What is necessary to be a Christian?

[Riven]

You don't have to be Christian to be saved.

Am I the only one who gets the sense that the rules are constantly in flux?

 

[CrowCross]

Now Paul also wrote that Jesus will not return for the Church until after there has been a falling away from the truth (apostasy) - 2 Thessalonians 2:3 UASV:

(3) Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
A large part of that apostasy is the teaching of the Trinity, teaching a new Gospel different from what the Apostles taught. Paul warned, Galatians 1:6-9 WEB:

Really?

The term Apostasy has been somewhat skewed over the years. The word means "stand away". In fact the word "departure" has been used in earlier translations. It has more of an understanding of being removed.

To teach that you know the departure mentioned in 2 Thes 2:3 means ....some sort of departure from the faith...is very problematic because the verse doesn't even mention the words that suggest a departure from the faith...or to be specific anything concerning the Trinity.

You simply stuck it in that verse to help prop up your false theology.

 

[GodsGrace]

Am I the only one who gets the sense that the rules are constantly in flux?

Riven
They shouldn't be in flux.
They've been the same for 2 thousand years.

THIS is precisely why they cannot be changed.
It would mean that there are no rules!

What did you think of my list of tenets?
It's not MY list, it's what the Christian religion considers necessary for the faith.

 

[Matthias]

Would you agree that obedience to the teaching of Jesus and the apostles is necessary to be a Christian?

“A person’s claim to be a Christian is meaningless if he is not obedient.” - John MacArthur

Why not focus on that @keithr?

 

[CrowCross]

It's a similar question, but I started this thread to discuss whether or not a person must believe in the Trinity in order to be a Christian. As I wrote in the opening post:

I agree. One doesn't have to believe in the trinity to be saved....in fact I bet a number high in the 90% range of new christians don't even know what the trinity even is. I would also say many get saved without realizing Jesus is God come in the flesh.
For a new christian their theological knowledge is limited if even existent at all. They may have heard the account of Adam and Eve..or Noah, perhaps the Red Sea splitting....but often not much more.

But, as a baby christian grows...matures... the concept and understanding of the trinitarian Godhead should be readily accepted as that truth is presented all through out scripture. More so in the new Testament where we see the Father mentioned as God along with God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.....as one connects the dots....looking at what has been said about them, things they each do, their names, characteristics, equality and so on the trinity of the God head is revealed.
Do we as Christians understand the trinity completely? That answer is no. But, we can understand enough of it to see that it is real.

 

[Matthias]

Am I the only one who gets the sense that the rules are constantly in flux?

 

[Riven]

Riven
They shouldn't be in flux.
They've been the same for 2 thousand years.

THIS is precisely why they cannot be changed.
It would mean that there are no rules!

What did you think of my list of tenets?
It's not MY list, it's what the Christian religion considers necessary for the faith.

I think they're logical.

 

[GodsGrace]

I think they're logical.

I'd say so.
The Christian RELIGION is very logical.

(I differentiate between our religion
and our faith/relationship with God.)

 

[Riven]

I'd say so.
The Christian RELIGION is very logical.

Talking animals not withstanding.

 

[GodsGrace]

Talking animals not withstanding.

You know Riven...we are not required to accept the OT as literal in every sense.
The walls of Jericho came tumbling down...but did it happen all at once?
Sodom and Gemorrah were destroyed,,,but did it happen exactly like that?
This does not mean the OT is not true...
It has poetry...
it has people retelling stories that they heard.
I like to use the NT for any teaching...we can be sure that the NT is history...
although the OT is history too.
The other day I placed some cream cheese on the counter top, covered, with a knife across it.
I heard a noise after a few minutes and I found the cheese and knife on the kitchen floor.
That could easily have turned into a ghost story.
Seems the knife might have been heavy on one side and it eventually pulled everything down.
Then again maybe it was a ghost.
Then again,,,maybe the donkey did talk.
God could do what He wants to do.
But I still like to stick to the NT.

 

[Riven]

You know Riven...we are not required to accept the OT as literal in every sense.
The walls of Jericho came tumbling down...but did it happen all at once?
Sodom and Gemorrah were destroyed,,,but did it happen exactly like that?
This does not mean the OT is not true...
It has poetry...
it has people retelling stories that they heard.
I like to use the NT for any teaching...we can be sure that the NT is history...
although the OT is history too.
The other day I placed some cream cheese on the counter top, covered, with a knife across it.
I heard a noise after a few minutes and I found the cheese and knife on the kitchen floor.
That could easily have turned into a ghost story.
Seems the knife might have been heavy on one side and it eventually pulled everything down.
Then again maybe it was a ghost.
Then again,,,maybe the donkey did talk.
God could do what He wants to do.
But I still like to stick to the NT.

Oh, I know. But if you don't take all of it literally, then are there stories in the NT that we shouldn't take literally?

 

[GodsGrace]

Oh, I know. But if you don't take all of it literally, then are there stories in the NT that we shouldn't take literally?

No sir.
The New Testament is pure history...
unless, of course, Jesus is using an analogy or parable.
It's easy to spot the parts of the NT that are not literal...
however they still have a spiritual reality to them that we need to pay attention to.

 

[NayborBear]

I do believe John 3:16 sums it up pretty well what one NEEDS to be saved!
"Christianity/churchianity" on the other hand?
Heads towards, when not IN that SAME "Rabbit Hole" that brought about the "Jewish Talmud!"
John 12:40
He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.