What is necessary to be a Christian?

[Matthias]

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. …

Thank you for your reply. I would like to hear you expand on why you think it’s only a similar question. It strikes me as being the same question put another way. (Understood that way, it eliminates the need to discuss 4th century trinitarian doctrine due to the constraints of history.)

 

[Lambano]

If you want to be a member of the club, you have to agree to the bylaws.

 

[Lambano]

I've had this conversation with another member in a different thread. "Not being a Christian" is typically understood by Christians as being a member of the set of "Not Saved" people. So yes, the question is a restatement of, "What must I do to be saved?"

 

[Lambano]

I've had this conversation with another member in a different thread. "Not being a Christian" is typically understood by Christians as being a member of the set of "Not Saved" people. So yes, the question is a restatement of, "What must I do to be saved?"

Though my conversation partner conceded that the question of who is saved was above her paygrade.

 

[Lambano]

Though my conversation partner conceded that the question of who is saved was above her paygrade.

I suppose the question might be, how much weight does Jesus put on doctrinal belief in deciding who is His?

Another question that came out of my conversation, with whom can I have Christian fellowship?

 

[keithr]

Thank you for your reply. I would like to hear you expand on why you think it’s only a similar question. It strikes me as being the same question put another way.

“What must I do to be saved?” asks what does one need to do to become a Christian. “What is necessary to be a Christian?” asks what must one need to believe and do in order to remain a Christian; at least that is what I intended it to mean.

The forum administrators seem to think that you must believe their stated doctrinal beliefs (which includes the Trinity doctrine) in order to be a Christian, even though, as I've shown, that is not necessary in order to become a Christian.

Romans 10:13 WEB

(13) For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”​

 

[GodsGrace]

Though my conversation partner conceded that the question of who is saved was above her paygrade.

Also read post 23 and 25.

I'd say that you're correct in post 25 where you state that doctrinal belief will not be salfivific factor.
No one can know who is saved and who is not except for God.

In 1 Cor 15 Paul states that one must believe what he taught.
But this will only be valide for those that have, indeed, heard the gospel and accepted it.
Not all will hear it.

A person could have his theology all wrong and still be saved.
A person could know Jesus but know nothing about Him only that He is loved by that person and is obeyed by that person.

Defining oneself as Christian is an entirely different matter but we won't repeat that long thread here.
Suffice it to say that in order to be defined as Christian...one must believe Christian tenets.

Cannot remember if you agreed or not...although I could not understand why any Christian would not agree that a person is defined as something because he holds to specific beliefs that make him a member of that belief system, group, etc.

Thanks for remembering that I did state that because one does not accept each tenet does not mean they are lost -- which is what some misunderstood and believed the thread was about that....doctrine as salvation.