The Establishment Of True Faith

Where wast thou when I laid 

the foundations of the earth?

Declare, if thou hast understanding.

Who hath laid the measures thereof,

if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched

the line upon it? Whereupon are the

foundations thereof fastened? Or who

laid the corner stone thereof; 

when the morning stars sang

together, and all the sons of God

shouted for joy?

Job 38:4-7

     As Authentic Christians we are to add to our virtue knowledge so then by taking time to study and understand this most important doctrine of the Christian Faith, the Trinity, and how faith is necessary to believe, a faith that has as its foundation the true word of God so we continue to understand the truth of the faith. 

     To admit that God is a being of a different sort nothing like man is to admit that for God to be God He must be outside the creation. God must be eternal, without beginning or end and have all the eternal power that exists. God must be a Spirit if He is to not be as a man is who has a body. God operates in Three Persons, the Father, the Wisdom of God, and the Holy Spirit, and furthermore, the Wisdom of God who by the will of God created all things, through the power of the Holy Spirit's operation and who came to earth to live and be a man is hard to understand, yet God reveals all that there is of Him to us in His word. The Wisdom of God became the Only Begotten Son of God, not a creation, as in Adam and Eve, as in all other creations, no, as a man the Only Begotten Son sent to earth by the will of the Father came to do what man cannot do for himself: pay the debt owed to God to justify His Justice. Man by the fall of Adam inherited sin, and this sin destroyed the will of man to desire God, for God to be the leader in life, the disposition was changed so that man wanted to be autonomous, even to have antinomy, to rule himself. Therefore this inherited sin which man has not control over for it corrupted the soul of man needed that corruption to be healed and only this could be done by God Himself, so He sent Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son to do just that, now, when this is accepted, by faith, then a man can work on his disposition to sin and stop sinning. Man will not in this life become perfect, but man can by his own volition decide to not sin willingly. But, a person must have faith in the Trinity the very foundation of Authentic Christian Faith. 

     Once again: what the Son is the Father is, and what the Father and the Spirit are the Son is, a genuine Trinity. Furthermore, neither the power nor the will of the Father preceded the birth of the Son, so then, there was nothing to precede the procession of the Holy Spirit. The Three Persons of the Trinity were not separately conceived or brought into existence, they are all One, existing eternally as One. Authentic Christian accept and acknowledge the Son as the Only Begotten of the Father, as maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible, begotten of the Father, not made, light of light, very God of very God homoousios with the Father, that is the very substance as the Father. This Greek word homoousios caused great consternation for some would only admit homousios as being what Jesus is: this word homousios means similar, where the word homoousion means the same substance. If God could create Jesus Christ as His Only Begotten Son the question that arises is: Why? If He could create one thing would need a creator for another? As God He would not need to create a creator. Jesus Christ the Wisdom of God: "but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" (1Corinthians 1:24). 

     Authentic Christians acknowledge that the Holy Spirit is the lifegiver, proceeding from the Father and the Son, with the Father and Son together to be worshiped and glorified, who spoke through the prophets.

     All angels in the heights of heaven, all virtues, sun and moon, and stars and light, the heavens of heavens and the waters which are above the heavens praise this true Trinity, this true Unity, this One God. Since therefore all these creatures, rational and irrational ceaselessly praise God, how should men, made in the image and the likeness of God and called to praise of His glory, how can we then be slow or dull or indifferent? Should we not then at least frequently, even if we cannot always do so, praise Him, we who by the Apostle states: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy" (1Peter 2:9-10). 

     The truth of Authentic Christian Faith, a faith in the unseen, the invisible, enables a person who has come to believe in Jesus Christ who is the Savior of man, and who themselves are now by this belief and conversion to Jesus Christ are a chosen people, receiving mercy that they before this belief and conversion did not have but now have obtained it, a person who is royal priesthood of God, how then can we not live our lives in accordance to what God has made you to believe, who has called you, enabled you, and saved you from eternal damnation? 

    Some people, people who are of this world, will mock you, even persecute you for your faith. When you demonstrate Authentic Christian Faith you will be separate from this world with all its pleasures that lead you to sin and people will hate you. Do not shrink back for you are a priest, the temple of God and nothing can take this away from you. You have eternal life now, not due to any work you do, but by the will of God you have been saved to live eternally with Him and man cannot destroy what God has established. Therefore, your faith based upon the truth of God's word is not blind, it is with wide-opened eyes that the truth of your faith is established. 

Thine eyes did see my substance, 

     yet being unperfect; and in 

Thy book all my members were written, 

     which in continuance were fashioned,  

when as yet there was none of them. 

