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Updated: Classes to Become A Christian?: What Scripture Says About Confirmation, Catechumen, and Chrismation



It is ridiculous that church teachers like Origen and church leaders today teach that you have to go to long catechism classes (like seminary) till you can become a Christian. This is absurd! Cornelius and his Household got saved and baptized in the Spirit while St. Peter was preaching the gospel (Acts 10:34-48). 

Jesus Christ our Lord said “For God so loved the world that he sent His One and Only Son and whoever believed in Him (Jesus) shall not perish but have eternal life,” (John 3:16) and “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40). Nothing there about classes!

The Council of Jerusalem which had apostles and the disciples of Jesus all agreed “we are saved by grace of Jesus Christ just as they are.” (Acts 15:11). 

Nowhere in the New Testament does Jesus or His Apostles say you must go to confirmation & catechism classes to become a Christian! Rather they say clearly, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him, and he lives in God,” (1 John 4:15), “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household,” (Acts 16:31), and “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” (Romans 10:9-10). Nothing in there about going to school first before you can be saved, become a Christian, and follow Christ! 


There are so many errors in the teachings of certain Church Fathers (Patristic Fathers, example Gregory of Nyssa).  So be careful in studying them; you need to know The Scriptures well and be mature in the faith to spot errors. The truth is all the treasuries of wisdom are in Christ, “that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2-3). 


We must be careful of creeping heresies and false gospels (Galatians 1:8-9, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4). These false apostles and gospels are often wrapped in clerical robes and topped with crosses, hence our Lord Jesus said, “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24). 

We don’t have to go to classes to become a Christian! We merely must confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Son of God, and believe in Him and we shall be saved and become a Christian! 


Those who make becoming a Christian academic put a stumbling block between seekers and Christ! And they shall bear the judgement for barring the way into heaven, “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.” (Matthew 23:13). 

The door to heaven is wide open! You can be saved and become a Christian this very second! All you have to do is pray Romans 10:9-10 or John 3:16! Done! 

Oh but the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic Church, Lutheran Church, and other denominations try to make you believe you must go through classes (Confirmation, and Chrismation) to become a Christian and member of the Church. There is no such thing in Scripture! You become a Christian by faith in Christ! Ugh! How do such false gospels and representations of Christianity flourish still? How when we have unprecedented access to the very Scriptures that prove salvation and becoming a Christian takes simply believing in Jesus as Lord, Savior, and Son of God! Poof! You are a Christian! The man on the cross, Desmas, who asked Jesus to remember Him in Paradise was assured of salvation by Jesus, “surely you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43). There wasn’t even an ability for baptism. Though I do agree one should be baptized before witnesses as a marker and memorial of your new found identity in Christ that you received when you believe! 


I do think its useful to take classes and learn about the faith, to explore the truths of The Holy Trinity, Christology, Doxology, and etc; but not as requirements to be saved. You should be able as an evangelist to summarize theology, and how to become a follower of Christ in simple sentences like Romans 10:9-10! Classes should supplement a faith, not be a shut door to faith. You can become a Christian instantly without classes! You can be saved in Christ right now! All you need do is confess Jesus as Lord (Sovereign God), believe he died for all your sins on the cross and rose from dead conquering death. Amen. 



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