The Christian Position ( Summary)
A modern Christian is someone who believes that Jesus is God incarnate, whose death and resurrection uniquely secure salvation from sin, and that right relationship with God depends primarily on faith in him as revealed through Scripture and upheld by the Christian religious tradition.
A modern Christian assumes that:
Jesus is not merely a teacher or prophet
He is God incarnate (fully divine, usually also fully human)
His identity is ontologically unique and central to reality
This belief is foundational; denying it usually places one outside Christianity as it is currently defined.
A modern Christian believes that:
Jesus’ crucifixion was necessary for salvation
His death accomplished something metaphysical (forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, satisfaction of justice, defeat of evil, etc.)
Human beings could not save themselves without this event
Even where theories differ (penal substitution, Christus Victor, moral influence), the cross is essential, not incidental.
A modern Christian assumes that:
Right relationship with God depends on faith in Jesus
Belief is not merely admiration or imitation, but trust in his person and work
Salvation is ultimately granted by grace, not earned by ethical behavior alone
Good works are typically seen as evidence of faith, not its basis.
A modern Christian believes:
Jesus physically rose from the dead
This resurrection validates:
His divinity
His authority
The efficacy of his death
Without the resurrection, Christianity collapses
This is not symbolic in mainstream belief.
A modern Christian assumes:
The Bible is uniquely inspired or authoritative
The New Testament reliably communicates God’s will
Correct belief is derived from Scripture (even if mediated by tradition or church authority)
Disagreement exists over interpretation, but Scripture’s authority is assumed.
Being Christian is primarily defined by:
What one affirms
Not primarily by ethical practice or way of life
One can fail morally and still be Christian if belief is retained.
Most modern Christians assume:
Churches, clergy, sacraments, or ordained teaching structures are legitimate mediators of God’s truth
Christianity exists as a religion, not merely a moral way
Even low-church traditions still assume communal and doctrinal boundaries.
A modern Christian believes:
Jesus uniquely reveals God’s nature and will
Other moral or religious insights are secondary or incomplete without him
Knowing Jesus (theologically) is necessary for knowing God fully
These are usually assumed, not argued:
Humans are fundamentally sinful or broken in a way they cannot fix
God requires a solution to sin, not merely repentance
Moral intuition alone is insufficient without revelation
Divine justice requires a redemptive act, not just ethical reform
Correct belief matters eternally
The Debate
This discussion forum will examine the arguments from both sides as to how well above definition accurately reflect the position of the historical Jesus and his earliest followers.
Discussion One : An introduction to the diversity of Christian communities prior to orthodoxy.
Discussion Two : What if we only had Mark ( the earliest canonised gospel) to work from ?
Discussion Three : Early, non-canonical texts and reported heresies.
Discussion Four : The Imperial Agenda, why orthodoxy mattered to Rome.
Background: When we say we are looking at Early Christianity, the dividing line is around the 4th century. To help understand this transition point Archeologist Alice Roberts discusses with Dan Snow what happened during and after the full Romanisation of Christianity from which all contemporary demoninations emerged.