These things we also speak,
not in words which man's wisdom
teaches but which the Holy Spirit
teaches, comparing spiritual things
with spiritual. But the natural man
does not receive the things of the
Spirit of God, for they are
foolishness t him; nor can he know
them, because they are spiritually
discerned.
1Corinthians 2:13-14
Early in the Christian Church there were men who taught that which was not Scriptural. Their reasoning that led them to a theology was built upon ideas that seemed right, ways that would bring some harmony that would enjoin the Church with the culture. This compromising led to heresies and there is today major compromising within those Churches that claim to be Scriptural, using Scripture in such ways as to placate the thinking of the average person. Cultural Christianity is liberal Christianity and fuel is added to their misinterpretation of Scripture by the Schools, the Universities, the movies, entertainment, celebrities spouting their views, and as cultural thinking people they compromise what the Bible plainly states. They think that they are doing good when all along all they are doing is misleading people, those who desire to follow God to follow a teaching that is not Scriptural. This was why Emperor Constantine presided over the councils, he needed to ensure unity within the empire, a unity that was being destroyed by those in opposition to Christianity, along with the invasions of the Teutonic tribes, the Mongols, the Islamic people. After the council in Nicaea in 325 A.D. a reaction occurred against orthodoxy and it was defeated by a temporary victory of Arianism between 361-381 A.D. During this time there was much contention and bitterness between Orthodoxy and Arianism. Arianism had made inroads with the Teutonic tribes which was not in some ways all bad for they were more hospitable to the people that they were conquering, a study outside of this writing. A turn back to Scripture that led the Nicaea Council to accept orthodox and reject Arian theology and this came at the council of Constantinople in 381 A.D. This council led by Theodosius reaffirmed the decisions of the Nicaea Council: "Shall not be set aside but shall remain dominant." This decision was approved at Chalcedon in 451 A.D. At this council of Constantinople accepted the Nicene Creed and it is used in those Churches that are not culturally liberal. In fact you may not even know of this creed for in many Churches they seem to think that this creed is treated as if it was anathema. Do you know it? Why should you know it? because it is a complete outline of the Christian faith! You should not only know it, you should repeat it often as with anything that must be remembered it takes often repeating and reciting, as anyone who is an actor, or singer can attest. If you want to make it a part of you so that the very foundation of Authentic Biblical Faith is in you then learn the Nicene Creed, it is what the early Church determined as what was need to fight off heresy. Was this decision a good decision by the councils? Let us look at this and see for ourselves.
The Orthodox theology finally became triumphant, that is not to say that some clung to heresies but now there was in place true Authentic Biblical Faith that was determined by Scripture and this we will do as well in the following blogs so that we can answer the question: Is Jesus Christ God? Is Jesus Christ a Person within the Godhead? Is Jesus Christ of the same essence as the Father? Unitarian ideas, Arianism theology has contributed that are unorthodox doctrine have wrought much havoc upon true Authentic Biblical Christianity and has led to a Modernistic Church in some cases, a cultural Church, a Church that at times became aligned with the state causing much harm to people, and Authentic Biblical Faith. These decision by the early Church did divide the Church into two parts, the Eastern Church and the Western Church but we must not all this split to lose the value of those decisions for our faith. Unfortunately the Eastern Church became allied and entwined with the imperial government and became dominated by the government. This was true for a time of the Western Church but in time they overcame this domination, especially is this true at the Reformation in the 15th and 16th centuries. There was a return to Scripture and that is what I will do next, that is, to return to Scripture and not compromise by any presupposition that may have been fed to me over the years by any Church that does not adhere to the fact of Scripture and teaches such as is found today in many Churches, psychological babble, good sounding sermons so that the congregants are satisfied and feel holy, rather than to teach what the Bible actually states. So we will go back to Scripture and answer by Scripture the question, a question that is at the heart of Orthodox Christianity, a question that has mislead many causing them to teach heresy rather than truth. We don't want to be mislead, do you? So follow me through the Scriptures and find Scriptural answers to the question: Is Jesus Christ God?
NICENE CREED (ca 325-381 A.D.)
We believe in one God the Father Almighty of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and ivisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried, and the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father.
And He shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.
And we believe in the Holy spirit, the Lord and Giver of Lfe, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets.
And we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptisem for the remission of sins.
And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
But as it is written:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart
of man
The things which God has prepared
for those who love Him."
1Corinthians 2:9
Now Grow In Grace And Knowledge Of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Richard L. Crumb
No comments:
Post a Comment