| a.k.a. | | Calvinist |
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| Number of Members | 350,000[1] | 75,000,000 |
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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. | Those who God chooses to call will be saved and no one else. |
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| Can one lose his salvation? | Eternal security: No, once a Christian is saved, he is always saved. | Eternal security: No, once a Christian is saved, he is always saved. |
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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 as a sign of God's grace.[2] |
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| How should baptism be done? | Baptism should be by immersion. | Baptism can be by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling. |
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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.[3] |
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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. | Federalism: Yes, Adam represented all of the human race, and all are guilty of his 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. | No, although Christians can and should sin less, they can never become sinless in this life. |
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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][5] |
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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 spiritual gifts are available today? | | Cessationism: Spiritual gifts used for serving are available today, while gifts used as signs have ceased.[6] |
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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.[7] |
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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.[8] |
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| What are the requirements for clergy? | | Experienced men above reproach, faithful to their wives and with with obedient children if applicable, and able to teach are to be appointed as pastors. |
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| How many church ordinances/sacraments are there? | Messianic Jews should practice Immersion.[9][10][11][12][13] | The church has two ordinances: Baptism and Holy Communion. |
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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.[14][15] | 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? | Congregationalist: Every church congregation should be independent and governed by its members. | 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.[16] | Prima scriptura: There are many sources of God's revelation, although none can contradict the Bible. |
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| How was the Bible written? | | Verbal plenary inspiration: The Bible was written by men who had every word supernaturaly inspired by God.[17] |
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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? | | Yes, the Bible was written without any error.[17] |
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| Who can speak with God's authority today? | | Nobody today can speak for God. |
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| How was the earth created? | | Creationism: The earth was spoken into existence by God. |
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| What is marriage? | Marriage is a covenant before God between one man and one woman.[18] | Marriage is a covenant before God between one man and one woman.[19] |
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| Is sex permissible outside marriage? | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.[20] | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.[21][22] |
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| When is divorce permissible? | Divorce is permissible for adultery, abuse, or abandonment.[23] | Divorce is permissible for adultery or desertion.[24][25] |
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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.[23] | The innocent party to the adultery may remarry.[26] |
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| When does a fetus become human? | Humanity begins at conception.[27][28] | Humanity begins at conception.[29][30] |
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| Is contraception permissible? | Yes, contraceptives are permissible as long as the couple eventually have at least two children.[31] | Yes, contraceptives are permissible.[32] |
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| Are blood transfusions permissible? | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible.[33][34] | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible. |
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| Should women cover their heads? | Varies widely[35][36][37] | |
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| Should Christians drink alcohol? | Yes, drinking alcohol is fine as long as one does not get drunk.[38] | Varies widely |
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| Should Christians fight in wars? | | Yes, Christians should fight in just wars.[39] |
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| Whom does the Holy Spirit come from? | | The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.[40] |
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| Who can be demon-possessed? | | Demons can possess unbelievers but not Christians. |
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| Do icons glorify God? | | Most believe no, icons violate the Second Commandment against graven images. Icons of Christ are especially prohibited.[41][42][43] |
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| Where does a Christian's soul go after death? | | Christians immediately go to heaven when they die.[4][44] |
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