On Jesus and the Bible?

it doesnt say you have to be a christian. the bible says you have to beleive jesus died for you. the bible doesnt say you have to have a set in stone prayer that you say. it says you have to beleive jesus died for you. christian is a term we use that most can understan. it is only a term like: baptist, methodist, luthern, etc......

Well, the Bible is the actual document, specifically, the New Testament and the 4 Gospels at the beginning of the New Testament, that record exactly what you mentioned, that Jesus said that He is the way.

So therefore, it is very helpful to have a physical document, the Bible, that helps people who follow Jesus Christ to show others the way. If someone just says, "Hey follow Jesus!!!" its probably going to take a lot more effort to convince people that Jesus is who he says he is, if you didn't have the Bible.

Also, just to note, these days, there are some interfaith programs available that allow people to stay in their own religion and take a look at other religions.

Well, I've tried to answer this apart from my own personal beliefs and tried just to answer your exact question.

Hope all this helps you in some positive way....

God bless...

p.s., As far as having to be classified as a Christian, one can only speculate. If you know anything about human behavior, I would think that if a person calls themselves a Christian, it helps tremendously to know that as a Christian, they have a large organization to the help them support their beliefs. Even today, Christians are persecuted for their beliefs in a sometimes not so friendly world, so having other Christians, a church, and the organization of that congregation to protect them is very helpful

As you say, Christ is the way (Jn 14:6).

Jesus disciples were called Christians at Antioch (Acts 11:26)

Christianity began as a Jewish sect, so in effect, Christianity is Messianic Judaism ("Christ" is the Greek for the Hebrew "Messiah".)

Messianic Muslim is a different story. Muslims teach that the biblical account of Jesus is basically wrong.

To be saved, you must believe that Jesus died for your sins and He is your Lord & Savior. You must ask for forgiveness of all sins and accept Jesus' Gift of Salvation.

When we are "born again" we take on the name of Christian because we become children of God and equal heirs to the Kingdom Of Heaven, just as His son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus' diciples were Jewish, but became the first Christians when they decided to follow Him.

Many religions follow the teachings of Jesus, but do not believe that He is God. That does not make them Christian.

Some Messianic religions believe in "a Messiah", but that does not neccessarily mean "Jesus"...You would have to check out those religions individually

John 14:6:

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

John 3:36:

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

Read the Book of Acts and 1 Corinthians for more information on the early christian church.

Gordon, the expression Christians came about after Jesus was resurrected from the dead. In the town of Antioch people began calling "followers of the way", Christ-Ones or Christians. That's how we got our "name".

We are called after Christ because we follow Him fully. He said of himself, "I am the way, the truth and the life, NO man can come to the father, but by me." This is very important because His way is different from ALL the others. The others said things like "we are seeking the truth", not I am the truth. One other example for me is that Buddhists believe the whole of life is pain and the purpose of buddhism is to teach us how to separate ourselves from life by wanting nothing. I hope I said that correctly. My point is that these other religions have ideas that will not mesh with Christianity. Jesus was the only one who basically said. "My way IS the highway"! So everyone has to deal with the fact that Jesus is an absolute kind of God - he isn't a blend with all the rest kind of God. NOW days it is terribly UN-Politically Correct to be an absolutist about anything. Jesus is right or He is crazy or He is a liar - He forces you to choose, you can't be undecided about Him. All I know is that I can't live without Him. His love means everything to me. I am weak. I do need a Savior, a God, a Friend and so much more and He is all that and more. I would love for you to meet my love - my Jesus.

Becuase other religions do not follow christ. They do now see Him as the Son of God. If you don't believe this you will go to Hell. I am sure some catholics and other religious people that are not christian will go to heaven but most religgions serve a different version of Christ. Thats why they are not classified as christians.

First, There are Messianic Jews, more commonly known as Jews for Jesus, who believe as Christ instructed. Now, the requirement to enter heaven is summed up quite plainly in John 3:16.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

One must believe in GOD, that JESUS is HIS only begotten Son, and that JESUS died upon the cross for the cleansing of our sins, and rose again.

You mention other religions, but the problem there is they do not believe Christ Jesus is the Son of GOD. Some believe Jesus only to be a prophet, some believe not at all and that HE is a myth. Some believe they need to be forgiven by both Mary and Jesus (sorry, Mary cannot grant remission of sins), some believe that Muhammed is the way, and some believe they themselves will become a god, and therefore are already in good standing.

The definition of a "Christian: is one who aspires to live as Christ did with unconditional Love of one and all, not condemning, but coming to save those that were lost, by leading by example, not judging others for their differences of opinion, beliefs, etc. We are not to force the Love of GOD on no one, just as GOD never forced it on us..

Christian's are by no means perfect, we are believers of Christ, and we try to be as GOD has instructed us to be, and when we fall, make mistakes, commit sin, we should know to "sincerely ask forgiveness and repent" of that sin. Repent means to turn away from, about face, in other words, live life in repentance, acknowledge the Word of GOD in our speech, our daily life, and the way we approach others. That's the description of a Christian.

Lastly, Peter and the deciples were clasified as Chrsitians because they were indeed, FOLLOWER's of Christ, not because of a religion. True Christianity is not a "religion", but a living, breathing, Father child relationship with the Hevaenly Father, Christ Jesus, and The Holy Spirit!

This is sometimes referred to The Christian Walk, meaning your constant walk in the ways of GOD and Christ JESUS!

I hope that sheds some light for you, and explains the separation of certain religions vs Christianity.

Only Christianity acknowledges that Christ was and is God. Only Christianity believe in His physical resurrection. Only Christianity believes that Christ took the punishment due to them for sins upon Himself. All other beliefs see Him as no more than a good man or a prophet. All other beliefs have a set of rules, laws, regulations and rituals to make one "right" with God. Christianity says it is all done, through Christ. He did it all to ensure the salvation of His people. The teachings of Christ are diametrically opposed by all other beliefs. In John 14:6, He says, "I am the way" not a way, "I am the truth" not I am a truth or know truth, "I am the life" not I have life or a life, "No one comes to the Father except through Me" not by simply believing in some of His teachings or believing He existed, but through His death and resurrection, which forgave, redeemed, and justified His people. Christians are simply "little Christ', which is what the term means, those who follow Christ and are saved by His work.

The term "Christian" is a the Bible term that describes those who followed Jesus. "..And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch" (Acts 11:26).

To be a follower of the Biblical Jesus means you cannot serve two Masters.

(2 Cor 6:14-17) "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? {15} And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? {16} And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. {17} Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,"

For instance, the Biblical Jesus has/is the Son of God from Heaven, "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim. 3:16) who died and rose again, and who commanded us to live by the Word of God, meaning the Jewish Scriptures and the New Testament which flowed from it, whereas the Jesus of the Muslims is none and did none of the above and it's Quran is fully of blatant contradictions of the Bible.

The Jesus of Rome has believers praying to His mother, and always does His mothers bidding, and exalts Rome over the Bible, and make it's nebulous church tradition equal to it, but this is not what the Jesus of the Bible taught.

Beloved, I think you are confused on the two issues.

To be a Christian is to be Christ-like. When you get saved, you become a Christian..

I'm not very familiar with Muslim, etc religions so I cannot comment on that.

By "Christian", we mean a follower of Christ. One cannot be saved without following Jesus.

One cannot be a Christian and Muslim, Buddhist or Taoist at the same time. That's an oxymoron.

But one can be a Christian and remain an Arab, Thai or Chinese. Christianity is trans-cultural.