Pastor Thomas Gilbert Cole(Chaplain Tom)

This preacher is a minister of the saving Gospel, of our Precious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: I have believed with my whole heart, soul,
and very being, in the Virgin Birth, Sinless Life, Death/Burial/Resurrection,
and through faith repented by remorsefully confessing and turning from my sins,
by calling on the Name of Jesus Christ, trusting entirely in His Shed Blood for
the Remission of my SINS, and Eternal Life! His Spirit has witnessed to my
spirit that I am His Child(The Baptism of the Holy Ghost), in obedience
baptized in water, strive to live a Holy/Consecrated life, and have received the
“Filling of the Spirit”. Why do I tell you this?
Because there is no other way, no other name whereby we must be saved;
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved!!!!

“ In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Ephesians 1: 7. “But God, who is
rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead
in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath
raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ
Jesus: That in ages to come he might
shew the exceeding riches of his grace(unmerited favor) in his kindness toward
us through Christ Jesus. FOR BY GRACE
ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF
GOD: NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD
BOAST. For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we
should walk in them.” Ephesians 2 :
4-10. We are not saved by good works, we
do not stay saved by good works, but we do good works because we are saved and
born again!! The Most High, Holy, and
Righteous Almighty God(The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost), and His
preserved word, the Holy Bible must be first and foremost in our hearts and
minds; for only what is done for Almighty God will last throughout eternity; in
the New Heaven and New Earth!!!

I pray that this is not in any way offensive to you but if it is I plead with you to examine yourself, to
insure that you are in the Faith once delivered unto the saints-if you have not been saved by Grace, now is the time.

FAITH THROUGH TRUTH
A STATEMENT OF FAITH

A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL PEOPLE

THE HOLY BIBLE

We believe the Holy Bible, consisting of 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, are the revelation of Almighty God to mankind, and is verbally and fully inspired by Him, is fully and totally sufficient for the complete knowledge of Almighty God, and His will; and the eternal welfare of {ALL} mankind. Is infallible, preserved without error in the King James Bible(Almighty God’s preserved word from the Sixteenth Century through the Twenty First Century); and is the supreme authority for all Christian conduct, faith, and practice. II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:21, I Corinthians 2:13, Deuteronomy 29:29, II Timothy 3:15, John 10:35

ALMIGHTY GOD

We believe there is but One God(The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost), eternally existing in Three Persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, they execute distinct and harmonious offices in the work of Creation, Providence, and Redemption. Deuteronomy 6:4, II Corinthians 13:14

OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST

We believe Jesus Christ is the true God, and true man, He is fully Divine and also fully human, He preexisted eternally with the Father. Was conceived of The Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary, lived a perfect sinless life, and died(Rose Again) substitutionary(DEATH/BURIAL/RESURECTION) for the sins of mankind. He arose bodily from the grave, ascended to Heaven. He is the High Priest, and only Advocate for His people. He will return personally and bodily to earth. He is the world’s only Saviour. I Corinthians 8:4, I Corinthians 15:1-10, John 1:1, Mathew 1:23-25, Genesis 1:1, Colossians 1: l6-17, Mathew 28-19, John 14:3, Acts 4:12, I Timothy 2:6, John 14:6, Hebrews 4:14-16, Romans 10:13

THE HOLY GHOST

We believe that the Holy Ghost is a Divine Person of the Godhead(Trinity). He is sent from The Father by The Son to convict the world, to regenerate(repent), and to indwell those who trust in Christ Jesus, to baptize them into the Body of Christ, to seal them to the day of Redemption, to guide them into Truth, to fill them for a life of Holiness, and Victory. To empower the Redeemed for/to witness and service. He gives spiritual gifts to believers for the proper functioning in the Body of Christ, which is the Church. Acts 1:8-16, Ephesians 1:13-14, I Corinthians 2:9-12, I Corinthians 3:16, I Corinthians 12:3-13 & 27-31.

MAN

We believe that mankind was created by Almighty God, in His own image, and is therefore accountable to his Creator. It was through sinful rebellion that the first man fell from his original state of moral perfection. Because of this he brought upon himself, and the whole human race the penalty for sin, which is spiritual and physical death. Since Adam every person is born with an inherently sinful natured, and therefore is a sinner in deed, though, and word. Every person individually, therefore, stands under the just condemnation of Almighty God; and is unable to save himself, or to present deeds(works) worthy of any merit whatsoever before the Creator. Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 2:7, Mathew 5:20-48, John 3:36, Romans 2:6-16, Romans 5:12-21, Romans 6:23

