| a.k.a. | | |
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| Number of Members | 350,000[1] | 80,000,000[2][3] |
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| How does one get saved? | Sola fide: Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection alone to save you. | Sola fide: Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection alone to save you. |
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| Who gets saved? | Anyone who chooses by his own free will to believe and accept God's gift of grace will be saved. | 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? | Eternal security: No, once a Christian is saved, he is always saved. | Yes, a Christian can lose his salvation by apostasy. |
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| Who gets baptized and why? | Saved people get baptized as a public demonstration of their new lives. | Saved people and their infant children get baptized by as the first sacrament of Christian initiation, cleansing them of all sins. |
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| How should baptism be done? | Baptism should be by immersion. | Baptism should be by sprinkling water on the head. |
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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 the moment of salvation. |
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| What is the trinity? | Most believe 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? | Humans have a יֵצֶר הַרַע (yetzer hara)—an inclination to do evil—and, upon reaching 12 for girls and 13 for boys, develop a יֵצֶר הַטוֹב (yetzer hatov)—a weaker inclination to do good. | 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? | 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. | 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? | Yes, Messianic Jews should follow the Torah, although Gentile Christians are not required to. | No, the ceremonial laws of Judaism were fulfilled and done away with by Jesus. |
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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. | Yes, Christians can become evangelically perfect through sanctification. |
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| Do the elements of communion become the body and blood of Christ? | No, the elements merely symbolically represent the body and blood of Christ. | No, the elements do not become the body and blood of Christ, but Christ is present in an unknown way. |
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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. | Once Christians leave their sinful bodies, nothing else is needed to receive glorified, sinless bodies.[4] |
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| Did Mary ever sin? | Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. | Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. |
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| What framework has God used in dealing with man? | | Covenant theology: God acts either within the covenant of works or the covenant of grace. |
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| What are the requirements for clergy? | | Varies widely |
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| How many church ordinances/sacraments are there? | Messianic Jews should practice Immersion.[5][6][7][8][9] | The church has two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion.[10] |
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| To whom do Christians need to confess their sins? | Confession should be made directly to God, but confession to another believer is beneficial for some sins.[11][12] | Confession should be made directly to God, but confession to another believer is beneficial for some sins. A general confession of sinfulness is usually done as a group during a service. |
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| How should a church be structured? | Congregationalist: Every church congregation should be independent and governed by its members. | Connectionalism: Churches are governed by conferences of representatives. How respresentatives and pastors are chosen varies widely. |
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| What day of the week should Christians worship? | Messianic Jews observe Shabbat on Saturday. | Christians worship on Sunday. |
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| How does God's revelation come to us today? | Prima scriptura: There are many sources of God's revelation, although none can contradict the Bible.[13] | Prima scriptura: There are many sources of God's revelation, although none can contradict the Bible. |
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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? | | No, the Bible is not inerrant in any respect.[14] |
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| How was the earth created? | | Generally that the earth was formed by gravity pulling dust together, which ultimately came from the Big Bang.[15] |
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| What is marriage? | Marriage is a covenant before God between one man and one woman.[16] | Varies widely[17][18][19][20] |
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| Is sex permissible outside marriage? | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.[21] | Varies widely[17][18][19][20] |
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| When is divorce permissible? | Divorce is permissible for adultery, abuse, or abandonment.[22] | Varies widely[23][24] |
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| May a Christian remarry while his former spouse is still alive? | Yes, a Messianic Jew may freely remarry after a divorce which was for a valid reason.[22] | Varies widely[23][24] |
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| When does a fetus become human? | Humanity begins at conception.[25][26] | No established doctrine[27][28] |
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| Is contraception permissible? | Yes, contraceptives are permissible as long as the couple eventually have at least two children.[29] | Yes, contraceptives are permissible. |
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| Are blood transfusions permissible? | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible.[30][31] | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible. |
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| Should women cover their heads? | Varies widely[32][33][34] | No, head coverings are no longer required due to cultural changes.[35] |
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| Should Christians drink alcohol? | Yes, drinking alcohol is fine as long as one does not get drunk.[36] | Most believe that yes, drinking alcohol is fine as long as one does not get drunk.[37][38] |
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| Should Christians fight in wars? | | Most believe that no, Christians should never fight.[39][40] |
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| Whom does the Holy Spirit come from? | | The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.[41] |
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| Where does a Christian's soul go after death? | | No established doctrine[42] |
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