| Number of Members | 39,000,000 | 350,000[1] |
|---|
| 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. |
|---|
| Who gets saved? | Those who God chooses to call 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. |
|---|
| 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. |
|---|
| Who gets baptized and why? | Saved people and their infant children get baptized as a sign of God's grace.[2] | Saved people get baptized as a public demonstration of their new lives. |
|---|
| How should baptism be done? | Baptism should be by sprinkling water on the head. | Baptism should be by immersion. |
|---|
| When does one receive the Holy Spirit? | The Holy Spirit is received at the moment of salvation.[3] | The Holy Spirit is received at the moment of salvation. |
|---|
| 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. | 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. |
|---|
| What is the human nature? | Total depravity: Human nature is corrupt, naturally inclined to evil, and incapable of choosing God on his own. | 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. |
|---|
| 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. |
|---|
| 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, Messianic Jews should follow the Torah, although Gentile Christians are not required to. |
|---|
| 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. |
|---|
| Do the elements of communion become 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. | No, the elements merely symbolically represent the body and blood of Christ. |
|---|
| Can one be baptized of behalf of someone who has died? | No, the dead cannot be baptized. | No, the dead cannot be baptized. |
|---|
| 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.[4][5] | Once Christians leave their sinful bodies, nothing else is needed to receive glorified, sinless bodies. |
|---|
| Did Mary ever sin? | Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. | Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. |
|---|
| What spiritual gifts are available today? | Cessationism: Spiritual gifts used for serving are available today, while gifts used as signs have ceased.[3] | |
|---|
| What framework has God used in dealing with man? | Covenant theology: God acts either within the covenant of works or the covenant of grace.[6] | |
|---|
| How many church ordinances/sacraments are there? | The church has two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion.[7] | Messianic Jews should practice Immersion.[8][9][10][11][12] |
|---|
| 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. | Confession should be made directly to God, but confession to another believer is beneficial for some sins.[13][14] |
|---|
| How should a church be structured? | Presbyterian: Churches should be governed by its own elders, who in turn are governed by a presbytery comprising the elders from the region, which is governed by a general assembly of commissioners from each presbytery. | Congregationalist: Every church congregation should be independent and governed by its members. |
|---|
| What day of the week should Christians worship? | Christians worship on Sunday. | Messianic Jews observe Shabbat on Saturday. |
|---|
| 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. | Prima scriptura: There are many sources of God's revelation, although none can contradict the Bible.[15] |
|---|
| 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. |
|---|
| Is the Bible inerrant? | Varies widely[16] | |
|---|
| Who can speak with God's authority today? | Nobody today can speak for God. | |
|---|
| What is marriage? | Varies widely[17][18][19] | Marriage is a covenant before God between one man and one woman.[20] |
|---|
| Is sex permissible outside marriage? | Varies widely[21][19] | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.[22] |
|---|
| When is divorce permissible? | Divorce is permissible for adultery or desertion.[23] | Divorce is permissible for adultery, abuse, or abandonment.[24] |
|---|
| May a Christian remarry while his former spouse is still alive? | The innocent party to the adultery may remarry.[25] | Yes, a Messianic Jew may freely remarry after a divorce which was for a valid reason.[24] |
|---|
| When does a fetus become human? | Most believe humanity begins at conception. Some say it is unknown when humanity begins.[26][27][28] | Humanity begins at conception.[29][30] |
|---|
| Is contraception permissible? | Yes, contraceptives are permissible. | Yes, contraceptives are permissible as long as the couple eventually have at least two children.[31] |
|---|
| Should women cover their heads? | | Varies widely[32][33][34] |
|---|
| Should Christians drink alcohol? | Yes, drinking alcohol is fine as long as one does not get drunk.[35] | Yes, drinking alcohol is fine as long as one does not get drunk.[36] |
|---|
| Should Christians fight in wars? | Yes, Christians should fight in just wars.[37] | |
|---|
| How should Christians musically worship God? | Any style of worship music is acceptable.[38] | |
|---|
| Whom does the Holy Spirit come from? | The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.[39][40] | |
|---|
| Do icons glorify God? | Varies widely[41][42][43][44] | |
|---|
| Where does a Christian's soul go after death? | Christians immediately go to heaven when they die.[5] | |
|---|