What All Christians Believe in Common

wHAt All cHRiStiAnS bELiiEVE in cOMMOn

Lay Monk Preston & Lay Monk Linda visit this spot on the Oregon Coast at least twice a year.

“Ní neart go cur le chéile.”

“There’s strength in unity.”

-Old Gaelic Saying

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

-Psalm 133:1

wHAt All CHRiStiAnS bELiiEVE in cOMMOn - i. RuLE Of fAitH And pRActicE

1. The Divine Inspiration and Authority of the Canonical Scriptures in Matters of Faith and Morals.

(Against Rationalism)

wHAt All CHRiStiAnS bELiiEVE in cOMMOn - ii. tHEOLOGy

“We make our own the profession of the faith that we carry in our heart…

we have the universal faith in the Creed, known to the faithful and committed to memory,

contained in a form of expression as concise as has been rendered admissible by the circumstances.”

-St. Augustine Monk, Bishop of Hippo (393 A.D.)

1. The Unity of the Divine Essence. (Against Atheism, Dualism, Polytheism)

2. The Trinity of the Divine Persons. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: the Maker, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. (Against Arianism, Socinianism, Unitarianism)

3. The Divine Perfections. Omnipotence, Omnipresence, Omniscience, Wisdom, Holiness, Justice, Love, and Mercy.

4. Creation of the World by the Will of God Out of Nothing, for His Glory and the Happiness of His Creatures. (Against Materialism, Pantheism, Atheism)

5. Government of the World by Divine Providence.

wHAt All CHRiStiAnS bELiiEVE in cOMMOn - iii. AntHROpOLOGy

“There are, in truth, but two denominations upon this earth: the Church and the world.”

-Charles Spurgeon

English Baptist (1834-1892)

1. Original Innocence. Man Made in the Image of God, with Reason and Freedom, Pure and Holy; yet Needing Probation, and Liable to Fall.

2. Fall: Sin and Death. Natural Depravity and Guilt; Necessity and Possibility of Salvation. (Against Pelagianism and Manichaeism)

3. Redemption by Christ.

wHAt All CHRiStiAnS bELiiEVE in cOMMOn - iv. CHRiStOLOGy

(At Left) Painting: “Heart’s Door” by Warner Sallman. © Warner Press, Inc. Anderson, Indiana. Used by permission.

“Ever since I became a Christian

I have thought the best, perhaps the only, service I could do for my unbelieving neighbors

was to explain and defend the belief that has been common

to nearly all Christians at all times.”

-C.S. Lewis “Mere Christianity”

1. The Incarnation of the Eternal Logos or Second Person in the Holy Trinity.

2. The Divine-Human Constitution of the Person of Christ.

3. The Life of Christ. His Superhuman Conception; His Sinless Perfection; His Crucifixion, Death, and Burial; Resurrection and Ascension; Seated at the Right Hand of God; Return for Judgment.

4. Christ Our Prophet, Priest, and King Forever.

5. The Mediatorial Work of Christ, or the Atonement. “He died for our sins, and rose for our justification.”

wHAt All CHRiStiAnS bELiiEVE in cOMMOn - v. pnEuMatOLOGy

Pneumatology:

The Doctrine or Study of the Holy Spirit

“That which has been believed

everywhere, always, and by all.”

-Monk Vincent of Lerins (450 A.D.)

1. The Divine Personality of the Holy Spirit.

2. His Eternal Procession (εκπόρευσις, processio) from the Father, and His Historic Mission (πέμψις, missio) by the Father and the Son.

3. His Divine Work of Regeneration and Sanctification.

wHAt All CHRiStiAnS bELiiEVE in cOMMOn - vi. SOtERiOLOGy

Soteriology:

The Doctrine of Salvation by Jesus Christ

“In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty.

In all things, love.”

-Rupertus Meldenius (1582-1681) Lutheran Theologian

1. Call by the Gospel.

2. Regeneration and Conversion. Necessity of Repentance and Faith.

3. Justification and Sanctification. Forgiveness of Sins and Necessity of a Holy Life.

4. Glorification of Believers.

wHAt All CHRiStiAnS bELiiEVE in cOMMOn - vii. EccLESiOLOGy & SAcRaMEntOLOGy

Ecclesiology & Sacramentology:

The Branch of Theology Concerned with the Nature, Constitutions, and Functions of the Church (or a Church), and of the Sacraments

“… 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 you 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.”

-Ephesians 4:2-6

1. Divine Origin and Constitution of the Universal Church of Christ.

2. The Essential Attributes of the Church Universal. Unity, Catholicity, Holiness, and Indestructibility of the Church. Church Militant and Church Triumphant.

3. The Ministry of the Gospel.

4. The Preaching of the Gospel.

5. Sacraments: Visible Signs, Seals, and Means of Grace.

6. Baptism for the Remission of Sins.

7. The Lord’s Supper for the Remembrance of the Atoning Death of Christ.

wHAt All CHRiStiAnS bELiiEVE in cOMMOn - viii. EScHAtOLOGy

Eschatology:

The Branch of Theology Concerned with the End of the World or of Humanity. Doctrines Concerning Final Things, Christ’s Return, and the Last Judgment

Our Lord Prayed:

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for those also who shall believe in Me through their word;

that they all may be one;

as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us:

that the world may believe that You have sent Me.

And the glory which You gave Me I have given them;

that they may be one, even as We are one;”

“I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one:

that the world may know that You have sent Me,

and have loved them, as You have loved Me.”

-John 17:20-23

1. Death in Consequence of Sin.

2. Immortality of the Soul.

3. The Second Advent (The Return) of Christ.

4. General Resurrection.

5. Judgment of the World by Our Lord Jesus Christ.

6. Heaven and Hell. The Eternal Blessedness of Saints, and the Eternal Punishment of the Wicked.

7. God All in All. (1 Corinthians 15:28)

Source (Main Text): “Creeds of Christendom” by Philip Schaff; Vol. 1, P. 919-921 (Baker Books)

“And when all things shall be subdued unto Him,

then shall the Son also Himself be subject to Him that put all things under Him,

that God may be all in all.”

-1 Corinthians 15:28

St. pOLycARp & St. iREnAEuS (QuOteS):

In the Roman Empire, for the crime of simply being a Christian, the sentence was death.

Said by St. Polycarp at his Hearing before the Roman Proconsul Statius Quadratus:

“If you think I will swear by the spirit of Caesar, then you don’t know who I am.

Hear me clearly: I am a Christian.

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When asked by the Executioner to denounce Christ or be burned at the stake, Polycarp answered:

“Eighty and six years have I served Him, and he never did me any injury; how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior.”

-St. Polycarp (69-155 A.D.) Disciple of the Apostle John, who, with some of the other Apostles, appointed him Bishop of Smyrna

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“I could tell you the place where the blessed Polycarp sat to preach the Word of God.

It is yet present to my mind with what gravity he everywhere came in and went out; what was the sanctity of his deportment, the majesty of his countenance; and what were his holy exhortations to the people.

I seem to hear him now relate how he conversed with John and many others who had seen Jesus Christ, and the words he had heard from their mouth.”

-St. Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons (120/140 – 200/203 A.D.)