SALVATION

We believe that a person is Saved by Almighty God’s Grace alone, made possible by the Shed Blood of Jesus Christ(we must believe in a Virgin Birth, Sinless life, and the Death, Burial and Resurrection), and through faith realize that we are sinners, then call on the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ trusting in His Shed Blood for the remission of our sins, and Eternal Life. The Holy Ghost then witness of our spirit that we are His children. The promises of this Salvation include the forgiveness of sins, a new standing before Almighty God; the impartation of new life, and all the Blessings that accompany a wonderful family relationship Our Father, Which Art In Heaven. The assurance of Salvation is the Blessed Hope of every true believer in Christ Jesus. Acts, 3:19, Acts 4:12 Acts 16: 31, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:28, Romans 10:9-13, John 1:12, John 3: 15-18, John 10:28, Philippians 1:6

CHRISTIAN WALK

We believe that Almighty God expects every true believer to live a holy and consecrated life of obedience, in which every area is brought under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and the fruit of The Holy Ghost becomes increasingly evident in their lives. The goal of the Christian life is to be conformed to the very image of Christ Jesus. This image is unfolded by self-giving and love for Almighty God, our neighbors, our enemies, and one another(The Church. The life and character of Jesus Christ, which grows through the Holy Ghost, is a very noticeable difference from the life of this world. And true Christians will suffer persecution. A believer who resist the gracious working of the Holy Ghost, and therefore fails to grow in obedience will be chastened in infinite love by their Heavenly Father, they can learn Holy and Consecrated obedience to the word of Almighty God. If not please examine yourself, that you personally are in the faith once delivered unto the Saints! John 14:2l, 1 John 2:l5-17, Galatians 5:22-23, II Corinthians 3:17-18, II Corinthians 10: 4-5, Mathew 22:37-40, Hebrews 10:25-26, Hebrews 12:5-14
THE CHURCH(THE HOUSE OF AMIGHTY GOD, A PLACE OF PRAYER FOR ALL PEOPLE)
We believe that the Church of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the Universal company of Almighty God’s redeemed people, His Body, of which He is the Head, His Bride, whom He loves infinitely, and Hid Temple, in which He dwells. This Universal Body of Jesus Christ is visibly expressed in local assemblies, whose purpose is to Glorify Almighty God through fellowship, worship, instruction in Almighty God’s preserved word, observing all the ordinances, and Biblical teaching in service to the world. The most important task for His Church is to make disciples for Christ Jesus, in all nations through the proclamation and teaching of the Saving Gospel. And the Church must show its love and compassion of the Redeemer of mankind through word and deed to an alienated world. The Church of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ builds people. The Church is about people, and therefore can not be connected to any area of government. It the Church is an Organism. It cannot be a corporation, or tax exempt organization. The Church therefore is a Free Church. Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians 2:19-25, Ephesians 3: 6-10,Ephesians 4:11-13, Ephesians 5: 19-27, Matthew 26:26-29, Matthew 28:18-20, I Peter 2:9-10, I Titus 2:11-14, I Thessalonians 2:14, II Thessalonians 13-17, Hebrews 10:25
THE PASTOR
Must be born again, saved by Grace, anointed, called and sent by the Holy Ghost. He must preach and teach from the preserved word, the Holy Bible. The Pastor must be the husband of one wife. He must truly place Almighty God(The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost) first and foremost in his actions, and his very life. His Head and Cornerstone is the Redeemer of “{ALL}” mankind our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.- Women are of great value to the Church of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and must be used according to the gifts given them. (What about Galatians 3:28 this verse pertains to Salvation. I Corinthians ll:3?)- Ephesians 3:7, Ephesians 4:11, I Timothy 2, 10-15, — I Timothy 3:1-8, John 6:38, Titus 1:4-9,
THE LAST DAYS
We believe in the personal and visible return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to the earth, and the establishment of His Kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body of Christ Jesus(individual to be judged at the Judgment Seat Of Christ), and the final Judgment at the White Throne Judgment(the final judgment for the eternal joy of the righteous, and endless suffering of the wicked. II Corinthians 4:1-14,5:1-11, Luke 16:22-25, I Thessalonians 4:16-18, Revelation 22:1-21.
SATAN AND HELL
We believe in the personality of Satan, the prince and power of this world, and his ultimate defeat by our Precious Lord the Redeemer of mankind Jesus Christ. We believe in a literal Hell, a place prepared for Satan, his devils, and his human followers. – Matthew 25:41, I Peter 5:6-11, Ephesians 2:1-10,
CREATION
We believe Almighty God(The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost), Which Art In Heaven. Created the Universe and the Planet Earth as a beautiful habitation for mankind. This special creation was given to humankind to have dominion over. Genesis 1:23, 9:2-3, l0:9, 27:3. John 1:1-4

Subject: : THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

Subject: THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
THE REJECTION OF THE WORD OF ALMIGHTY GOD(THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY GHOST) IS BEYOND DOUBT, OR CONTROVERSY THE FIRST AND FOREMOST SIN OF THE CHURCHES OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST.