                     Psalm 139: 16

Remember: you are the temple of God

Richard L. Crumb

A Faith That Is Authentic: Not Just A Word

O give thanks to Jehovah;

call on His name;

make His deeds known among

the peoples. Sing to Him: sing 

praises to Him; tell of all His 

wonders. Glory in His holy name;

let the heart of those who seek

Jehovah rejoice. Seek Jehovah 

and His strength; seek His face

without ceasing. Remember His

wonders that He has done; 

His miracles, and the judgments 

of His mouth.

Psalm 105:1-5

     For a person who declares himself/herself to be a Christian that person must have Authentic Christian Faith so that their thanks to Jehovah, to call upon His name; to make known His deeds, to glory in His Holy Name, to seek Jehovah, and to remember His might works, all takes Authentic Christian Faith. A faith that is not Authentic cannot be, will not be, accepted by Jehovah. Why, if done in a faith that is not Authentic Christian Faith then it is done by means of a faith that is more about the person professing faith in Jehovah than actually having a true and Authentic Christian Faith. Notice that I am using "Jehovah" instead of "LORD." Some will object, some will not use this name "Jehovah" for they associate it with Jehovah Witnesses. You, if you are an Authentic Christian with Authentic Christian Faith are a witness of Jehovah. I find that the word "LORD" is not fully understood and does not accurately translate the Hebrew word translated as Jehovah. The God of the Bible is referred to by several names, and the greatest of those names is "I AM!" (Exodus 3:14), and the tetragramaton can be translated as "Jehovah," or "Yahweh," and as a name we can fully know God by His name and not be just some title, as in "LORD," or "God," which is not altogether bad, but does not carry the truth of translation. All religions have a "god(s)" so when we say "God," a non-believer will not really know what God we are speaking of, but when we use the name of God from the Bible there is definiteness and lack of confusion. All religions speak of "faith," to have "faith," and they do, so then faith is a word that must be defined as to its basis, its foundation, that which it is based upon, and this is what is being done in these blogs, bringing forth the truth of Authentic Christian Faith, its basis, its foundation. Faith is just a word without any meaning other than some esoteric meaning for a select few, or group who have some special interest. One can say they have faith, and this may be true, but to just say that  word, faith, is not to have any real impact, it is just what a person wants either to believe themselves, or to have others just believe their word.

     EXAMPLE: A person standing close to a walking bridge over a deep canyon may say that they have faith that if they were to walk over that bridge they would be safe to do so, they would see others walking over that bridge without difficulty and even believe that they could do the same, they say they have faith. Nice to say, but, that faith is only a word without proof that they have faith. Many say they have faith in Jesus Christ, but this faith is without any substance, it is internally recognizes by that person but has little or nothing to do with reality. Now, to say you have "faith" that this walking bridge is safe, a person must walk over that bridge demonstrating their faith by action, now that word "faith" has real meaning" "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him" (James 2:14). Like the person standing at the edge of the bridge crossing a canyon saying that he/she has faith is just talking: "Even so faith, if it hat not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, 'Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works" (James 2:17-18). As the old saying goes: "Action speaks louder than words." 

     Authentic Christian Faith is not some blind faith in a God who has not revealed Himself,we have a foundation for our faith as God has revealed Himself and not be just some title of God, rather as the Great I am, Jehovah, Yahweh, the God of the Bible. 

     The faith of some has been so shaken over things that they do not understand, or will not take the time to understand, such as the Trinity, so often denigrated, and those believing in a Trinity are denigrated, as foolish people, and even give an argument that the Bible does not have the word "Trinity" in its pages, therefore to say that there is a Trinity is foolish. Is it? Bad argument if carried out into other parts of life, if that argument is true when it does not have proof that the lack of that word is stating that God does not exist in Three Persons and is not three separate Persons, when what has been revealed in Scripture connects the Three Persons as to be one, is to hold to a belief that is based upon a false presupposition. The word Trinity is anathema to many people who will not look to the light of Scripture and will remain in darkness for in that darkness they do not have to live according to the truth that God, the Godhead requires from them; faith in Him: they can live as they please. 

     Knowledge will not save you, but will add to your arsenal of proofs so that your faith is based upon a true foundation, leading you to an Authentic Christian Faith, one that is active in all of your life, faith is more than just a word, a feeling, it is alive, and is seen by all who see you that your faith is not a blind faith leading you to act in ways that are according to Scripture, not for yourselves, rather for the Glory of God who has freely giving to you faith, not of yourselves to you can boast of you being so good, and godly, no, rather a faith in an unseen God, a God who has revealed to you by His word, that He is the Great I AM, Jehovah, and that He has spoken by the prophets and those whom He inspired to write so that your faith is not just not blind, it is Authentic and by this authenticity you bring glory, not to yourself, rather to God who has called you, enable you, and given to you this free gift of Authentic Christian Faith. 

