What are the "foundational beliefs" of Christianity, ie what you must believe to be a Christian?

1. Jesus is God, Who became flesh and was born of a virgin

2. Jesus died for our sins, all the works necessary to purchase our salvation, Jesus did for us and we can't do anything to add to what He already did

3. We need to admit we are sinners and repent in other words turn our back on our sins.

4. We must believe Jesus rose physically from the dead

5. We must accept all of the above, and receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord.

35 years ago I contemplated going to seminary and was given a copy of a 400 year old, 800 page book which contained the "theology of our church".

Then I visited a church and asked their pastor about what they believed and he gave me a single sheet of typing paper, with 14 statements written on it. It all fit on one piece of paper.

I tried to condense those 14 to 5 for you.

Since then they expanded their 14 statements to 16.

Pastor Art

PS: As you study the Bible and Science openly and honestly side by side I think anyone will come to the conclusion that there was a 6 day creation but your salvation does not depend on that.

The Bible says getting drunk is a sin and its better if you don't but that's one of the many sins Jesus died to save us from, because God knows we have and will mess up.

However your salvation is not dependent on you never drinking again.

I believe the Bible teaches that Jesus is God who came in the flesh and that is essential. That teaching should lead you to believe that the Trinity is a word which describes the full Diety of Jesus and the God head. But the word trinity does not appear in the Bible and being saved does NOT require people to have perfect theology.

I think this is a good foundational belief: "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so." part of a hymn quoted by Karl Barth. (source wikipedia) Backed up with this biblical reference. 'Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life.' John 3:16

Mentioning Karl Barth suggests that there would be a dialectic with a verse such as: 'To listen to the word and not obey is like looking at your own features in a mirror and then, after a quick look, going off and immediately forgetting what you looked like. But the man who looks steadily at the perfect law of freedom and makes that his habit - not listening and forgetting, but actively putting it into practice - will be happy in all that he does.' James 1:23-25

So a person has to believe in Jesus to be saved. This belief leads to a change in their attitude to be more like Jesus. Anyone who believes in Jesus this way is a Christian imo. Who is saved, how they were saved and what else they believe in is not so important.

Additional q's. I believe in the Trinity as a good concept because it is a good synthesis of the dialectic between God as the Father and the Son. I don't believe in a literal 6 day creation because the two creation accounts contradict each other as I read them literally. Lastly drinking alcohol is a sin if it is drunk to excess.

If you are following scripture, there are ten commandments. That includes resting and worshiping on the special days that YAHOSHUA set apart. It also includes Ex 23:13 -- not to call the Almighty by heathen names. There are 3800 'denominations' (I am told) and none of them follow scripture. Thus each needs to set up a 'creed' so you understand what it is you are affirming by joining their congregation. Salvation is like a marriage contract offered by YAHOSHUA. Take His name, follow His rules, and you become His 'bride' and He saves you in the end. Torah explains what these rules are. Somehow 'Christianity' decided they could have the benefits without agreeing to the contract. YHVH never permitted that.

The Bible says a person becomes a Christian by placing his faith in Jesus Christ. This is known as being saved or born again.

Must Be Born Again

The Bible teaches that no one can enter the kingdom of heaven unless they are born again.

Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, they cannot see the kingdom of God' (John 3:3).

Hence, being born again is absolutely essential to becoming a Christian.

Faith In Jesus

To become born again, a person must put their faith in Jesus as Savior. The Bible says:

That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation (Romans 10:9,10).

This requires an act of the will.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on his name (John 1:12).

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13).

When a person trusts Christ as Savior they do so by their own choice.

Relationship

Becoming a Christian involves entering into a relationship with the Living God.

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (John 17:3).

Eternal Transaction

When a person trusts Christ it is forever:

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life (John 3:36).

One does not become a Christian by natural birth self-determination, or self-improvement. It is by admitting we cannot reach God through our own strength. We must come to the place where we ask the Lord to forgive us our sins based upon the sacrifice of Christ. The Bible is clear on this matter—without being saved or born again a person cannot enter God's kingdom.

you must put your faith in christ finish work,death, burial, resurection,he died on the cross for the sins of the whole world his last words were it is finished the sins is over, the only sin left in the world is unbelief in jesus. now he can give you eternal life his resurected life he who has the son has life he who does not have the son does not have life,now he comes and lives in us today, the example he give, he did only what the father told him to do, and said only what he was to say,so send I you, it is all of him and none of us he is rightious we stand in his rightousness,inter his rest,this is love! budda, mohamond, pope,only jesus has resurred life to give!