Early Church Theology

 

    When the first true church began to form they became enemies of the existing holy church.  The Pharisees and the spiritual leaders considered following Jesus as heresy.  It was heresy to declare that Jesus was God and man, he was more than human, or that he was two entities in one working together for mankind and God.

    The first church literally put their lives on the line to follow Jesus.  Of his 12 apostles, Judas killed himself and 10 others were martyred.  That only enhances the truth.  Judas knew the truth and could not live with his betrayal and the others were willing to die horrific deaths to tell the world about Jesus.  No one would not be willing to do that if they were not convicted of the truth to their very core.

    The first church fought the way Jesus fought: prayer and not backing down.  They grew in numbers and made decrees to keep the faith going as a religion.  Many people then and today misunderstand and misinterpret Scriptures, so the Christian Creed is to keep God's Word intact and holy.  

    In Nicaea in 325 AD the Roman emperor Constantine placed his focus on Jesus.  He didn't fully understand, but he studied and created the Nicene Creed that was amended in 381 by the Council of Constantinople.  It declares who Jesus is and the only way to achieve salvation.  The Council of Chalcedon created their own creed in 451 under Marcian who was over the Christian church.  This councils purpose was to confirm who Jesus is: human and divine.  This creed vows to acknowledge and teach about Jesus and the Trinity.

    Some important facts that can get misconstrued easily is the resurrection.  Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, but he also raised himself.  Lazarus could not raise himself from the dead.  That power lies with Jesus alone.  Jesus' resurrection unites the church in faith.  He makes his followers righteous, and adopted into God's family making them heirs to Heaven.

    Jesus never broke God's laws.  The religious people believe he broke laws of heresy.  People have a limited view point and without the guidance of the Holy Spirit they are likely to get it wrong in one way or another.  That is why Bible study is personal and serious business.  Jesus is sinless and living in Heaven with God preparing a place for all who follow him.

John 14:1-4, Acts 1:7-11, Romans 6:5-11, 8:31-34, 1 Corinthians 1:30-31, 15:20-23, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, 13:5-6, Galatians 2:17-21, Ephesians 2:4-7, Colossians 2:11-12, Hebrews 4:14-16, & 1 Peter 2:22-25