| Number of Members | 77,000,000[1] | 22,000,000[2] |
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| How does one get saved? | Repent of your sins, believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, and be baptized. | Sola fide: Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection alone to save you.[3] |
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| Who gets saved? | Those who God chooses to call and who don't resist Him will be saved and no one else. | Anyone who chooses by his own free will to believe and accept God's gift of grace will be saved. |
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| Can one lose his salvation? | Yes, a Christian can lose his salvation by apostasy. | Yes, a Christian can lose his salvation by apostasy.[3] |
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| Who gets baptized and why? | The unsaved, typically as infants, get baptized as the first sacrament of Christian initiation, cleansing them of all sins. | Saved people get baptized as a public demonstration of their new lives.[4] |
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| How should baptism be done? | Baptism should be by pouring water on the head. | Baptism should be by immersion.[4] |
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| When does one receive the Holy Spirit? | The Holy Spirit is received at the moment of salvation. | The Holy Spirit is received at baptism.[5] |
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| What is the trinity? | The Trinity is God existing as one god in three equal, eternal, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. | The Trinity is God existing as one god in three equal, eternal, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. |
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| What is the human nature? | Bondage of the will: Human nature is corrupt, naturally inclined to evil, and incapable of choosing God on his own. | Total depravity: Human nature is corrupt, naturally inclined to evil, and incapable of choosing God on his own. |
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| Are we guilty of Adam's original sin? | Federalism: Yes, Adam represented all of the human race, and all are guilty of his sin. | No, we are not guilty of Adam's sin, but we did inherit the consequences and a corrupt human nature from him, causing us all to sin. |
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| Are Christians required to keep the Old Testament ceremonial laws? | No, the ceremonial laws of Judaism were fulfilled and done away with by Jesus. | Yes, all Old Testament laws are binding on Christians except for animal sacrifices. |
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| Can Christians become sinless in this earthly life? | No, although Christians can and should sin less, they can never become sinless in this life. | Most believe no, although Christians can and should sin less, they can never become sinless in this life.[6] |
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| Do the elements of communion become the body and blood of Christ? | Sacramental union: No, the elements do not become the body and blood of Christ, but Christ's body and blood are non-physically joined to the elements. | No, the elements merely symbolically represent the body and blood of Christ. |
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| Can one be baptized of behalf of someone who has died? | No, the dead cannot be baptized. | No, the dead cannot be baptized. |
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| What happens if a saved person dies without being perfect? | Once Christians leave their sinful bodies, nothing else is needed to receive glorified, sinless bodies.[7][8][9] | Once Christians leave their sinful bodies, nothing else is needed to receive glorified, sinless bodies.[10] |
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| Did Mary ever sin? | Most believe that, yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. | Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. |
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| What spiritual gifts are available today? | Most believe cessationism: Spiritual gifts used for serving are available today, while gifts used as signs have ceased.[11] | Continuationism: All spiritual gifts are still available to believers.[12] |
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| What is the gift of tongues? | The gift of tongues is the ability to speak foreign human languages without knowing how.[13][14] | |
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| What are the requirements for clergy? | Varies widely | |
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| How many church ordinances/sacraments are there? | The church has two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion. | The church has three ordinances: Baptism, Holy Communion, and Footwashing.[15] |
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| To whom do Christians need to confess their sins? | General sinfulness should be confessed to a priest. This is usually done as a group during a service. | Confession should be made directly to God, but confession to another believer is beneficial for some sins. |
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| How should a church be structured? | Varies widely | Church congregations should be governed by a local conference which its congregation elects a representative to, and conferences elect representatives to higher conferences governing them. |
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| What day of the week should Christians worship? | Christians worship on Sunday. | Christians should worship on Saturday. |
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| How does God's revelation come to us today? | Sola scriptura: The Bible is the only infallible source of God's revelation, sufficient for all faith and practice. | Sola scriptura: The Bible is the only infallible source of God's revelation, sufficient for all faith and practice.[16] |
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| How was the Bible written? | Varies widely[17][18] | Dynamic inspiration: God inspired the thoughts of the human authors, but the words were chosen by the authors.[19] |
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| How many books are in the Bible? | There are 66 canonical books of the Bible: 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books. | There are 66 canonical books of the Bible: 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books. |
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| Was the Bible written inerrantly? | Varies widely[20][21] | The Bible is infallible, but not every word is without error.[22][23] |
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| Who can speak with God's authority today? | The church as a whole speaks with God's authority at ecumenical councils.[24] | |
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| How was the earth created? | Varies widely | Creationism: The earth was spoken into existence by God. |
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| What is marriage? | Varies widely[25][26][27] | Marriage is a covenant before God between one man and one woman.[28] |
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| Is sex permissible outside marriage? | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.[29][30] | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.[31] |
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| When is divorce permissible? | Divorce is permissible for adultery or desertion.[32][33] | Divorce is permissible for adultery or desertion.[28][34] |
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| May a Christian remarry while his former spouse is still alive? | The innocent party to the adultery may remarry. | The innocent party to the adultery may remarry.[34] |
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| When does a fetus become human? | Most have no established doctrine. The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod believes life begins at conception.[35][36][37] | Humanity begins at conception.[38] |
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| Is contraception permissible? | Yes, contraceptives are permissible.[29][39] | Yes, contraceptives are permissible.[40] |
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| Are blood transfusions permissible? | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible. | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible.[41] |
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| Should women cover their heads? | No, head coverings are no longer required due to cultural changes.[42][43][44] | |
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| Should Christians drink alcohol? | Yes, drinking alcohol is fine as long as one does not get drunk. | No, alcohol should be totally avoided.[45][46][47] |
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| Should Christians fight in wars? | Yes, Christians should fight in just wars.[48][49] | Varies widely |
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| Whom does the Holy Spirit come from? | The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.[50][51] | The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.[52] |
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| Where does a Christian's soul go after death? | Christians immediately go to heaven when they die.[7] | Souls are unconscious after death until God raises them from "sleep".[53][54][55] |
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