“For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in him. That is why we say “Amen” when we give glory to God through Christ. It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:20-21 (NLT)
In his book, The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, Jaroslav Pelikan summarizes the 1st century belief about Jesus Christ.
“The oldest surviving sermon of the Christian church after the New Testament opened with the words: “Brethren, we ought so to think of Jesus Christ as of God, as of the judge of the living and dead. And we ought not to belittle our salvation; for when we belittle him, we expect also to receive little.’ The oldest surviving account of the death of a Christian martyr contained the declaration: ‘It will be impossible for us to forsake Christ . . . or to worship any other. For him, being the Son of God, we adore, but the martyrs . . . we cherish.’ The oldest surviving pagan report about the church described Christians as gathering before sunrise and ‘singing a hymn to Christ as though to [a] god.’ The oldest surviving liturgical prayer of the church was a prayer addressed to Christ: ‘Our Lord, come!’ Clearly it was the message of what the church believed and taught that ‘God’ was an appropriate name for Jesus Christ.”
Consider this truth very carefully. Fix it firmly in your mind and soul. For almost 1700 years, the Church has faithfully declared that Jesus Christ is God. We may not be required to believe in the teachings of past church councils, but most Christians agree with what was done and said in 325 A. D. at the Council of Nicea. We are glad that from that point onward when asked “Who is Jesus?” Christians faithfully respond, “Jesus is God.” We stand firmly on this faith!
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for our God and Savior, Jesus Christ who died for our sin. Grant to us the spiritual fortitude to faithfully proclaim Him as God. Give us boldness to refute the skeptics and heretics who would spread fear and doubt and confusion. Provide us with opportunities to share the gospel with others. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God and live to his glory,
Pastor Smith