Some Basic Concepts of Christianity

Christian

        

            Christians remained the largest religious group in the world in 2015, making up nearly a third (31%) of Earth’s 2.3 billion people. The faith represents approximately one-third of the world's population and is the largest religion in the world. This faith is the predominant (largest) religion in Europe, Russia, North America, South America, the Philippines, East Timor, Southern Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, and Oceania. There are also large Christian communities in other parts of the world, such as Indonesia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, where Christianity is the second-largest religion after Islam. The United States has the largest Christian population in the world, followed by Brazil and Mexico. Christianity is the focused on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe to be the Son of God. He was born in Bethlehem in the Middle East over 2000 years ago. Many Christians worship in the churches. Some of the groups meet in homes and other buildings. The meaning of 'Church' is the gathering of Christians as well as the building in which Christians worship.

             The three largest groups of Christians are the Roman Catholic Church, Protestantism, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. There also many small group of Christians as; Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Episcopalian, Mormon, Churches of Christ, Nondenominational,  United Church of Christ, Jehovah's Witness, Assemblies of God, Evangelica, Church of God, Seventh-Day Adventist, Orthodox (Eastern), Holiness, Church of the Nazarene, Disciples of Christ, Church of the Brethren, Mennonite, Dutch Reform, New Apostolic, Quaker, Christian Science, Full Gospel, Christian Reform, Independent Christian Church, Foursquare Gospel, Fundamentalist, Born Again,  Salvation Army.

Roman Catholic Church: The largest Christian denomination (group) is the Catholic Church. There are an estimated 1.2 billion Roman Catholics in the world, according to Vatican figures. More than 40% of the world's Catholics live in Latin America - but Africa has seen the biggest growth in Catholic congregations in recent years.

Basic Beliefs of Catholicism 

Catholics are, first and foremost, Christians who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Catholicism shares some beliefs with other Christian practices, but essential Catholic beliefs include the following:

·         The Bible is the inspired, error-free, and revealed word of God.

·         Baptism, the rite of becoming a Christian, is necessary for salvation — whether the Baptism occurs by water, blood, or desire.

·         God’s Ten Commandments provide a moral compass — an ethical standard to live by.

·         The existence of the Holy Trinity — one God in three persons. Catholics embrace the belief that God, the one Supreme Being, is made up of three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Protestantism: Protestantism originated in the 16th-century Reformation and most modern Protestant denominations can trace their heritage to one of the major movements that sprung up in the 16th century. There are at least 800 million Protestants worldwide, among approximately 2.4 billion Christians. Among the 800 million included 300 million in Sub-Saharan Africa, 260 million in the Americas, 140 million in Asia-Pacific region, 100 million in Europe and 2 million in Middle East-North Africa.  

Basic Beliefs of Protestantism

·        Protestants often express the idea that salvation is by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone. This assertion views justification as specific point upon which God declares that you are righteous—a point where you enter into the Christian life.

·       Protestants believe that the Bible alone is the source of God’s special revelation to mankind and teaches us all that is necessary for our salvation from sin. Protestants view the Bible as the standard by which all Christian behavior must be measured.

·       Protestants believe that no human being is infallible and that Christ alone is the Head of the Church.

·      Protestants believe that, on the basis of faith in Christ alone, believers are justified by God, as all their sins are paid for by Christ on the cross and His righteousness is imputed to them.

Orthodox Christianity: Orthodox Christianity is one of three distinct branches of the Christian religion. Orthodox Christians are divided between the Eastern Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodoxy. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest communion in the world after the Roman Catholic Church. The Oriental Orthodoxy have close beliefs but practice separate religious rites with the Oriental Orthodoxy being more diverse than the conservative Eastern Orthodox Church. Eastern Orthodoxy is dominant in Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine while Oriental Orthodoxy is evident in Armenia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.

Eastern Orthodox Church Beliefs

·         Authority of Scripture - Orthodox Christians believe the Holy Scriptures (as interpreted and defined by church teaching in the first seven ecumenical councils) along with Holy Tradition are of equal value and importance.

·         Baptism - Orthodox Christians believe baptism is the initiator of the salvation experience. The Orthodox Church practices baptism by full immersion.

·         Eucharist - The Eucharist is the center of worship in the Orthodox Church. Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that during the Eucharist believers partake mystically of Christ's body and blood and through it receive his life and strength.

·         Holy Spirit - Orthodox Christians believe that the Holy Spirit is one of the persons of the Trinity, who proceeds from the Father and is one in essence with the Father. The Hol Spirit is given by Christ as a gift to the church, to empower for service, to place God's love in our hearts, and to impart spiritual gifts for the Christian life and witness.

·         Jesus Christ - Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity, God's Son, fully divine and fully human. He became flesh through Mary but was without sin. He died on the cross as man's Savior. He resurrected and ascended to heaven. He will return to judge all men.

·         Mary - Orthodox Christians believe Mary has supreme grace and is to be highly honored, but they reject the doctrine of Immaculate Conception.

·         Predestination - God has foreknowledge of man's destiny, but he does not predestine him.

·         Saints and Icons - Orthodox Christians practice veneration of icons; reverence is directed toward the person they represent and not the relics themselves.

·         Salvation - Salvation is a gradual, life-long process by which Christians become more and more like Christ. This requires faith in Jesus Christ, working through love.

·         The Trinity - Orthodox Christians believe there are three persons in the Godhead, each divine, distinct and equal. The Father God is the eternal head; the Son is begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father.

The holy book of Christian is the Bible. It is divided into the Old Testament and New Testaments.