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.