DEFINING Christianity: The Bottom Line.

[coolbluehair]

How does the Christian respond when asked the following:

What is the BOTTOM LINE of Christianity, i.e. the non-negotiable, undebatable, absolute must "believe/do" that DEFINES Christianity as distinct among belief systems? What is it that an individual must BELIEVE or DO that establishes him/her as a Christian -- or identifies him/her as non-Christian if he/she has NOT believed or done this thing? What is it?

I'm trying to find someone on this site who will address this question.

[otseng]

Since this post is a duplicate, I've removed all the others and left this one.

I would say the one thing would be, "A Christian is one who accepts Jesus Christ as his/her Savior."

[coolbluehair]

You say, "A Christian is one who accepts Jesus Christ as his/her Savior."

1. Could you please explain what a "Savior" is, and why does Christianity believe (why should I myself believe) that I need one.

2. Could you please explain the language "accept" in this context?

Thank you.

__________________________________________________
NOTE: I put the same post in different places to get responses from people who gravitate to different groups. That was quite deliberate on my part. I don't suppose you could put them back?

Since this post is a duplicate, I've removed all the others and left this one.

I would say the one thing would be, "A Christian is one who accepts Jesus Christ as his/her Savior."

[otseng]

1. Could you please explain what a "Savior" is, and why does Christianity believe (why should I myself believe) that I need one.

God is way above all of us. He is perfect in nature and sinless. God also desires to have a relationship with all of us. But there is a problem, we have done wrong things in our lives. If we have done even one wrong thing, then we're not eligible to have a relationship with him since God is perfect. So, God was in a dilemma, He wants to have a relationship with us, but cannot because of our shortcomings. So, what He did was to bridge the gap between Himself and mankind. He became a man (Jesus) and said, "If you will believe in me, then I can remove all the bad things from your life. I will take all your bad things and totally remove it so that you can be a completely good person." Jesus removed it all by dying on the cross for our all the bad things we have done. But, it is only for those who will accept this for their own lives.

2. Could you please explain the language "accept" in this context?

God gave us a gift, Jesus Christ. We accept the gift by taking the gift into our lives. It's more than just "believing". I can believe someone has a gift for me, but if I don't take it, then I haven't accepted it. I accept by believing that Jesus took away all my bad things in my life so that I can have a relationship with God.

NOTE: I put the same post in different places to get responses from people who gravitate to different groups. That was quite deliberate on my part. I don't suppose you could put them back?

Per the rules, duplicate posts are not allowed. I left this topic in the Christianity subforum which is one of the most popular places. So, it has a high chance of people viewing this topic.

[logic]

Savior: A person who rescues another from harm, danger, or loss.

It seems to me that the Christian faith requires all believers to "need" a savior because everyone is a sinner. Because everyone is a sinner we require a person (Jesus) to rescue us from harm, danger, loss, etc. (eternal damnation). So according to the Christian faith you need a savior because you are a sinner who, without Jesus will spend all of eternity in hell/damnation.

"A Christian is one who accepts Jesus Christ as his/her Savior."

I would venture to guess that the word "accepts" in this context would mean the same thing in any other context; that being to receive something, in this case Christ as your savior.

[Illyricum]

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

After a person has done this, then they are a christian.

[coolbluehair]

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

After a person has done this, then they are a christian.

So, if I understand what you say here... What is necessary is for me to choose to believe - and verbally confess belief - in this man, Jesus, as "Lord," (i.e. I follow him as my leader/master in matters of spiritual truth). And I also must believe that after Jesus died he rose again to life by the power of God. These two things will make me a Christian?

[Illyricum]

These two things will make me a Christian?

Correct.

[coolbluehair]

These two things will make me a Christian?

Correct.

So then other things I hear about atoning sacrifices and all that, these things are not necessary? I am glad to hear that.

[Illyricum]

So then other things I hear about atoning sacrifices and all that, these things are not necessary?

What do you mean by atoning sacrifices? Jesus was the atoning sacrifice.