Doctrine matters, and no doctrine matters more than the doctrines concerning Jesus Christ.
One of the earliest and most intense controversies in the early church had to do with Arianism. Arius taught that the Son of God was not equal to the Father, not eternal God, but only a very exalted and powerful creature. He was not always with the Father, but there was when he was not.
So what? What does it matter whether Jesus was the eternal consubstantial Son of God or not.
It matters, first, because it says something about God. Arius was hesitant to identify Jesus with God because he was hesitant to say that God could get so directly involved in His creation as Jesus did. He wanted to protect God from the defilement of entering the world. But the God revealed in Scripture doesn’t need that kind of protection. Unlike the God of Arius, He digs into the dirt of creation.
It matters, second, because it says something about Jesus’ revelation with the Father. If Jesus is not God, can we be sure that He reveals the Father without distortion? Maybe the Father is not so kind and compassionate as Jesus. Maybe the Father is indifferent to sin and the oppressive power of Satan. But the God revealed in Scripture is the Father of Jesus, who is His express image. We can know the Father because He has revealed Himself clearly and accurately in Jesus.
It matters, finally, because it says something about the finality of the work of Jesus. Israel had many human saviors – Moses for starters, but also Joshua and Gideon and Samson and David and Hezekiah and Josiah. Great as they all were, none of them was able to bring ultimate rescue. That could only be God’s work. God had to come and finish the business.
We are not Arians. We recite the anti-Arian Nicene creed every week. But we fall into a form of Arianism when we think God is distant from His creation, when we wonder whether the Father really is like Jesus, when we doubt whether Jesus can save us from sin.
Advent is a season of preparation, which includes repentance. During this Advent season, examine yourself and repent not only of your sinful actions but your false beliefs, and especially your false beliefs about Jesus.
Dear Reader,
Can I be direct with you?
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