More Common Than You'd Think

Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men (Mark 1:17 NKJV).” Don’t mistake the words “Follow Me” in Mark 1:17 for, feel free to make up things about Jesus as you go. I wouldn’t recommend it but unfortunately making things up about Jesus is more common than you’d think, particularly after the last entry of the New Testament was recorded. The Anthanasian Creed is a perfect example. The last sentence of the Anthanasian Creed states, “This is the catholic (Christian) faith; which except you believe faithfully and firmly, you cannot be saved.” What it’s [really] saying is, “Except you believe faithfully and firmly” [“the Son is God”] “you cannot be saved.” Although it is possible to be saved according to the Scriptures while clinging to some false doctrines, believing the doctrine of the trinity is misguided, I wouldn’t want to be found believing such a thing. The Bible has a way of exposing falsehoods, and warns us to stay clear of them. It also speaks well of [true] believers in Christ Jesus, “fishers of men.” “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15 NKJV). “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:5 NKJV). 1 John 4:15 and 1 John 5:5 are just two of the many verses concerning the matter. The Bible speaks well about those [Biblically correct] rightfully calling themselves “fishers of men.” “Then Jesus said to them,” “I will make you become fishers of men.” Let go of the Anthanasian Creed, if it be the case, and allow Jesus, the Son of God, to “make you become fishers of men.”

Unbelieving The Source

While listening to the local “Christian” radio station, I heard, “What does God look like? Jesus is God with a face on.” The concept of “Jesus is God,” is directly linked to the Anthanasian Creeds birth in 325-AD. Any attempt to link the Anthanasian Creeds “the Son is God” to the Son of God “Jesus,” will fail. 1 John 4:12 (NKJV) is clear, “No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” For me, loving and trusting the Bible as is, began with realizing it is the [unabridged] word of God. I believe the all-knowing God of the Bible made it clear, that everything we need to know about Jesus [Salvation] is available for all to see in the Bible. Every time I read about or listen to what Jesus accomplished in the first century, as laid out for us in the Bible, I believe every word of it. 2 Timothy 4:2 (NKJV) reads: “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching.” It’s easy to leave alone what has been clearly laid out for us in the Bible, “Preach the word!” Anything less (a.k.a. man’s understanding of the Scriptures), would have me [unbelieving] the source. The Anthanasian Creeds way for example [clearly] adds onto what Jesus accomplished in the first century.

Prior To The Anthanasian Creeds Birth

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) To those believing in Jesus according to the Scriptures today, I’m going to tell you the good news. As it was prior to the Anthanasian Creeds birth in 325-AD, your God and Father and Jesus’ God and Father are one and the same. I can say it’s so, because Jesus said it’s so (John 20:17). Taking it one step further, there’s nothing in the Bible to disprove it.

The Father Who Sent Jesus

“He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” John 12:48-50 (NKJV) 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) Two things are sure about Jesus’ Father and Jesus’ brethren’s Father today (not that there aren’t more). “The Father who sent” Jesus to die on a cross for the sin of the world in the first century “gave” Jesus “a command, what” Jesus “should say and what” Jesus “should speak.” Jesus’ Father and Jesus’ brethren’s Father (John 20:17), is the all-knowing God of the Bible. [Believing] knowing this to be true, I trust “so I speak” Jesus’ teachings. Today we have the Bible and not wandering away from it is the safest thing to do. I highly recommend teaching straight from the Bible, because false teachings have a 0% chance of evading Biblical truths. Nothing has caused more people to turn from Biblical truths to false teachings, than the Anthanasian Creed. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:5 (NKJV)

Concerned About Being Accused

While listening to the local “Christian” radio station I heard, “When the devil starts accusing you, you pull out the word of God.” I totally agree with the speaker on this point. I’d say prior to the Anthanasian Creeds birth in 325-AD, it was true for believers in Christ Jesus as well. When someone lifts up the Anthanasian Creeds “the Son is God” [doctrine of the trinity] today, using the word of God the Bible, I can prove it’s not talking about the Son of God “Jesus.” I’m not concerned about being accused of getting the Anthanasian Creed wrong, because it clearly states that unless one believes “the Son is God” one “cannot be saved” and this is nowhere to be found in the Bible.

The Son Of God Is God's

If becoming a member of a local church requires that one must believe the teachings of said church, make sure they’re not altering what has been clearly laid out for us in the Bible. 1 Corinthians 3:23 (NKJV) reads, “And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” After reading this, would you [believe] teach [Christ is God]? I wouldn’t, because that would have me altering what has been clearly laid out for us in the Bible. 1 Corinthians 3:23 is clear, “Christ is God’s.” “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.” 2 Corinthians 1:3 (NKJV)

Not Ashamed

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) In the first century Jesus established, His God and Father and His brethren’s God and Father are one and the same (John 20:17). If it’s not a problem for Jesus to have done this, then I’m not ashamed to say that Jesus’ God and Father and my God and Father are one and the same today.

