When the Apostle Paul was on his way to Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost for the last time, around 57-58 AD. Having been warned by many Prophets on the way there, he spoke these words:

Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God.”

And,

Acts 20:28-30 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”

Even though the Apostle Paul warned the faithful, little did he know that by 2016 there would be 10’s of thousands Christian denominations. And these denominations having ever bend of doctrine that could be imagined under the sun. Even some saying that it is alright to practice unnatural sex. And other not knowing the difference between God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. But here we are in 2016 with the world not knowing what is the real truth about Jesus Christ, and the salvation God the Father has provided through Him.

The question is how can we undo all these heresies? Only by forsaking denominational doctrines and returning to the 1st. century truth, as they have been written for us in the New Testament scriptures. That is why I write, to encourage you, just like I had to do, is start fresh, by reading for myself the New Testament scriptures, and saying. “Let God be true and every man a liar.”  Did the Apostle Paul in all of his writings give us an affirmation of the Christian faith? The answer is yes; it is found in the Epistle to the Ephesians 4:1-6.

Eph.4:1-6 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are 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.”

So let us look at what the Apostle Paul is saying point by point.

1. Being prisoners of the Lord Jesus Christ, then we should live like one.
2. Then there is an example, being lowly, meek, patient, putting up with one another in love.
3. Doing our best to be one in the Holy Spirit, being peaceful, sometimes we just must walk away.
4. Understand that there is only one body of Jesus Christ, the Church.
5. There is only one Holy Spirit, by which we are filled.
6. There is only one hope of our calling, which is eternal life.
7. There is only one Lord, which is Jesus Christ the head of the body the Church.
8. There is only one true faith, which is in God the father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
9. There is only one true baptism, in the name of Jesus Christ, whom we are disciple to as believing adults.
10. Then the most important fact which is, that there is Only One True and Living God who is the Father of All and is above all, that means everything that exists, in heaven and earth.

If you understand the last point, #10, which is saying, as a Christian there is to be no authority over you except God the Father and whom He has placed over you, which is His Son, Jesus Christ. For God has set Jesus at His right hand as King of Kings.

Do you understand the meaning of no. That means no nation, government, king, president, leaders of any kind, even the church leaders, should be allowed to usurp their authority over the Word of God, change it, or force you to violate its doctrines. It would be better for you as a Christian that you go to jail, or even be put to death, than to be found an enemy of God and His Word. The day has come when we must start standing up for the Christian faith and be willing to die for its truths, just as those of the 1st century Church did.

Articles of the Christian Faith

Even though Christianity was a sect of Judaism still believing in the true and living God, unlike the Jews, the Christians slowly had to developed an article of faith. From Jewish point of view, they didn’t really need an article of faith. Jews were born into their religion, being circumcised on the eighth day, automatically part of both a Religious and Nation group of people called Israelites. Their belief system was quite simple, there is One, True and Living God, the Lord, whom has given them the commandment, laws that they must follow. These commandments were found in the first five books of their scriptures known as the books of Moses, the Laws, Torah. Even though they didn’t go about looking to converts people to Judaism, any stranger or slave living among them had to except Judaism and be circumcised. These converts were referred to as proselytes, according to their law, they should have received the same right as a naturally born Jew, but they didn’t. On the other hand, Christianity from it very beginning was called into an evangelistic thrust.

Matt. 28:19,20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

I would like to point out in the above quote in verse 19, the first word “teach” in the KJV should be corrected to the word “disciple”. This scriptural statement of the New Testament is known as the Great Commission, a evangelist thrust. The belief in and discipleship to Jesus Christ was first called the way, until in the city of Antioch the term Christian was coined. This new sect of Judaism quickly spread over the known world, converting both Jew and Gentile to this new belief system, following Jesus as their anointed King, of the line of David. As gentile cities within the Roman Empire became more and more influenced being converted to Christianity, they became somewhat excepted. The first nation to become a Christian nation was Armenia, about 250 AD. Therefore, the need for a clear declaration of faith, what they actually believed became necessary. The first such creed discovered that was written about 250 AD was known as the Apostles Creed. This Creed provided a clear and precise declaration of the Christian beliefs, in contrast to idolatry beliefs. In addition, it also clarified the difference between the beliefs of Christian and Jews. This fact became necessary, because during the 1st two century AD, Christian were considered the same as Jews. By the 3nd. century AD the Church began to formulate articles of faith called, which was first known as the Apostles Creed.

Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ His Only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And siteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints; The forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And the Life everlasting. Amen.

(This is Most widely accepted statement of the Christian Faith)

As Christianity continued to spread through the Roman Empire, a so called miracle occurred which caused the success of Emperor Constantine I, during one of his battles. At that time there was a Bishop named Eusebius of Caesarea which had the ear of the Emperor and re-enforce the idea to Constantine I, that it was because of the Christian faith the battle was won. This lead to Constantine I, to call all the Bishops within his Empire to a council in 325 AD at the city of Nicaea, to from a statement of Christian faith. Around the same time period the Bishops from his empire were having heated discussions about the nature of Jesus Christ. This just added to the difficulty in arriving at a unified statement of faith. Once there was a reasonable statement of faith formed, Emperor Constantine I, put his foot down by forcing all the Bishops to sign it, with the threat of banishment if they didn’t sign. Believe it or not one of those that were banished was Eusebius of Caesarea, he latter repented and signed it. This creed became known as the Nicene Creed, and was ratified during the council of Chalcedon 451 AD.

Nicene Creed (Formed and agreed to by the Council of Chalcedon 451 AD)

We believe in one God the Father all-sovereign, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible; And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, True God of True God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father, through whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from the heavens, and was made flesh of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man, and was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the scriptures, and ascended into the heavens, and sits on the right hand of God the Father, and comes again with glory to judge living and the dead, of whose kingdom there shall be no end.  And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and the Life-Giver, that proceeds from the Father, who with Father and Son is worshipped together and glorified together, who spoke through the Prophets: In one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church: We acknowledge one baptism unto remission of sins, we look for a resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come.

Both The Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed became in general the affirmation of faith and were both used during Church services in most denominations even today. One point to make is that the Nicene Creed did receive a small changed during the 17 century AD as shown below.

Nicene Creed (17-18 century AD, rendering as a statement of faith.)

I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God; Begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God; Begotten, not made; Being of one substance with the Father; By whom all things were made: Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man: And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried: And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures: And ascended into heaven, And siteth on the right hand of the Father: And He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.  And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord, and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spake by the Prophets:  And I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church: I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins; And I look for the Resurrection of the dead; And the life of the world to come. Amen.

If you were astute enough you would have seen that the Apostles Creed is for the most part supported by New Testament Scripture. The following statements made by the Apostle Paul found in his letter, which I fell is his statement of faith.

Ephesians.4:4-6 “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are 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.

Within these two verse the Apostle indicates over and over the fact that there is one of each concept. In fact if you count the number “one” there are seven (7) in all. It is also quite clear that he maintains the idea of monotheism. The other one of the Apostles statement related to one God, separate apart from Jesus Christ is as follows.

1 Timothy 2:5,6 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time”

Again it is quite clear that Paul sees God as one individual, apart from Jesus Christ which place, is a mediator between mankind and God the Father. It is only within the Nicene Creed that we start to see the confusion of the relationship between God the Father and Jesus Christ. The opening of both forms of the Nicene Creed start out well, similar to the Apostles Creed, but then goes off course. It was the following statement in the creed that began the separation between the Bishops.

Nicene Creed (part of 451 AD)

“begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, True God of True God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father, through whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from the heavens,”

And,

Nicene Creed (part of 17th century AD)

“Begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God; Begotten, not made; Being one substance with the Father; By whom all things were made: Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven,”

It is these very statements that has led to the most confusing concept ever, called the Trinity. If you ask most Catholic Priests, or Protestant Ministers, they can’t give you a straight answer in explaining the Trinity. The reason most can’t do so is, because it isn’t a Biblical truth, it a heresy, hand down over the centuries, beginning with these creeds. This has come to the point that they make a statement in where there are three persons in the Godhead, which to begin with is singular. You will find a complete explanation related to the Trinity in a chapter in my book “Let’s Get Real: Basic Tenets of the Christian Faith”, part of this Web Site.