What is born again and saved?

[TheologyNerd]

@The_Omega

It’s unfortunate that disagreement on post-biblical creeds is seen as a conversation-ending point, especially when the aim should be to seek truth rooted in Scripture, not tradition. My rejection of the Nicene Creed does not stem from a lack of reverence for Christ—it comes from a conviction that true Christian orthodoxy must be built on the inspired Word of God, not on the philosophical language and political compromises of 4th-century councils. I believe in Jesus as the one true God manifested in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16), the fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily (Colossians 2:9), and the only name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). That is not a denial of Christ—it is a bold affirmation of His absolute deity and singular identity. The idea that fellowship or fruitful discussion is impossible unless one affirms the language of a creed written centuries after the apostles is a dangerous elevation of tradition over revelation. Let us reason together from Scripture, not disqualify one another on the basis of man-made formulations

I view the Creed as the line drawn in the sand. We must draw a line in the sand somewhere. Throughout history there have been a multitude of ways people have answered the ancient question posed by Jesus, “Who do you say I am?”. Without the historic and ancient foundation and guiding light which the Creed affords for the whole and universal Christian Church then all alternative answers become acceptable answers.

If a Jehovah’s Witness echoes the old words of Arius, that Jesus is “a god” but not “the God”, a creature and not the Creator. Ought I call them brother or sister simply because they say “Jesus” or speak of their love of the Bible? What of our Mormon friends and neighbors who say that Jesus is the literal offspring of an apotheosized man and one of his spirit wives? A line must be drawn somewhere.

The line in the sand which the Christian Church has made is the line drawn in the words of the Nicene Creed: There is one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and one Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son, begotten and not made, eternally begotten and of the same Essence as the Father. And the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giving Lord who with Father and Son is worshiped and glorified. One God Three Persons.