From Where I Stand

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. Hebrews 4:14 (NKJV)

In the name of Him who was given all authority in heaven and on earth, Messiah Yeshua “Jesus,” greetings. Matthew 28:18 (NKJV)

What you’re about to read is an E-mail I sent to someone I heard on the radio.  It’s just as I sent it, except the blank spaces.  That information was left out intentionally because it could lead to identifying who this individual is, and that’s not my intent.

I’m hoping it shows you where I stand and what I encounter.

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

Dear ______,

My name is Jim Masterson.  I live in the state of New Hampshire, and listen to your program on ______ regularly.

__________ I heard you defending the Anthanasian Creed, and thus the doctrine of the “Trinity.”  You mentioned a few different [denominations] churches and had them agreeing with, “Arians.”

I have one question.  I’ve sent this question to many.  If I gave you the names of those that I have sent it to over a period of three years, you’d recognize the majority of them.  To date I’ve only received one [direct] answer to it “Yes, and no,” which really isn’t an answer at all.

Here’s my question:

Would you say the person confessing Jesus is the Son of God, the Lord and the Savior of their live, saved according to the [Scriptures], and rejects the Anthanasian Creed altogether, is saved?  

As one who loves Jesus, and not ashamed to tell others about Him, I say the person is saved.

Thanks for taking my question.

I’m very much looking forward to your response.

God bless.

In His Care… Jim

A short time later I received:

Dear Jim,

Thank you for contacting __________ with your question. We determined early on that we would not delve into deep theological questions/answers with our listeners through the radio program, but direct them to their local Bible-believing church. Face-to-face dialogue is always better and leads to fewer misunderstandings.

Although we cannot provide an answer to you on this question, ______ has a couple of excellent resources that may be of supplemental help to you. You can access these for free download at the following links:

(Intentionally left blank)

I hope this is helpful to you. May the Lord bless you as you continue to seek Him.

In His service,
______

My response:

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

Dear ______,

Thanks for the rapid response.  I really do appreciate it.  I do find it curious that your organization has chosen not to delve into deep theological questions/answers with your listeners.  I do however respect your decision and do not expect any further response from you.

My battle is not against flesh and blood.  The Anthanasian Creed is the problem here.

Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him and spoke to Him saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?”

But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it was from. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Luke 20:1-8 (NKJV)

No matter how “the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders” answered Jesus’ question, was to admit to them being wrong.  My question is no different, for the follower of the Anthanasian Creed.

Luke 20:1-8 [originally] prompted me to realize that our “church leaders” are not always in alignment with the Scriptures and that it is ok to question them and discuss discrepancies as Jesus did.

Would you say the person confessing Jesus is the Son of God, the Lord and the Savior of their live, saved according to the [Scriptures], and rejects the Anthanasian Creed altogether, is saved?    

From where I stand, to say the person is saved, proves the Anthanasian Creed wrong.  To say the person is not saved, contradicts what the Bible lays out as true.  I rely on the Bible.

The inspired word of God endures forever.  The Anthanasian Creed, does not.

Thanks again.

God bless.

In His Care… Jim