Right Before Our Eyes

While listening to the local “Christian” radio station I heard, “If you don’t believe Jesus is God, you can’t be a Christian.” Do you really believe this? The lengths some people will go, so that the work of the Anthanasian Creed might linger. The truth about Jesus is right before our eyes—in the Bible. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (NKJV)

Believing And Knowing

The Anthanasian Creeds method of salvation is written, but you must [trust] the Bible to see that it is not Biblical, necessary, practical, or valid. I’m referring to God’s plan of salvation, and what one must believe in order to be saved according to the Scriptures. The Anthanasian Creed states: “So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God.” The last sentence of that same creed reads as follows: “This is the catholic (Christian) faith; which except you believe faithfully and firmly, you cannot be saved.” Simply stated, “except you believe faithfully and firmly” “the Son is God,” “you cannot be saved.” False teachers are really good at saying things are in the Bible or are biblical, when there’s no actual evidence of it being so. Having to believe “the Son is God” to be saved, isn’t in the Bible, yet some claim there is evidence of it being so. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 1 John 4:15 (NKJV) Would you say the person confessing Jesus is the Son of God, the Lord and the Savior of their life, saved according to the [Scriptures], and rejects the Anthanasian Creed altogether, is saved? When I say “rejects the Anthanasian Creed altogether” I mean, treat the Anthanasian Creed as if it never existed at all. As one who loves Jesus, and who’s not ashamed to tell others about Him, I would say the person is saved. Believing and knowing, Jesus died on a cross for the sin of the world, and [believing in] confessing that Jesus is the Son of God, safeguards one’s salvation.

No Title

It’s Sunday. A man enters the local church. He’s in town on business and hasn’t been seen inside a church for over fifty years, except for weddings and funerals. If you knew this man you’d say, he’s not interested in hearing about the [Bible]. He’s greeted by many, but remains a stranger to them. The message he heard that day was taken straight from the [Bible], believe in Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Unbeknownst to those present that day the man wasn’t saved, when he entered the church that is. Praise God, before the entire congregation, the man confessed to being a sinner, thanked Jesus for dying on a cross for him, and now believes in Jesus Christ. If I was present that day, I’d say this man is saved. After church the man was invited to lunch, an opportunity to celebrate the moment. During this time he mentioned that he was in town for another week, and would like to get together again. “There’s a Bible study on Wednesday night,” they said. With great joy, he accepts the invitation. It’s Wednesday. For the first time this born again believer in Jesus Christ heard, unless one believes the doctrine of the “Trinity” they cannot be saved. Confused, the man says, “Am I saved? Sunday’s message opened my eyes as to who Jesus is, what He did for me. It changed my life. All I want to do now is tell people about Jesus. What is this doctrine of the trinity?” As one who loves Jesus, and who’s not ashamed to tell others about Him, I say nothing has caused more people to turn away from [Biblical] truths to false teachings, than the Anthanasian Creed. The Anthanasian Creed doesn’t exists at all, and thus the doctrine of the trinity, if not for the writings of those not mentioned in the Bible.

True Follower Of Christ Jesus

I'm going to write about something I’ve been hearing on the local “Christian” radio station, a number of times, over a three year period. I’m not going to tell you what it is that I’m hearing, because it would be easy to identify who this particular pastor [speaker on the radio] is by doing so. Let’s jump ahead to a question I e-mailed to this particular pastor, along with John 20:17 (NKJV). John 20:17: 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.’” Here’s my question: After reading John 20:17 would you say Jesus’ God and Father and your God and Father are one and the same? I did receive a [rapid] response from a member of the organization, but not the speaker on the radio. They uplifted the doctrine of the trinity. I thanked this individual for the response. I also mentioned that there was no answer to my question to be found in their reply. I received a second response from this same individual, saying, “I’m not sure what you are looking for,” along with more material lifting up the doctrine of the trinity. My reply was simply, “I’m looking for a [Yes] or [No] answer to my question. I would like to continue the conversation.” A lot of time has passed since, and I have yet to hear back from this individual. For the [true] follower of Christ Jesus, “Yes,” is the only way to answer the question. Simply that, John 20:17 is trustworthy as is. Somewhat more recently, I heard a different pastor on the local “Christian” radio station, say, “The only way we can find out what Jesus said, is in the Bible.” I totally agree with this particular [pastor] on this point. I also believe what Jesus said “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.” As one who loves Jesus, I would say, the Anthanasian Creeds false method of salvation is just not trustworthy nor worth basing my salvation on.

Feeding The Flock

While listening to the local “Christian” radio station I heard, referring to the pastor’s role, “Feeding the flock with the word of God.” This particular pastor on the radio then went onto say, “That is God’s pattern.” While listening to the same “Christian” radio station, different day, different pastor, I heard, “If there’s something in the Bible repeated twice, you should take it seriously.” I would say, as one who loves Jesus, “Feeding the flock with the word of God” is “God’s pattern.” This is to be taken seriously, and by [all] Bible carrying believers in Christ Jesus. Knowing that the words “the Son is God” aren’t found in the Bible once, let alone twice, I don’t “take it seriously.” I do find comfort however, in knowing both of these pastors openly confess that Jesus is the Son of God. The Anthanasian Creed, which is to say the doctrine of the trinity, where these words are found, will not endure forever. The word of God, does. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 1 John 4:15 (NKJV) God bless. In His Care… Jim

Words Lifting Up Those Not Mentioned In The Bible

When listening to the local “Christian” radio station I often hear the phrase, “most scholars’ believe.” When I hear this, words lifting up those not mentioned in the Bible, the Anthanasian Creeds addition to God’s plan of salvation comes to the forefront. Simply that, someone has reviewed another person’s [historical] explanation of the events surrounding the Anthanasian Creed, which is to say the doctrine of the trinity, and then believed their assertion is worthy of acceptance. You won’t find unless one believes “the Son is God” one “cannot be saved” in the Bible. This dubious discrepancy can only be found inside the Anthanasian Creed. In 325-AD, adding onto God’s plan of salvation, is exactly what the Anthanasian Creed did. As one who loves Jesus, I will not endorse anything exposing what Jesus accomplished in the first century, to be false. “That you may with one mind and with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:6 (NKJV)