What do Christians believe?

Answer 1

A Christian is simply a person who believes in Jesus Christ is God (and/or the son of God), believes that the Bible is inspired from God, and that Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead to save us from our our sins.

The scope of Christian belief is too great to cover in a single, short answer. Moreover, there are many denominations, or sects of Christianity, with each having its own beliefs on at least some parts of the Christian faith. In brief, Christians believe:

• That there is only one God, and that God is the God they worship;
• God is really three in one: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Ghost. Some Christians dissent from this view.
• That Jesus is the Son of God, who came to earth, was crucified, but rose again to forgive the sins of the world.
• For Mormons, there are other gods, but people do not need to be concerned about them.
• That Christians must be baptised with water, so that they can participate in the benefits of the Christian afterlife. For some, baptism also removes "original sin".

• There is a heaven, to which faithful Christians, whose sins have been forgiven, go when they die.
• There is a hell, to which non-believers go when they die, as do those Christians who have not had their sins forgiven.
• For Roman Catholic Christians, there is also a purgatory, to which Christians go if they have committed minor ('venial') sins that have not been forgiven.
• For Roman Catholic Christians, there is also a limbo, to which unbaptised infants go until they can go to heaven. This doctrine may be under review.
• That "original sin" came about when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.
• That sins can be forgiven by prayer (Protestant denominations) or by confession to a priest (Catholic).
• For many Christians, the biblical creation accounts in Genesis, generally thought of as a single creation account, literally describe the origins of the world.

Another Answer:

Limbo is not a doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church (from Wikipedia.org)

Being a Christian is not always simple!

Christians are quite diverse (2.1 billion people) and hold a variety of beliefs; almost any description of Christians will have exceptions.

Not all Christians believe that Jesus literally rose from the dead. One interpretation is that Jesus sacrificed his life for infinite/eternal life which may not be a material circumstance. (Discussion with Disciples of Christ pastor)

Concepts of heaven and hell vary among Christians in different denominations. For example, for the Jehovah's Witnesses, hell means death, not eternal punishment.

The concept of original sin is not universal in Christianity, particularly in the Restoration Churches--Churches of Christ, Christian Churches and Disciples of Christ. Mormons also reject the belief in original sin. (Wikipedia.org)

Protestants have a diversity of opinions on sin and redemption. A typical view is that by being a faithful Christian, your sins are already atoned for. Christianity can include some controversial practices such as polygamy, but that is not a "mainstream" view.

Scriptural Short Answer:

Matthew 22:36-40 (New International Version)36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Additional Answer:

Christians believe in Jesus Christ, that he died on a cross in their place. Not nessacarily they would die on a cross, but that they would die. They die physically, but their souls go to heaven, where everything is perfect.

Mainstream Answer:Christians believe in the one true God, the God that created heaven and earth and everything upon the face of the earth including mankind that issued forth from Adam and Eve. We believe that God represents Himself in three Persons. God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit. We believe in the Holy Bible as God's inspired word to mankind. We believe that Jesus Christ came to earth from heaven, born as a human being to Mary in Bethlehem, and that Jesus Christ was the sinless sacrifice that was crucified on the cross of Calvary to pay for the sins of mankind and that He was buried and was risen three days later. We believe that Jesus Christ is coming back for the second time to judge and to rule on David's throne in Jerusalem for 1000 years and then the Kingdom will continue on in the new heaven and new earth with the New Jerusalem. We believe in a literal hell and eternal suffering of all who do not accept Jesus Christ as Savior and we believe that the only way to God the Father in heaven is through Jesus the Christ.

We believe that we are to be persons who point the way to Jesus Christ and while we are on this earth we should help others as best we can and show them the love of God.

Another View:

As I read down the page of answers to this question I thought to my self. The Holy Bible is the true Word of God. A Christian is a person who reads the bible and obeys it. There are a lot of off the wall answers as to what Christians believe. If it is not in the Bible there is no truth in it. God's word is the AUTHORITY. You have to be careful what you read and the intreperatation of what you read. There is no limbo or purgatory in the bible. The resurrection of jesus Christ is essential to being a Christian (read I Corinthians 15:). There is a literal heaven and hell, Original sin is removed when salvation is gained. What I am saying is what a Christian believes is in the New Testament and if a person(s) have varying doctrines they better read and understand what the Ture Word of God tells them. All else is ERROR.
Christians believe that we were made by God, for God, but that we rebelled against him and deserve his punishment. Jesus, who is fully God, became a human being, lived a perfect life and died on the cross. Christians believe he was a sacrifice, dying instead of us, taking the punishment we deserve from God. God raised him from the dead, guaranteeing eternal life for all who trust in him, but leaving those who will not trust in him still under God's righteous condemnation.

Answer 2

The Apostle's CreedI believe in God, the Father Almighty,maker of heaven and earth.And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,and born of the virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died and was buried.He descended into hell.On the third day He rose again from the dead.He ascended into heavenand sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy Christian church, the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting. Amen.