What Christians Believe

Christians want to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Christians may vary about smaller issues but generally agree with the below statements about God and the Bible. Christians may disagree but not be disagreeable. Philip Schaff wrote, "In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity." Here are the essentials:

Christians believe that Jesus was literally conceived and born of a virgin named Mary (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-33).

Christians believe that Jesus lived a sinless life (1 Pet. 2:22; 1 John. 3:5).

Christians believe that salvation is in none other than through the name, person, work, and grace of Jesus Christ (John. 14:6; John. 3:16; Rom.5:8).

Christians believe that all 66 books of the Bible are the "only" inspired word of God to the world. Christians do not acknowledge the Apocrypha, Psuedopigrapha, or the Gnostic Gospels, to be "inspired scripture" (Tim. 3:16).

Christians believe that God is the creator of all things, is all-powerful, all-knowing, and in control to do as He wills (14:15; Jer. 32:17; Eph. 3:20; Psa.139:1-4; 1 Sam.2:6-9; Psalms. 24:1).

Christians believe that all of humanity has fallen short of God's glory and is in need of salvation; hence the reason Jesus came to the earth (Rom. 3:23; Rom. 6:23; Rom. 5:8; John. 14:6).

Christians believe that God is one, but reveals Himself thorough the persons of the Trinity as The Father, The Son as Jesus, and The Holy Spirit. Furthermore, Christians believe that each Person of this Trinity is God (1 Cor. 8:6 6:44; Rom. 1:7; Isa. 9:6; John. 1:1 Acts 5:3; Heb 9:14; John. 4:24).

Christians believe that those who die without salvation go to a literal place called hell (Psalm. 9:17; Psa.73:12-19; Luke 16:23.26; John. 12:48).

Christians believe that those who belong to Christ will inherit eternal life in a literal Kingdom of Heaven (Isaiah 65; Zech. 14).

Christians believe that Jesus will return to gather His people, as well as the resurrection of the dead in Christ at His return (1 Cor. 15:21-23).

Christians believe in the water baptism of believers in Christ (Acts 2:38-41; Acts 22:16).

Christians believe that Christ is the Head of the church, which should be governed by Him and that ministers are simply under-shepherds (Eph.5:23).

Christians value growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord (2 Pet. 3:18).

Christian's value learning from each other as iron sharpens iron so Christians sharpen one another (Prov. 27:17).

Christians value God's calling of those ministry (Mat. 28:18-20; Acts 2:17; Gal. 3:28).

Christians value the advancement of the Gospel of Christ for the establishment of salvation, forgiveness, and the perpetuation of Christianity (Mat. 28:18-20).

Christians value the pursuit of unity (at the foot of the cross) among brothers and sisters in the Christian faith (Eph. 4:13).

Christians value the independence of ministers so that they may follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in the direction and government of their ministries (Act. 8:29; 10:19; 11:12; 13:2-4; 16:6-7; 20:22, 21:4).

Christians value as our only creed, the inerrancy of scripture as being perfect and the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Psalm 19:7).

Christians value leadership that duplicates our Lord's servant heart (Mat. 20:27; John 13:14).

Christians value fellowship among for the sake of strength, encouragement, edification, exhortation, prayer, and support (Rom.14:19; 1 Thes. 5:11; Eph. 2:21-22; Phlp. 4:8).

"Christ is the head of the church. It is His body, and He is its Savior" (Eph 5:23).

Christians pledge to correct our beliefs when they find error in order to be aligned with theologically sound doctrine and biblical truth (John 4:24).

That is what Christians believe.

Originally published on Jack Wellman Blog