The Bible throughout warns of false prophets and deceitful workmen who masquerade as apostles of Christ. Paul concludes that if Satan himself “ masquerades as an angel of light”; it should not surprise us that his disciples “masquerade as servants of righteousness” (2 Cor. 11: 14,15).

            Even so, Jesus promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church. In His final commission He said, “Surely I will be with you always, until the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). The acronym A-G-E can serve as a reference point in getting back to basics:

thanasian Creed

ospel
 

ssential Christian doctrine
 

.

A. The Athanasian Creed (the trinity)
 
The Athanasian Creed is that latest of the ecumenical creeds, dating back to the ages. Though seldom used in worship, it is one of the clearest definitions of the incarnation ever written. This creed is named after Athanasius (A.D. 293-373, the champion of orthodoxy against Arian attacks on the doctrine of the trinity. Although Athanasius did not write this creed and it is improperly named after him, the name persists because until the seventeenth century it was commonly ascribed to him. It is not from Greek (Eastern), but from Latin (Western) origin, and is not recognized by the Eastern Orthodox Church today. This creed consists of two parts, the first setting forth the orthodox doctrine of the trinity, and the second dealing chiefly with the incarnation and the two-natures doctrine.
 

THE ATHANASIAN CREED
 
Whoever desires to be saved should above all
Hold to the catholic faith*
*(The term catholic comes from the Greek katholikis
meaning universal. In this context it implies embracing the
universal Christian faith. The term catholic faith in
this context does not imply any relationship or endorsement
of the Roman Catholic Church or Roman Catholicism.)
Anyone who does not keep it whole and unbroken
Will doubtless perish eternally.
 
Now this is the catholic faith:
 
That we worship one God in trinity
and the trinity in unity,
neither blending their persons
nor dividing their essence.
For the person of the Father is a distinct person,
the person of the son is another,
and that of the Holy Spirit still another.
But the divinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one,
their glory equal, their majesty coeternal.
 
What quality the Father has, the Son has, and the Holy Spirit has.
The Father is uncreated,
the Son is uncreated,
the Holy Spirit is uncreated.
 
The Father is immeasurable,
the Son is immeasurable,
the Holy Spirit is immeasurable.
 
The Father is eternal,
the Son is eternal,
the Holy Spirit is eternal.
 
And yet there are not three eternal beings:
There is but one eternal being.
So too there are not three uncreated or immeasurable beings;
there is but one uncreated and immeasurable being.
 
Similarly, the Father is almighty,
the Son is almighty,
the holy Spirit is almighty.
Yet there are not three almighty beings;
there is but one almighty being.
 
Thus the Father is God,
the Son is God,
the Holy Spirit is God.
Yet there are not three Gods;
there is but one God.
 
Thus the Father is Lord,
the Son is Lord,
the Holy Spirit is Lord.
Yet there are not three lords;
there is but one Lord.
 
Just as Christian truth compels us
to confess each person individually
as both God and Lord,
so catholic religion forbids us
to say that there are three gods or lords.
 
The Father was neither made nor created nor begotten from anyone.
The Son was neither made nor created;
he was begotten from the Father alone.
The Holy Spirit was neither made nor created nor begotten;
he proceeds from the Father and the Son.
 
Accordingly there is but one Father, not three fathers;
there is one Son, not three sons;
there is one Holy Spirit, not three holy spirits.
 
Nothing in this trinity is before or after,
nothing is greater or smaller;
in their entirety the three persons
are coeternal and coequal with each other.
 
So in everything, as was said earlier,
we must worship their trinity in their unity
and their unity in their trinity.
 
Anyone then who desires to be saved
Should think thus about the trinity.
 
But it is necessary for eternal salvation
that one also believe in the incarnation
of our Lord Jesus Christ faithfully.
 
Now this is the True Faith:
 
That we believe and confess
that our Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son,
is both God and human, equally.
 
He is God from the essence of the Father,
begotten before time;
and he is human from the essence of his mother,
born in time;
completely God, completely human,
with a rational soul and human flesh;
equal to the Father as regards to divinity,
less than the Father as regards to humanity.
 
Although he is God and human,
Yet Christ is not two, but one.
He is one, however,
not by his divinity being turned to flesh,
but by God’s taking humanity to himself.
He is one,
certainly not by the blending of his essence,
but by the unity of his person.
For just as one human is both rational soul and flesh,
so too the one Christ is both God and human.
 
He suffered for our salvation;
he descended to hell;
he arose from the dead;
he ascended to heaven;
he is seated at the Father’s right hand;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
At his coming people will arise bodily
and give an accounting of their own deeds.
those who have done good will enter eternal life,
and those who have done evil will enter eternal fire.
 
This is the catholic faith:
One cannot be saved without believing it firmly and faithfully.
 

G. Gospel
 
The gospel is the heart of the Christian faith. If Christians do not know how to share their faith, they probably have never been properly discipled. The gospel should be so much a part of you that presenting it becomes second nature.
The first step in communicating the gospel involves learning to develop a relationship with an unbeliever. In part, that involves using your personal testimony as a bridge into the presentation of the Good News. This is exactly the opposite of grabbing somebody by the lapels and saying “Brother are saved?”
After a relationship is established, you should be equipped to move naturally into a presentation of the gospel. In short, that involves:
. Communication the difference between religion (mans attempt to reach up and become acceptable to God by his own goodness) and a relationship (God reaching down and providing a way for us to know Him through the person and work of Jesus Christ).
. Demonstrating the problem of sin. If people do not realize they are sinners, they will not realize their need for a savior.
. Pointing out that God is not only a perfect Father who has loved us with an everlasting love, but is also a perfect Judge whose eyes are too pure to look upon sin (iniquity).
. Communicating that Christ died to be our Savior and lives to be our Lord.
. Explaining what it means to repent and receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
 
Once the gospel has been presented we need to know how to be used by the Holy Spirit to lead people in response to the Good News and to the assurance of their salvation.
Finally, since we are not called to make converts, but rather to make disciples, we need to know how to lead people through the basic steps of discipleship and growth as new believers.
 
{If 12 people from Faith Family Church who are committed Christians lead just one person to Christ and disciple that person, next year there would 24 believers. If those believers (24) lead one person to Christ and disciple that person, the third year there would be 48 believers. If this process continued it would take less than 31 years to evangelize the almost 7 billion people alive today on earth.}
 
Many people today move from church to church in search of the “ultimate” experience. No experience, however, can compare with that of the Holy Spirit working through you in the process of bringing someone to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
 
Mission: To lead and disciple unbelievers to Christ

To love Him completely,
To love others sweetly,
To win and disciple unbelievers unto the Lord
 
E. Essential Christian Doctrine.
 
The gospel is rendered meaningless if it does not rest on the firm foundation of the essential Christian doctrine. Without the essentials there is no room for unity within the body of Christ. Typically the essentials are presented in the following basic categories:
1. The authority of scripture
2. The nature of God
3. The trinity
4. The creation
5. Humanity
6. Sin
7. Jesus Christ
8. Holy Spirit
9. Salvation
10. Angels
11. Satan & demons
12. The church
13. And things to come
 
Essential Christian doctrine provides the key to successful Christian living. It provides the framework through which we properly relate to God in prayer, accurately understand the Bible, and actively involve ourselves in vital church membership. It is also the way in which we soundly defend our faith. What we believe is demonstrated in how we live. That is why the apostle Paul instructed Timothy, “Watch you life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers”. (1 Tim 4:16)