/christian/ - Christian Discussion and Fellowship

Hi, it can be easy for newcomers to be overwhelmed by Christianity.

As a whole, I'd ignore Protestantism. Go for apostolic Christianity (Catholicism or Orthodoxy). These are the churches where the sacraments that Christ instituted (Eucharist, Reconciliation, etc) have been preserved.

If you haven't already, you should start reading the Bible (I'd start with the Gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). Also, read about the Early Church. This will tell you which one of the apostolic churches is the closest to the one where the earliest followers of Christ were in. When I followed the same journey as you, I found Catholicism to be the Church founded by Christ with Saint Pope Peter as his first vicar. The succession of popes has continued until today.

Matthew 16:18-19

<18 And I tell you, you are Peter,[a] and on this rock[b] I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12260a.htm

Also, I would recommend watching some videos by Bishop Barron to learn more about Christianity: https://www.youtube.com/user/wordonfirevideo/videos

His website: https://www.wordonfire.org/

May God bless you and please feel free to ask us to clarify any questions that you might have. I know that this might not mean much coming from an online stranger, but I will be praying for you while you continue your journey towards Christ. :)

First step is fully understanding orthodox Christology; who Jesus is and why he had die for our sins. Fully and humbly submit to God, remain faithful to him and allow him to guide you.

>>550286

>As a whole, I'd ignore Protestantism.

I agree with this for a new convert. Only in 'protestant' sects does the most base doctrine change. I would likely not know God if my Protestant mother was not taught orthodox Christology when she was raised Catholic. This kept her from being misled in the syncretic 70s when she submitted to Christ, and protestant churches are even worse now than they were then.

Non-trinitarianism, Modalism, Gnosticism, and Dispensationalism are probably the most mainstream heresies in Protestant churches

>>550286

>Christianity can be overwhelming at first

>ignore the people who only read the Bible and instead read the Bible and all of the church fathers which contradict eachother

>>550297

The gospel of John was written to get people saved

20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

So just read that first then decide. Also in King James Version.

http://www.bookbindery.ca/KJBIBLE.pdf

P.S. it teaches faith alone salvation

Salvation by faith alone

John

1

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

3

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

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.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

4

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

5

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

6

28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

7

38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

8

24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

11

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

12

46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

14

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

16

27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

20

31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

OSAS

6

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

10

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

14

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

>>550297

Read this.

>>550309

Do catholics ever bother to look up the Father's will or read the next two verses? You literally have to be a retard to think Matthew 7:21-23 means you have to do works considering the Father's will is just believe in Jesus(John 6:38-40) and verse 22 is peoplerelying on their works and faith and then in 23 Jesus tells them to srew off.

>>550313

Forgot pic

>>550313

>Jesus teaches the importance of bearing fruits in the preceding verses

>hurrrr it's not about doing good works you dumb dumb

>>550320

>fruit means wirks and not followers

>>550326

>tge people in verse 22 literally were boasting about their works you retard

>Jesus didn't prove they did the opposite of what they said they did

>>550331

>Jesus says you have to do the Father's will which is just believe on Jesus

>then talks about people literally relying in their faith and works to save them and then Jesus tells them to fuck off

>need to be a good boi to get saved

>>550334

>changing the subject to 18 chapters later

Also

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

>but the righteous into life eternal.

Romans 4:5

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

>faith is counted for righteousness

also

Titus 3

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

>>550336

>Can't go 18 chapters later

>but can go to Gospel of John, Epistle to the Romans, Titus…

>>550337

>has to woute stories after where Jesus said they would be hard to inderstand

>has to delete his previous post in hopes I didn't see it

>can woute 18 chapters later and go iff topic first but then when I do he calls me retardex

>>550341

>ignoring over literally 100 verses that show faith alone for a story that's unclear and only mentioned once and in other parts of the Bible it says we don't get righteousness by our works

>>550346

>Jesus saying "he that believes on me has everlasting life" is unclear but a long story where he talks about sheeps and goats is super duper clear

>>550348

>but a long story where he talks about sheeps and goats is super duper clear

>Jesus preaches in a manner that his apostles would need a book written decades later to understand what he's saying

>>550349

>Jesus never said to his apostles "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."

>>550353

>he thinks I think saying a prayer will save you

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?

>he thinks I think that you shouldn't do good works

>>550364

>I said you shouldn't do good works even though they won't save you

>>550367

>you can be saved even when you don't try to do good works

Imagine being this deceived.

>>550368

>you saved by works

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

>not of works

>well what he really meant was of works

>See bible verses that apparently support

>They could simply mean that it starts with faith

>Can still quote later verses to support the idea that it starts with faith but if your faith doesn't give you love or make you do works that faith is nothing

>The bible itself says that faith without love is futile

Come on now.

OK guys, that's enough. Only continue posting if you have actual content that might help OP, don't spam random Scripture verses at each other.