There are many denominations who all believe in the same person... Jesus. This shouldn't be so!
Let us try and come together to find a united approach on what a Christian means, so we can try and put together the body of Christ. The first century Christians are a good example of what followers of Jesus looked like.
Acts 2:44-47,"
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Where is this singleness of heart that the first Christians experienced? Let's strive to bring that back to what we call Christianity today.
As great as it sounds, and as worthy a cause as it may be to try and pull all Christians together as they were in the beginning, I'm not sure it is possible this side of heaven. Back then, when it was new, there were not many Christians, and when they had a doctrinal question, they asked...those who wrote scripture!
And, when it comes to the denominations, it's not that we don't agree on Jesus, so much, it's that we don't agree on many of the other doctrines. Although...it sort of seems we're having trouble defining what a 'Christian' is...so, well...maybe this is a helpful exercise!
What do you believe is a Christian? Please give a thoughtful and prayerful answer. Leave the debates out of this. Let's work towards unity trying to set aside our differences and come to Christ with a broken and contrite heart.
Ok...I'll do my best.
A Christian is someone who has come to the realisation that he or she is sinful:
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God. -Romans 3:9–11
This is not because we have become wise, but because God, in his loving wisdom and mercy, has opened our eyes to the truth, because he has determined, beforehand, that he will extend grace to us:
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. -Romans 8:29–30
..even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, -Ephesians 1:4–5
We heard the gospel (good news) of salvation...the death of Christ in our place for our sins:
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,...In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. -Ephesians 1:7,13–14
When we accept Christ as Savior...that he died in our place, for our sins, and declare him Lord of our lives, we are sealed (granted to have within us) the Holy Spirit as guarantee, assuring us that all promises in scripture will be carried out in the fullness of time, at Christ's return. And in the meantime, we live with and through the Holy Spirit, becoming more Christlike and doing good works...not for our salvation, but because we have it.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. -Ephesians 2:4–10