Belief in Jesus is a term generally synonymous with Christianity

Christianity

Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...

, indicating (generally speaking) a view that Jesus

Jesus

Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...

 was or is a being who was anointed by God

God

God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....

 as the Messiah

Messiah

A messiah is a redeemer figure expected or foretold in one form or another by a religion. Slightly more widely, a messiah is any redeemer figure. Messianic beliefs or theories generally relate to eschatological improvement of the state of humanity or the world, in other words the World to...

 prophesied in Judaism

Judaism

Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...

, and that his Gospel

Gospel

A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...

 ("good news") is a profound and loving message from God to all human beings —most dominantly conveying a message of hope for the transcendence of the soul, divine justice

Divine Judgment

Divine judgment means the judgment of God or other supreme beings within a religion. The concept is prominent in Abrahamic religions, most significantly in the Last judgment.-Objective and subjective judgment:...

, and an eternal life

Eternal life (Christianity)

In Christianity the term eternal life traditionally refers to continued life after death, rather than immortality. While scholars such as John H. Leith assert that...

 for those who believe.

Beyond this view however, Christian theology

Christian theology

- Divisions of Christian theology :There are many methods of categorizing different approaches to Christian theology. For a historical analysis, see the main article on the History of Christian theology.- Sub-disciplines :...

 is a vast, varied, differentiated, and mythical landscape. Many concepts with "Christianity" appear to contradict one another, or else they appear to be incompatible with other "Christian" views. And the concept that "belief in Jesus" can be discussed separately from "Christianity," raises some profound questions:

• Is it possible to "believe in Jesus" without subscribing to particular theological doctrines
  Christian theology
  - Divisions of Christian theology :There are many methods of categorizing different approaches to Christian theology. For a historical analysis, see the main article on the History of Christian theology.- Sub-disciplines :...
  
   described in various Christian doctrines?
• Which particular set of beliefs qualifes one as a "Christian", or in other words, what are the right beliefs
  Orthodoxy
  The word orthodox, from Greek orthos + doxa , is generally used to mean the adherence to accepted norms, more specifically to creeds, especially in religion...
  
  ?
• If one "Christian" believes in a very different concept of God, Jesus, the Trinity
  Trinity
  The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
  
  , etc. from another "Christian," what are the real common beliefs that all "Christians" share? Paleo-Orthodoxy
  Paleo-Orthodoxy
  Paleo-orthodoxy is a broad Christian theological movement of the late 20th and early 21st centuries which focuses on the consensual understanding of the faith among the Ecumenical Councils and Church Fathers...
  
  ? Christian primitivism?
• Does not believing in a particular doctrine about Jesus constitute a sin
  Sin
  In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
  
  , or even a mortal sin
  Mortal sin
  Mortal sins are in the theology of some, but not all Christian denominations wrongful acts that condemn a person to Hell after death. These sins are considered "mortal" because they constitute a rupture in a person's link to God's saving grace: the person's soul becomes "dead", not merely weakened...
  
   or Cafeteria Christianity
  Cafeteria Christianity
  "Cafeteria Christianity" is a derogatory term used by some Christians, and others, to accuse other Christian individuals or denominations of selecting which Christian doctrines they will follow, and which they will not.-First use in print:...
  
  ?

Nicene concepts

In general, most "Christians" (~90%) are associated with a religious institution (a "Church

Church Body

A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...

," or denomination

Christian denomination

A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...

) that adheres to the Nicene Creed

Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that is most widely used in Christian liturgy. It is called Nicene because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Nicaea by the first ecumenical council, which met there in the year 325.The Nicene Creed has been normative to the...

, which affirms the general belief that Jesus was the Messiah on Earth. Within this creed are several other doctrines:

• Jesus is called by God as his "Son", or else has ownership of a unique title as the Son of God
  Son of God
  "Son of God" is a phrase which according to most Christian denominations, Trinitarian in belief, refers to the relationship between Jesus and God, specifically as "God the Son"...
  
  , or even God the Son
  God the Son
  God the Son is the second person of the Trinity in Christian theology. The doctrine of the Trinity identifies Jesus of Nazareth as God the Son, united in essence but distinct in person with regard to God the Father and God the Holy Spirit...
  
  
• Jesus was born of God, not of man
• Jesus was

See also

• Justification (theology)
  Justification (theology)
  Rising out of the Protestant Reformation, Justification is the chief article of faith describing God's act of declaring or making a sinner righteous through Christ's atoning sacrifice....
  
  
• Orthodoxy
  Orthodoxy
  The word orthodox, from Greek orthos + doxa , is generally used to mean the adherence to accepted norms, more specifically to creeds, especially in religion...
  
  
• Sola fide
  Sola fide
  Sola fide , also historically known as the doctrine of justification by faith alone, is a Christian theological doctrine that distinguishes most Protestant denominations from Catholicism, Eastern Christianity, and some in the Restoration Movement.The doctrine of sola fide or "by faith alone"...