Either the Bible is Enough, or It Isn't

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV)

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,” Apostle Saul (who is also called Paul), Ephesians 1:17 (NKJV)

In the precious and beautiful name of Messiah Yeshua “Jesus,” greetings.

Have you ever heard the “secular world needs to hear a different message?”  The “secular world” being the human race, in this case those living a lifestyle that’s not pleasing to God.  I’ve heard it many times.  The last was just a couple of days ago.  I heard it on a “Christian” radio program.  Hence the purpose of this post.

I don’t know about you but hearing things like that cause me to say, “Hmmm?”  I find it hard to believe the so called secular world has yet to hear [Biblical] truths.  I’ve shared [Biblical] truths with “secular world” nonbelievers.  The person saying the secular world needs to hear something different obviously believes their message is different.

I know it’s [Biblically] impossible for the person living a secular lifestyle to know what’s best for anyone; let alone themselves.  When I say what’s best, I’m not talking about satisfying a need.  I’m talking about living a lifestyle pleasing to God.  The secular world wants nothing to do with the God of the [Bible].  Other gods’ maybe, but not the God of the [Bible]. 

I also know those teaching falsehoods make the mistake of believing they themselves are pleasing God.  Their message is as [secular] as it gets.  The person teaching falsehoods, saying the secular world needs to hear a different message, is preaching to the choir. 

As a firm believer [in] Messiah Yeshua it is my obligation to tell you the word of God, the [Bible], is the measuring stick.  With the word of God having the final say, all the nonsense will cease.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven, Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV)

Matthew 7:21-23 clearly establishes there’ll be those claiming the name of Yeshua behind all they’re doing.  Prophesying.  Casting out demons.  Many wonders.  After reading Matthew 7:21-23 would you agree there are some doing so, and for the wrong reasons?  I say, “Yes!”

Here’s an example showing the difference between the followers of the [Biblical] Yeshua and those the Anthanasian Creed.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.  Ephesians 4:4-6 (NKJV)

The Apostle Saul (who is also called Paul) is speaking to “just as you were called” followers of the [Biblical] Yeshua in Ephesians 4:4-6.  These verses are plain, simple, easy to read and have everything to do with identifying who’s, who.  They tells us there is [one] God and that [one] God is the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Within the walls of the earthly institutions called “church,” Ephesians 4:4-6 is just [one] of the many verses of [Scripture] being ignored or misused by the followers of the Anthanasian Creed.  To be more specific it is being ignored by those “churches,” teaching the Anthanasian Creeds method of salvation of having to believe, or else, “the Son is God”.

Do we all agree Saul’s writings are found in the [Bible] and not those belonging to the one attached to the Anthanasian Creed, Athanasius?

Do we all agree Saul being led by the Spirit of God when he wrote to the Ephesians took place well before 325-AD? 

If we agree with these two things, I’m saying yes to both, it’ll be safe to move on.  Clear sailing from here on out so to speak.  Although I have to admit, there are questions as to who actually wrote the Anthanasian Creed.  The year attached to it however, 325-AD, appears to be a safe bet.  Ephesians 4:4-6, no questions there.  Saul, being led by the Spirit of God, wrote to the Ephesians while in Rome, in the first century.

“One God and Father of all” Ephesians 4:6

Let’s take a look at that which is written prior to Ephesians 4:6.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,” Ephesians 1:17

One more from the Son of God Himself.

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’” John 20:17 (NKJV)

Any questions as to whether or not Saul is worthy of being called one of Yeshua’s brethren?  That Saul’s God and Father and Yeshua’s God and Father is one and, the same?  That agreeing with Saul’s writings in Ephesians 1:3, 1:17, and 4:4-6, which just so happen to agree with Yeshua’s message in John 20:17, is [Biblical] evidence of one being a follower of the [Biblical] Yeshua? 

For the followers of the Anthanasian Creed:

Why do you believe “the Son is God”?

Is “the Son is God” [Biblically] sound, agreeing with John 20:17, Ephesians 1:3, 1:17, and 4:4-6?

Do you really believe the [only way] for a person to be saved is by having them believe “the Son is God”? 

If you’ve answered the third question by saying “No, I don’t believe that,” while continuing to believe “the Son is God,” you’ve just created a serious problem.  I can assure you, it’ll have everything to do with the Anthanasian Creed.  Get rid of it, and in its entirety, that problem is solved.

You’re correct, there is no [Biblical] evidence of a person having to believe “the Son is God” to be saved.  That “stuff” can be found in only [one] place, its birthplace, the Anthanasian Creed.

Since I’ve also heard “the Son is God” is [Biblically] sound but having to believe it being the only way for a person to be saved is not, I would have those believing that take a seat.  You’re about to read something that could, better yet should change the way you look at the Anthanasian Creed.

The Anthanasian Creed was accepted as the doctrine of a “church” some sixteen hundred plus years ago.  The fact of it being still with us today proves men have “faithfully” supported it through these years.  It’ll be safe to say, some of you reading this now [still] do, “faithfully”.  Some of you have spent a lot of time and money (education) into keeping this faith.

To say you believe “the Son is God” is [Biblically] sound, while having to believe it is the only way for a person to be saved isn’t, you’ve just exposed yourself as one believing a falsehood.  It’s the Anthanasian Creed, not the [Bible], saying these things are so.  They go hand in hand.  You can’t have one without the other.  The Anthanasian Creed is a single document.  It is, what it is.

Make no mistake about it, the last sentence of the Anthanasian Creed tells us that, above all things, unless a person believes “the Son is God” they “cannot be saved”.  The fact is, it doesn’t matter what’s written prior to that last sentence, it’ll be the [only way] for a person to be saved.  Which leaves the person believing “the Son is God” no choice but to teach believing it [is] the [only way] for a person to be saved.  “The Son is God” is the center piece of that creed.

With the Anthanasian Creeds “the Son is God” removed from the picture, never to be heard of again, Ephesians 1:3, 1:17, 4:4-6, and John 20:17 will continue to be trustworthy verses of [Scripture].  Any questions as to whether or not they have established the “One God and Father of all” in Ephesians 4:6 as not only Saul’s and Yeshua’s God and Father, but the God and Father of “just as you were called in one hope of your calling” those found to be followers of the [Biblical] Yeshua?  As one confessing the [Biblical] Yeshua Lord and Savior of my life, I find no reason to believe otherwise.  I know the word of God endures forever.

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3 (NKJV)

It is clear that the [Bible] identifies just the one “only” true God.  There’s nothing in the [Bible] supporting “the Son is God”.  Obviously, because “the Son is God” isn’t found in the [Bible], it took outside influences, written after the fact, to make it appear that it does.  Which will you choose to ignore?  Either the [Bible] is enough, or it isn’t.

God bless.

In His Care…Jim