What the Early Christians Believed about Salvation. David Bercot- Scroll Publishing - Faith Alone

Salvation by works? Faith Alone? Salvation by Grace?

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Faith Alone?
Grace Alone?
Once Saved Always Saved?

Who Are the Early Christians?
By the terms, “primitive church” or “early Christians,”
I’m talking about the Christians who lived before the
time of the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325. The Council
of Nicaea marks the end of the early Christian era, because
it marks the beginning of the joinder of church and
state. It also marks the turning point where theologians
and church councils begin creating new defined doctrines
that all Christians had to subscribe to or face state persecution.
From A. D. 325 on, the emphasis of the church
changed from lifestyle to theology.
When looking at what the early Christians believed,
we should in particular look to what Christians believed
and practiced in the second century. In other words, we
want to look at what Christians believed during the first
hundred years after the last apostle died. That’s because
they were only a generation or two removed from the
apostles. In fact, men like Polycarp and Ignatius received
the gospel from the apostles themselves.
Now, because these men received the gospel directly
from the apostles doesn’t mean that they were infallible.
And it doesn’t make their writings inspired—nor did any
of them claim that their writings were inspired. As one
minister put it, we go to the early Christians for information, but we go to Scripture for inspiration.
Obviously, the disciples of the apostles were in a position
to better understand the apostolic faith than we are
because they received it firsthand. They could ask questions
to the apostles if something they said was unclear.
I mean wouldn’t it be nice today if we could ask Paul,
“Paul, would you clarify for me what you meant by this
passage?” What if we could ask John exactly what he
meant by certain things he said in his letters. Well, Ignatius,
Polycarp, and Clement of Rome all had the opportunity
to do that.
Not only that, but they also spoke koiné Greek. That was their
native tongue. It wasn’t something they went to seminary
and studied and still weren’t fluent in. It’s what they grew
up talking; they thought in koiné Greek. There was no language barrier nor any cultural barrier between them and the apostles because they lived in the same culture as the apostles.
They could understand the cultural and congregational settings in which the New Testament was written. So the odds are that if they understood the New Testament differently than we do, their interpretation is more likely to be right than ours.
Obviously, the Scriptures are our final source of authority. But as we are going to see in this series of messages on What the Early Christians Believed, everything they believed has very strong Scriptural support. In fact, on any given spiritual subject, if you bring together all of the New Testament passages on the subject, and take those passages literally and seriously, you will invariably end up believing exactly what the early Christians believed. At the very least, it’s certainly worth our time to at least look at what the early Christians believed and to ask ourselves, “Is it possible that maybe I’m wrong on this issue or that maybe my church is wrong on this one point?

“Let us, therefore, be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience” Heb 4:11-12.
“See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth,
much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven” Heb 12:25.
The writer of Hebrews is talking to saved Christians. That’s clear throughout the entire epistle. The Israelites had been saved out of Egypt, which represents the world. Yet, they were afterward disobedient in the wilderness, and they never reached the Promised Land as a result. The writer of Hebrews tells us clearly that the same thing will happen to us as Christians if we turn back or become disobedient.

David Bercot,Scroll Publishing,The Historic Faith,finny Kuruvilla,Sattler college,Followers of the Way,The Kingdom of God,The Gospel of the Kingdom,Head coverings,Nonresistance,Christians should not vote,Martin Luther,Salvation by works,Salvation by faith,Septuagint,Faith Alone,Early Christians,refuting Calvinism,Anabaptist,Patristics,salvation,Early Christian Fathers,Early Church Fathers,faith alone debate,faith alone vs faith and works

[jesusstudentbrett]

at 38:25 Theophilos quote is exactly what
Romans 2:6 -7 says "God will give eternal life to the person who continues in good works and who seeks glory, honor and immortality"

KJV and NKJV and ESV and others translate it unnecessarily obscured, but the attentive reader can see it nonetheless.

[BloodCovenant]

I didn't get through the first 3 chapters of "Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up" without being shaken to my core. The fear of God has gripped me. I have read much of the Ante Nicene volume 1 four or five times and I came to realize that they did not have the hangups with grace and works and obedience that we in the American church seem to have. I also see the reality of this trinity, grace, works, and obedience all over the New Testament. I just haven't been able to really put what I see into words very well. That isn't the case anymore because of that book. Last night I did not sleep well because of what I am reading and really looking at myself and the state of the American church in a whole new way that scares me. I am truly afraid like I have never been before. I have confidence in my Lord and trust him to keep me from walking off the cliff. But the terror of the Lord has gripped me in a way I have not before experienced.

[fotwboston]

This message needs to be heard in every church in America!

[someoneveryclever]

These quotes, to me, indicate faith and works are important for salvation (both enabled by God's grace).

[WORTHYLAMB]

Praise God! Thank You Lord for your gift grace towards me. May I walk in it all of my life.

Thank you David for your service to the body of Christ

"The kingdom that turned the world upside down" and " will the teologian please sit down" are the best book I ever read!

[janegray]

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
...

[aitygurung]

Wow, this is what we truly need to know about the salvation . Praise the Lord.

[tenttavllitmok]

Great, great stuff this. Thanks for sharing

[dashriprock]

I'm about half way through and loving this because this what the lord reveals to me as I read scripture. Though I wasn't able to articulate it, it was apparent to me that salvation seems to be more of a process

[palabravivificante]

I love these messages, they have really opened up a new world of life and growth to me as a Christian... God bless you brother!

[Anna-otdj]

Such an eye opener! Thank you and may God bless all of you that was involved in making this video ❤️

[jasonwillis]

This is outstanding! I am going to have to watch this one a few times

[jordanmcpherson]

EXCELLENT video. Bless my parents, they taught me in the truth. I was raised in a house church, but fell away and found myself in mainline Baptist churches the past 20 years. I repented, and then walked into a Reformed Baptist church. I thought it was great because they emphasize the need for holiness, but they preach past, present, and future sins being blotted out, along with Calvinistic theology (which is hard to follow when you put all those together). I'm not sure where to turn, but I've considered going back to my parent's fellowship.

Peace to you from Houston.

[jaredrobertson]

By Grace ALONE Through Faith ALONE because of Christ ALONE. If our works could do it then Jesus wouldn’t have had to die on the cross. Don’t confuse sanctification with salvation

[afotw]

I would watch more videos like this one!

[missionsbibleministry]

Always great to hear from David Bercot. Please come to the Philippines :)

[JohnSmith-kruh]

Thanks David Bercot your messages are always insightful!

[kingjesus]

I Want to see more of David's messages made into video format for the younger generation. I enjoy them too.

[beautifulqueen]

From what I heard this is the teaching I’ve already learned growing up