Number of Members | 22,000,000[1] | 77,000,000[2] |
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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.[3] | Repent of your sins, believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, and be baptized. |
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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 and who don't resist Him will be saved and no one else. |
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Can one lose his salvation? | Yes, a Christian can lose his salvation by apostasy.[3] | 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.[4] | The unsaved, typically as infants, get baptized 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.[4] | Baptism should be by pouring water on the head. |
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When does one receive the Holy Spirit? | The Holy Spirit is received at baptism.[5] | The Holy Spirit is received at the moment of salvation. |
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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? | Total depravity: Human nature is corrupt, naturally inclined to evil, and incapable of choosing God on his own. | Bondage of the will: 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, all Old Testament laws are binding on Christians except for animal sacrifices. | 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? | Most believe no, although Christians can and should sin less, they can never become sinless in this life.[6] | 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. | 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. |
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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] | Once Christians leave their sinful bodies, nothing else is needed to receive glorified, sinless bodies.[8][9][10] |
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Did Mary ever sin? | Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. | Most believe that, yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. |
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What spiritual gifts are available today? | Continuationism: All spiritual gifts are still available to believers.[11] | Most believe cessationism: Spiritual gifts used for serving are available today, while gifts used as signs have ceased.[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 three ordinances: Baptism, Holy Communion, and Footwashing.[15] | The church has two sacraments: 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. | General sinfulness should be confessed to a priest. This is usually done as a group during a service. |
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How should a church be structured? | 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. | Varies widely |
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What day of the week should Christians worship? | Christians should worship on Saturday. | Christians worship on Sunday. |
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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.[16] | Sola scriptura: The Bible is the only infallible source of God's revelation, sufficient for all faith and practice. |
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How was the Bible written? | Dynamic inspiration: God inspired the thoughts of the human authors, but the words were chosen by the authors.[17] | Varies widely[18][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? | The Bible is infallible, but not every word is without error.[20][21] | Varies widely[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? | Creationism: The earth was spoken into existence by God. | Varies widely |
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What is marriage? | Marriage is a covenant before God between one man and one woman.[25] | Varies widely[26][27][28] |
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Is sex permissible outside marriage? | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.[29] | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.[30][31] |
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When is divorce permissible? | Divorce is permissible for adultery or desertion.[25][32] | Divorce is permissible for adultery or desertion.[33][34] |
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May a Christian remarry while his former spouse is still alive? | The innocent party to the adultery may remarry.[32] | The innocent party to the adultery may remarry. |
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When does a fetus become human? | Humanity begins at conception.[35] | Most have no established doctrine. The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod believes life begins at conception.[36][37][38] |
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Is contraception permissible? | Yes, contraceptives are permissible.[39] | Yes, contraceptives are permissible.[30][40] |
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Are blood transfusions permissible? | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible.[41] | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible. |
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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? | No, alcohol should be totally avoided.[45][46][47] | Yes, drinking alcohol is fine as long as one does not get drunk. |
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Should Christians fight in wars? | Varies widely | Yes, Christians should fight in just wars.[48][49] |
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Whom does the Holy Spirit come from? | The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.[50] | The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.[51][52] |
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Where does a Christian's soul go after death? | Souls are unconscious after death until God raises them from "sleep".[53][54][55] | Christians immediately go to heaven when they die.[8] |
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