Look Who it Was Random video

EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #12: EXPERIENCING GOD IN THIS WORLD VERSUS FALSE TRADITIONS

2,989 views · Published 26 April 2012 · 28:43 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: CAnswersTV · 2012 · People & Blogs

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The Early Christian Church knew nothing about venerating or praying to Mary, dead saints & statues or self mutilation to expiate sins & a host of other misguided traditions of Biblically ignorant religionists. Holding Christian worship services in only Latin or Greek was also not a requirement. A knowledge of the Early Christian Church & what it taught helps today's Christians have a better understanding of both the Bible & its doctrine & also exposes the claims of contemporary false prophets on the scene everywhere. 

Larry Wessels, director of Christian Answers of Austin, Texas/ Christian Debater (YouTube channel: CANSWERSTV; see our playlist "Dealing with Anti Trinitarians & Early Church History" at http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9931642C7C8FFEAB&feature=plcp) and Steve Morrison, Ph.D, director of Research for Christian Answers (Steve is the creator of all 3 of our websites: http://www.BIBLEQUERY.ORG, http://www.HISTORYCART.COM & http://www.MUSLIMHOPE.COM) take viewers on a journey through the portals of time, back to the first few centuries of the early Christian church. What did the early Christian Church teach & practice? Early pre-Nicene (before 325 A.D.) writers included: Ignatius, Clement of Rome, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Melito, Iranaeus, Origen of Alexandria, Tatian, Athenagoras, Polycrates, Montanus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Cyprian, Novatian, Lactantius, Arnobius, Eusebius, Dionysius of Rome, Dionysius of Alexandria, "To Diognetus," Papias, Theophilus of Antioch, Methodius, Adamantius, Gregory Thaumaturgus & others. Let's ask the following question, "What could you prove about early Christianity if you had no Bible, but only the pre-Nicene church writers?"

Experiencing God

At times even faithful believers feel far from God. Ps 43:2; 44:23-24;89:46; 102:1-11

God strengthens us. Eph 3:16; 2 Th 2:17; Col 1:11; Acts 9:31; Isa 41:10; 58:11; Neh 6:9;Ps89 :21;119: 28;1Pt5:10;2Tm4:17; Php 4:13

Refresh/encourage each other. Phm 7,20; Rom15:32; 1 Cor 16:18; 2 Cor 7:13; 2 Tim 1:16

We must keep ourselves in His love. Jude 21; 2 Pet 3:17; 1 Jn 2:24,27; 1 Tim 1:14; ~Rev 2:4-5

Obedient get needed guidance. Isa 30:21; 58:10-11; Jn 14:16-8,25-6; Lk 12:11-2;Je33:3; Ps 73:24

God is emotional, He feels for us deeply. Rom 8:27; Mt 23:37; Isa 61:5; 62:4; 63:9

We praise God for His greatness, kindness, and character we still see in fallen creation. Rom 1:19-20; Acts 14:17; Ps 8;19; 104; 119:64; Job 38-41

We love God's word. Ps 119:97; Jer 6:10, we take pleasure in it. Jer 6:10, that we not sin against God. Ps 119:11. It is a light and a lamp to us. Ps 119:105; Prov 66:23

... Repentance and Forgiveness

Salvation involves life-changing repentance. Lk 5:32; 3:8;Acts 2:38; 11:18; 20:21; 2Tm2:25;1 Pet 3:21

We are to keep a clear conscience. 1 Tim 1:5,19; Heb 9:14;10:22; 13:18; 1 Pet 3:16,21; 2Pt3:14;Acts 23:1;24:16;2Cr1:12;2Tm1:3

Not that it was always clean, but Christ cleanses it. Heb 9:14; ~1 Jn 2:28; 3:20-21

God's forgiveness is thorough.Ps103:12; Isa 1:18; 38:17; 43:25; Mic 7:19; Jer 50:20. It is so complete that even Paul could say he was innocent of all men's blood. Acts 20:26

If we do wrong or leave where God wants us to be, we may suffer. God may still greatly bless us when we repent and return. Ruth, ~2 Cor 2:5-11; Rev 3:15-21

Even believers let us down.1 Cor 9:3-6; 2 Cor 6:12;10:1; 12:20; 2 Tim 4:16; ~Gal 2:13; Gal 4:19-20

Forgive our brothers as Jesus forgave. Mt 6:12,14-5; 18:21-35; Lk 17:3-4; 2 Cr 2:7,10; Eph 4:32; Col 3:13. Don't hold anything against anyone. Mk 11:25-26; Mt 5:43-48; Lk 11:4;1Cr13:5

An unloving/unforgiving heart is a symptom of not being heaven-bound. Lk 7:47 

... God Helps Us Struggle Against Sin and Overcome Sin

No believer on earth is without a sinful nature or no longer commits sin. 1 Jn 1:8-10

Don't be deceived sin's strength or the goodness of God. Jms 1:13-18; 1 Cor 6:9-11

Flee immorality, idolatry, greed, evil youthful desires. 1 Cor 6:18; 10:14; 1 Tim 6:11; 2 Tim 2:22

Always remember: God, angels, demons, and perhaps departed believers watch us. Jer 23:24; Heb 4:13; Prov 5:21;15:3; 49:10;Rom 2:16; Ecc 12:14; Ps 139; Job 1:8-10; 2:3; ~Heb 12:1

We have no temptation that others don't have. God won't let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. 1 Cor 10:13.Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Jms 4:7; 1 Pet 5:9

Sin's deceitfulness can harden people. Heb 3:12-13; Prov 28:13-14; ~Rom 1:21-32

At times we mourn. Jms 4:8-10; Mt 5:4; Lk 6:21; Jer 4:19; 9:1; 13:17; Lam 1:16; Ezek 9:4;20:43;21:6

Documentation for this video series can be found at http://www.HistoryCart.com.

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