Early believers and followers of Christ were called Christians and so are they today.
The early believers were called Christians by whom?
The Bible in hundreds of verses calls us to believe in Christ and follow Him, obey Him.
read it sloelt and tell me where it says Christian.
Eph 4
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That is the gift of faith, reconciling with God through Christ.
But no mention of Christian.
Catholics and Protestants can agree on the fundamental core, essential doctrines. There are non-essential doctrines that do not invalidate our faith, we just have different interpretations.
2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Who gave you authority to make some essential and others non essential.
Since we still are somewhat attached to the flesh ( which we are supposed to render dead), we fall back into our old habits, attitudes, like pride and so disagree at times. This is nothing new.
Paul asked the Corinthians to not be divided, yet in the first century we see division was common. Look at the Seven Churches in Revelation. Two were faithful, and the rest needed rebuke. Jesus said repent to them or else. One church was practocally dead, another was lukewarm that He wanted to vomit out of His mouth yet another with false doctrines.
What do you suppose is the cause? People sit in pews and think all is well because when a person dies the priest or pastor guarantees that they are going to heaven.
This has been the Church's lot in life throughout history.
Because of people like you. Everything is taken for granted. People claim that God called them to be Christians when he didn't, but no one tells them that is a lie.
Don't worry, God has factored all our blunders and divisions into His perfect plan.
Of course he did...
Romans 16:17
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
All who have been written into The Book of Life since before the foundatoom of the world will be saved according to His will.
Revelation 3:5
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
This tells me that those who do not overcome their names will be blotted out.
He is SOVEREIGN.
Jesus said believe in Him and you will be saved. He didn't say, believe in Him and make sure all the doctrines are understood and you'll be saved.
By believing in him he means to believe and do as he says...
John 15:10
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
The Gospel: Jesus died for out sins and rose on the third day according to the scriptures. Believe that and you will be saved.
Devils believe that...are devils saved.
To believe that obviously you first find out who He was and ehat elsr He did. You are drawn to the Word by our Father. He knocks and you open the door of yoir heart. He lifts the veil of blondnesd and so yoi cam see. You begin to believe the story gradually. Yoi don't have yo have it all figured out. You have many questions and doubts but in time, He answers them.
You are not making any sense...You said you must believe Jesus died for our sins and rose on the third day according to the scriptures. Believe that and you will be saved.
What is the point of adding things to that if one is saved by that alone?
But you are taught many things over the years. Of you have only attended and learned from one church, well thatbpriest or pastor may have jad some thongs wrong and so you are wrong.
Hoe does that matter when you said all one has to do is believe Jesus died for our sins and rose on the third day according to the scriptures. Believe that and you will be saved.
Another church has a pastor that teaches little differently, maybe he is a little legalistic, so you lean and trust on him. No church is perfect and every individual in that church isn't in complete unity with everyone else 100% of the time.
So your counsel is church hopping
Philadelphia was the perfect model, the faithful church.
* A little side note about Corinth. This was a town similar to Amsterdam today, filled with liberal ways, sin, red light districts, a party city. Everyone was tossed in different directions - hence Paul's beseeching them intently. Don't think it was a mild mannered town of gentle Amish folk walking the straight and narrow path. The Christians came out of this hedonistic, wild lifestyle.
What does that have to do with anything?... God did not call anyone to be a Christian.