a.k.a. | Chinese Patriotic | |
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Number of Members | 20,000,000[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? | | 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. |
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Who gets baptized and why? | Saved people get baptized as a public demonstration of their new lives.[4][5] | 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 sprinkling or 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 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.[6] | 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? | | 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? | | 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? | 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. |
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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. |
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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.[4] | 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][8][9] |
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Did Mary ever sin? | | Most believe that, yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. |
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What spiritual gifts are available today? | | Most believe cessationism: Spiritual gifts used for serving are available today, while gifts used as signs have ceased.[10] |
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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.[11][12] |
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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 two ordinances: Baptism and Holy Communion.[4] | 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.[3] | 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? | Every church congregation should be governed by its members and the Chinese Communist Party. | Varies widely |
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What day of the week should Christians worship? | Christians worship on Sunday.[13] | 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.[14] | 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? | | Varies widely[15][16] |
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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.[14] | 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? | | Varies widely[17][18] |
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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.[19] |
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How was the earth created? | | Varies widely |
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What is marriage? | Marriage is a covenant before God between one man and one woman.[20] | Varies widely[21][22][23] |
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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.[24][25] |
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When is divorce permissible? | | Divorce is permissible for adultery or desertion.[26][27] |
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May a Christian remarry while his former spouse is still alive? | | The innocent party to the adultery may remarry. |
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When does a fetus become human? | | Most have no established doctrine. The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod believes life begins at conception.[28][29][30] |
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Is contraception permissible? | | Yes, contraceptives are permissible.[24][31] |
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Are blood transfusions permissible? | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible. | 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.[32][33][34] |
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Should Christians drink alcohol? | | Yes, drinking alcohol is fine as long as one does not get drunk. |
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Should Christians fight in wars? | Yes, Christians should fight in just wars. | Yes, Christians should fight in just wars.[35][36] |
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Whom does the Holy Spirit come from? | | The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.[37][38] |
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Where does a Christian's soul go after death? | | Christians immediately go to heaven when they die.[7] |
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