothing. Gods word is doctrine.
The faith necessary to receive the grace of God comes from hearing and hearing the word of God.
All Christians in order to be Christians must believe that Jesus is God. The deity of Christ is an essential doctrine.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
As an ex- catholic who renounced that false religion and converted to Bible believing Christianity i do not recognize catholicism as Christian..
Apart from that:
Christians believe Jesus was born by a virgin woman named Mary..
Christians believe Jesus was born without sin and never sinned..
Christians believe Jesus has always existed and is One with the Father and the Holy Spirit..
Christians believe Jesus was and is the Messiah (Christ) come to Redeem (save) us from being cast into the eternal Lake of Fire..
Christians believe Jesus Secured Atonement for those who would believe in Him by becoming a perfect sacrificial offering on the cross paying the penalty for our transgressions against the will of God..
Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead bodily from the dead 3 days after He was executed on the cross..
Christians believe Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father..
Christians believe in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit for those who believe Jesus and trust in the atonement He secured for them..
Christians believe that salvation is had by Believing Jesus and Trusting in what Jesus did to Redeem them and not in any religious works or good works or works in attempting to cease sinning. Jesus saves us 100%..
Christians believe Jesus will return bodily again to rule the world with His resurrected Saints in the future..
Christians believe we shall be eternal with God in His perfect eternal existence forever and ever..
Yeah people should have just put forward their beliefs and allowed Pomeranian to take things from there..
If people want to contend with other Christians they should start off a new thread quoting the person's statement they want to oppose.. Sadly in this forum there are a lot of people who's first instinct is to shoot first and ask questions later..
I have seen a few seekers blasted on here as being trolls from their very first post, and they run even before you get a chance to respond to their questions..
If she and I do not have specific knowledge on the matter so this is completely speculative on my part denies the deity of Christ she could be banned for promoting that false doctrine. That is the long way to say she did it to herself and no one here caused the issue.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
Yes in Pomeranian's case i have just looked at her recent posts and it is clear she rejects the trinity and deity of Christ..
My second comment about seekers was an in general one.. It was not aimed exclusively at Pomeranian.. She seemed to have her religion and was not really seeking at all.. More like she was here to preach her religion..
L
Locoponydirtman
Guest
There are a few things that must be agree upon. They are spelled out in the Creed's as posted in this thread.
Deity of Christ, and oneness with God the Father, and the Holy Spirit; one God three distinct persons
Personage of Christ born a man from a virgin into the earth, perfect and sinless, sacrificed on the cross as atonement for sin, resurrected securing resurrection and eternal life for those who believe in him.
Deity of Christ, and oneness with God the Father, and the Holy Spirit; one God three distinct persons
Personage of Christ born a man from a virgin into the earth, perfect and sinless, sacrificed on the cross as atonement for sin, resurrected securing resurrection and eternal life for those who believe in him.