| a.k.a. | Chinese Patriotic | |
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| Number of Members | 20,000,000[1] | 2,130,000[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] | 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. |
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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] | Saved people get baptized as a public demonstration of their new lives. |
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| How should baptism be done? | Baptism should be by sprinkling or immersion.[4] | 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. |
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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? | | 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. |
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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? | | Yes, Christian perfection is possible. |
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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] | No, the elements merely symbolically represent the body and blood of Christ. |
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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. |
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| Did Mary ever sin? | | Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. |
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| How many church ordinances/sacraments are there? | The church has two ordinances: Baptism and Holy Communion.[4] | Traditionally, the church has seven signs/ordinances: Baptism, Holy Communion, Footwashing, the Holy Kiss, Anointing of the Sick, and Marriage.[7][8] |
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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] | |
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| How should a church be structured? | Every church congregation should be governed by its members and the Chinese Communist Party. | Generally congregationalist: Every church congregation should be independent and governed by its members.[9] |
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| What day of the week should Christians worship? | Christians worship on Sunday.[10] | 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.[11] | |
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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.[11] | 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.[12][13][14] |
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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.[15] | Varies widely |
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| Is sex permissible outside marriage? | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.[15] | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible. |
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| When is divorce permissible? | | Divorce is only permissible for adultery. |
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| May a Christian remarry while his former spouse is still alive? | | No, a Christian should not remarry while his former spouse lives. |
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| When does a fetus become human? | | Humanity begins at conception.[16] |
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| Is contraception permissible? | | Yes, contraceptives are permissible. |
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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? | | Yes, women should cover their heads to symbolize submission whenever in public.[17] |
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| Should Christians drink alcohol? | | Varies widely[18] |
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| Should Christians fight in wars? | Yes, Christians should fight in just wars. | No, Christians should never fight.[19] |
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| Where does a Christian's soul go after death? | | Christians immediately go to heaven when they die. |
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