What is the common definition of a Christian?
The word Christian is commonly defined as (Adjective) of, relating to, or professing Christianity or its teachings. Having or showing qualities associated with Christians, especially those of decency, kindness, and fairness.
(Noun) a person who has received Christian baptism or is a believer in Jesus Christ and his teachings. Origin: Late Middle English: from Greek Christianos.
How does the Bible define a Christian?
The word Christian is used three times in the Bible (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). In each instance the Greek word Christianos is used, which is defined Biblically as a follower of Christ.
The word Christ, which is the root of the world Christian, is defined as the Messiah or anointed One, referring to Jesus Christ
The word Christian can be summed up Biblically as someone who is a follower of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately many people who claim to be Christians do not seem to exhibit the characteristics and lifestyles that demonstrate that they follow Jesus Christ. With this in mind, a short study of Acts 11:20-26 will clarify the characteristics and lifestyles of a Christian.
Holy Spirit:
It becomes abundantly clear that the Holy Spirit plays a major role in the lives of Christians. In Romans 8:14, Paul defines the Christian very clearly:
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
The Holy Spirit identifies us with Christ (Romans 8:9).
it makes immortality possible to human, mortal beings (Romans 8:11).
it makes possible an obedient, overcoming Christian life (Romans 8:13).
and it truly leads (guides, empowers and motivates) the sons of God. In short, God’s Spirit—also called the Spirit of Christ—is what makes one a Christian, a Spirit-led follower of Jesus Christ.
What is Christian education?
Many people have heard of Christian schools but what does it mean to have Christian education and a Christian school? Is the education any different? Whether it’s learning how to run a 400m race, learning how to spell “rendezvous”, or learning to factorise a polynomial, all knowing has its ultimate meaning and purpose when framed by God’s big picture story anchored in Jesus.
All forms of education will have a particular perspective on life. It may not always be obvious or overtly stated, but it will shape how things are understood and spoken about, how things are done, and what is chosen to be taught. This might be in the form of assumptions about the nature and origins of the world, or it might be evident through suggestions about the purpose of life and indeed what it means to be fulfilled as a human. No form of education is neutral as it will always be providing a particular lens through which the student sees the world and their place in it.
Celebration Of Name day:
According to tradition, it was Christ, of course, who re-named both his Disciples and various others in the New Testament (St. Mary Magdalene, for example). (See "Orthodox Tradition," Vol. XV, No. 4, pp. 26-27; "Scripture and Tradition"). Christians were also exhorted to take the names of Prophets and Saints by the authors of the first Catechetical texts of the primitive Church. It was also at this time that Liturgies were universally celebrated in honor of the Martyrs, Apostles, and Saints, when those having their names would commemorate them.
According to tradition, then, the commemoration of the names of holy persons, including the Mother of God, is Apostolic (hence the origins of the Service of the Elevation of the Panaghia). It is a wholly Western idea that the celebration of Name Days is anything but an Apostolic practice. It grew out of the veneration of Martyrs and Saints and was a natural, organic part of the commemoration of Baptism. Consulting Western historical texts, instead of Orthodox Patristic tradition, will do little to clarify this practice and shows a rather serious deficit in how to approach our Church’s traditions.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with more than 1.27 billion members worldwide.[3] As one of the oldest religious institutions in the world, it has played a prominent role in the history of Western civilisation.[4]Headed by the Bishop of Rome, known as the pope,[5] its doctrines are summarised in the Nicene Creed. The Catholic Church is notable withinWestern Christianity for its sacred tradition and seven sacraments.
The Catholic Church teaches that it is the one true church founded by Jesus Christ,[6][note 2][9] that its bishops are the successors of Christ'sapostles, and that the pope is the successor to Saint Peter.[10] The Catholic Church maintains that the doctrine on faith and morals that it declares as definitive is infallible.[11][note 3] The Latin Church, the Eastern Catholic Churches, as well as institutes such as mendicant ordersand enclosed monastic orders, reflect a variety of theological and spiritual emphases in the Church.[12][13]
Nicene Creed:
The Nicene Creed (Greek: Σύμβολον τῆς Νικαίας or τῆς πίστεως, Latin: Symbolum Nicaenum) is a profession of faith widely used in Christianliturgy.
It is called Nicene /ˈnaɪsiːn/ because it was originally adopted in the city of Nicaea (present day Iznik, Turkey) by the First Council of Nicaea in325.[1] In 381, it was amended at the First Council of Constantinople, and the amended form is referred to as the Nicene or the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed.
According to churches that consider the decisions of ecumenical councils final, [Trinitarianism] was definitively declared to be Christian doctrine at the 4th-century ecumenical councils,[1][2][3] that of the First Council of Nicaea (325), which declared the full divinity of theSon,[4]and the First Council of Constantinople (381), which declared the divinity of the Holy Spirit.
In terms of number of adherents, [nontrinitarian denominations] comprise a small minority of modern Christianity. By far the three largest nontrinitarian denominations are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("Mormons"), Jehovah's Witnesses and theIglesia Ni Cristo , though there are a number of other smaller ones, including the Christadelphians, Christian Scientists, Dawn Bible Students, Living Church of God, Oneness Pentecostals, Members Church of God International, Unitarian Universalist Christians, The Way International, The Church of God International and the United Church of God.[6]
Nontrinitarian views differ widely on the nature of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Various nontrinitarian views, such asAdoptionism,Monarchianism, and Subordinationism existed prior to the formal definition of the Trinity doctrine in A.D. 325, 381, and 431, at the Councils of Nicaea, Constantinople, and Ephesus.[7] Nontrinitarianism was later renewed by Cathars in the 11th through 13th centuries, in the Unitarian movement during the Protestant Reformation, in the Age of Enlightenment of the 18th century, and in some groups arising during the Second Great Awakening of the 19th century.
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity is not present in other major Abrahamic religions. See separate articles discussing the views about this doctrine held by Judaism and Islam.
Gospel narratives: [Baptism, Sacraments]
The baptism of Jesus marks the beginning of his public ministry. This event is described in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.
Most modern theologians view the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist as a historical event to which a high degree of certainty can be assigned if religious texts are taken at face value.[1][2][3][4][5] Along with the crucifixion of Jesus, most biblical scholars view it as one of the [two historically certain facts] about him, and often use it as the starting point for the study of the historical Jesus.[6]
[Five major milestones in the Gospel Narrative] of the life of Jesus
Baptism
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