| a.k.a. | Chinese Patriotic | |
|---|
| Number of Members | 20,000,000[1] | 2,000,000 |
|---|
| How does one get saved? | Sola fide: Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection alone to save you.[2] | Repent of your sins, believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, and be baptized. |
|---|
| Who gets saved? | | 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? | | Yes, a Christian can lose his salvation by apostasy. |
|---|
| Who gets baptized and why? | Saved people get baptized as a public demonstration of their new lives.[3][4] | The believing but unsaved get baptized as part of their salvation. |
|---|
| How should baptism be done? | Baptism should be by sprinkling or immersion.[3] | Baptism should be by immersion. |
|---|
| When does one receive the Holy Spirit? | | The Holy Spirit is received at baptism. |
|---|
| 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.[5] | 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? | | Most believe human nature tends to sin, but it's not depraved. |
|---|
| Are we guilty of Adam's original sin? | | No, we are not guilty of Adam's sin, nor did we inherit a sinful nature from him, but we did inherit the consequences.[6][7][8][9] |
|---|
| Are Christians required to keep the Old Testament ceremonial laws? | No, the ceremonial laws of Judaism were fulfilled and done away with by Jesus. | No, the ceremonial laws of Judaism were fulfilled and done away with by Jesus. |
|---|
| Do the elements of communion become the body and blood of Christ? | No, the elements merely symbolically represent the body and blood of Christ.[3] | 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. |
|---|
| Did Mary ever sin? | | 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.[10] |
|---|
| How many church ordinances/sacraments are there? | The church has two ordinances: Baptism and Holy Communion.[3] | The church has two ordinances: Baptism and Holy Communion.[11] |
|---|
| 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.[2] | Confession should be made directly to God, but confession to another believer is beneficial for some sins.[12] |
|---|
| How should a church be structured? | Every church congregation should be governed by its members and the Chinese Communist Party. | Congregationalist: Every church congregation should be independent and governed by its members. |
|---|
| What day of the week should Christians worship? | Christians worship on Sunday.[13] | Christians worship on Sunday. |
|---|
| 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.[14] | Sola scriptura: The Bible is the only infallible source of God's revelation, sufficient for all faith and practice. |
|---|
| How was the Bible written? | | Verbal plenary inspiration: The Bible was written by men who had every word supernaturaly inspired by God. |
|---|
| How many books are in the Bible? | There are 66 canonical books of the Bible: 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books.[14] | There are 66 canonical books of the Bible: 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books. |
|---|
| Was the Bible written inerrantly? | | Yes, the Bible was written without any error. |
|---|
| Who can speak with God's authority today? | | Nobody today can speak for God. |
|---|
| How was the earth created? | | Creationism: The earth was spoken into existence by God. |
|---|
| What is marriage? | Marriage is a covenant before God between one man and one woman.[15] | Marriage is a covenant before God between one man and one woman.[16][17] |
|---|
| Is sex permissible outside marriage? | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.[15] | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.[18][19] |
|---|
| When is divorce permissible? | | Most believe divorce is only permissible for adultery.[20][21] |
|---|
| When does a fetus become human? | | Humanity begins at conception. |
|---|
| Is contraception permissible? | | Yes, contraceptives are permissible. |
|---|
| Are blood transfusions permissible? | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible. | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible. |
|---|
| Should women cover their heads? | | Most believe no, women's long hair is enough of a covering. |
|---|
| Should Christians drink alcohol? | | Most believe no, alcohol should be totally avoided. |
|---|
| Should Christians fight in wars? | Yes, Christians should fight in just wars. | |
|---|
| How should Christians musically worship God? | | Worship should be a cappella. |
|---|
| Where does a Christian's soul go after death? | | Christians immediately go to heaven when they die. |
|---|