     Our responsibility is to work out this faith in our everyday life, our work, our play, at home, and by this glory is given to our Great God and others will want to know how to have this faith and by this you now can bring the Gospel to them whereby the faith so freely given by the Great I AM will be given to them: what a blessing to be used by the Great God Jehovah, the Great I AM. 

Jehovah has brought forth

     our righteousness: come

and let us declare in Zion

     the work of Jehovah 

our God.

                Jeremiah 51:10

Work our your faith: Make your election sure

Richard L. Crumb

 

Authentic Christian Faith Is Not Blind Faith: Proof Of This Fact!

And beside this, giving all diligence,

add to your faith virtue; and to 

your virtue knowledge; and to 

knowledge temperance, and to

temperance patience; and to patience

 godliness; and to godliness brotherly 

kindness; and to brotherly kindness,

charity.

2Peter 2:5-7

     I took Friday off to travel to visit my family at a family reunion and it was great, great to see my two aunts and cousin that I have not seen for a long time, as well as others who I haven't seen for a time as well. It is good to take time to be with family and friends. Hope you get this time as well. 

     Faith: what is it? What is Authentic Christian Faith? Faith carries that a person has confidence or trust in a person or thing: i.e., tires on a car, properly prepared food at a restaurant, etc., or belief that is not based on proof. Faith can mean to believe in God, or in the doctrines or teachings of a religion, to believe in a code of ethics or standards of merit. That is faith, but Authentic Christian Faith is not the faith of so many religion, they all speak of faith. What is the doctrine(s) of Authentic Christian Faith held by men and women from the beginning of Christianity? Authentic Christian Faith is to believe that there is One Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, true Trinity, true Unity. Not three separate beings, or that the Holy Spirit is nothing more than God's power, as taught by Jehovah Witness, not God at times is the Father, or at times the Son, or at times as the Holy Spirit, as taught by the Modalists (the Apostolic Church is such a Modalist). Jesus is not inferior to Mohamed  of Islam and God is not an anthropomorphic being with a body, and Jesus is not a created being, as Jehovah witness, Islam, and other religions would have you believe, no the genuine Trinity wherein none is born of himself, none proceeds from himself, but one from another! That is to say, the Son is begotten of The Father, the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. Scripture makes it clear that without doubt that there is one who has begotten, another who has been begotten, another who proceeds from both. There is then, genuine Unity, not that there is one Spirit of the Father, another of the Son, but one of Both! Furthermore, the Holy Spirit does not proceed from the Father into the Son, then from the Son to diffuse the gift of charity into the hearts of believers; but at once from both. There is not one Godhead of the Father, another of the Son, another of the Holy Spirit, but one Godhead of the three; and for that reason truly one God. If this was not so, if one was one thing the other another, then there would not be One God. Therefore, there is one Godhead of the three, one eternal, one majesty, one mightiness, one will, one activity, one affection, one glory. There is not one thing then another, one person and another person, therefore the Trinity, therefore, since there is distinction, one person and another person and yet there is Unity between all three person of the Trinity, we must never mistake this fact: the Son is not Himself the Father, nor is He who is the Father Himself the Son or the Holy Spirit, there is true unity, genuine Trinity; yet this is true as what the Son is, the Father is, and what the Father and the Holy Spirit are, the Son is, a genuine Trinity. 

     Too many Churches and Christians have forgotten the Creeds, even some pastors and teachers will not use the Creeds and this is a mistake for in the Creeds is found the basis, the foundation of Authentic Christian Faith, therefore I will write the Creeds and today it will be the Nicene Creed (325-381 A.D.), learn it, repeat regularly for when you do, you are reaffirming your faith. I will number each statement although numbering was not in the original:

1. We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

2. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.

3. Through Him all things were made.

4. For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit He became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man.

5. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate: He suffered death and was buried.

6. On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;

7. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

8. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. 

9. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

10. With the Father and the Son He is worshiped and glorified. 

11. He has spoken through the prophets.

12. We believe in one holy catholic (universal, my addition for clarity) and apostolic Church.

13. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

14. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of world to come. Amen.

     Authentic Christian Faith is built upon the pure, unchangeable word of God, therefore, our faith is built, not upon some empirical evidence other than that Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless life, died, not as a sinner, but as an innocent man, and rose again as testified by more than 500 people at His ascension. Furthermore, we have God's promises that have never been broken, therefore our faith is not blind faith. 

I the LORD have called thee 

     in righteousness, and will

hold thine hand, and will keep thee,

    and give thee for a covenant 

of the people, for a light to the Gentiles

                        Isaiah 42:6

Put your faith in Jesus Christ

Richard L. Crumb