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

”We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally and complete inspired Word of God written by men who were supernaturally inspired. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament are complete and divine revelation of God to Man. (2 Timothy 3 : 16-17; 2 Peter 1 : 20-21). We further believe that the 1611 Bible is the PRESERVED Word of God for all English speaking people.

Exodus 21

The Holy Bible: King James Version.

The Second Book of Moses, Called
Exodus
20

The Ten Commandments
Deut. 5.1-21
1 And God spake all these words, saying,
2 ¶ I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 ¶ Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 ¶ Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: Ex. 34.17 · Lev. 19.4 ; 26.1 · Deut. 4.15-18 ; 27.15 for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Ex. 34.6, 7 · Num. 14.18 · Deut. 7.9, 10
7 ¶ Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: Lev. 19.12 for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
8 ¶ Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Ex. 16.23-30 ; 31.12-14
9 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work:
10 but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, Ex. 23.12 ; 31.15 ; 34.21 ; 35.2 · Lev. 23.3 thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Gen. 2.1-3 · Ex. 31.17
12 ¶ Honor thy father and thy mother: Deut. 27.16 · Mt. 15.4 ; 19.19 · Mk. 7.10 ; 10.19 · Lk. 18.20 · Eph. 6.2 that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Eph. 6.3
13 ¶ Thou shalt not kill. Gen. 9.6 · Lev. 24.17 · Mt. 5.21 ; 19.18 · Mk. 10.19 · Lk. 18.20 · Rom. 13.9 · Jas. 2.11
14 ¶ Thou shalt not commit adultery. Lev. 20.10 · Mt. 5.27 ; 19.18 · Mk. 10.19 · Lk. 18.20 · Rom. 13.9 · Jas. 2.11
15 ¶ Thou shalt not steal. Lev. 19.11 · Mt. 19.18 · Mk. 10.19 · Lk. 18.20 · Rom. 13.9
16 ¶ Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Ex. 23.1 · Mt. 19.18 · Mk. 10.19 · Lk. 18.20
17 ¶ Thou shalt not covet Rom. 7.7 ; 13.9 thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s.

The People’s Fear
Deut. 5.22-33
18 ¶ And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. Heb. 12.18, 19
20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
21 ¶ And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.
24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: Deut. 27.5-7 · Josh. 8.31 for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

CREEDS FOR CHRISTIAN PATRIOTS

Christian Creeds

Apostles’ Creed Nicene Creed Definition of Chalcedon Athanasian Creed

The Apostles’ Creed

The Apostles’ Creed is one of the oldest creeds of Christianity, dating in an early form to at least the middle second century with roots in the biblical traditions of the Gospels. Some phrases were added for clarity as late as the fourth century, but the basic creed remained intact. The clearly Trinitarian structure was likely intended to counter the teachings of Marcion who denied that the God of the Old Testament was the same God revealed in Jesus the Christ. This Trinitarian formulation would remain the basic structure of all the early creeds. The Apostles’ Creed has often been divided into 12 sections for catechesis, instruction for new converts or children.

There has been some misunderstanding surrounding the phrase ”he descended into hell.” In fact, some church traditions omit this phrase from public recital of the Creed because some see this phrase as confirming an early belief that Jesus preached to the dead during the time between his crucifixion and resurrection (cf. 1 Peter 3:19, 4:6). However, many biblical scholars do not agree that the biblical traditions actually describe Jesus preaching to the dead, and therefore understand the phrase to be a metaphor for burial: ”he descended into the realm of the dead,” that is, that he spent the time among the dead (see ”He Descended into Hell”: Sheol, Hell, and the Dead). Some Protestants have also objected to the phrase ”holy catholic church,” assuming that this is a reference to Roman Catholicism when in fact the term simply means ”universal,” ”inclusive,” or ”unified” (see Catholic Spirit). -Dennis Bratcher, ed.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth,

And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, I believe in the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed has often been divided into 12 sections for catechesis, instruction for new converts or children.

1. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth,
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord,
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell.
5. The third day he rose again from the dead;
6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
7. From there he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
9. I believe in the holy catholic church, the communion of saints,
10. The forgiveness of sins,
11. The resurrection of the body,
12. And the life everlasting. Amen.
The Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed was developed by the early Church largely in response to the teachings of Arius. Arianism taught that Jesus was not truly divine and of a different ”substance” than God, which challenged the developing doctrine of the Trinity in the early church. The emperor Constantine, newly converted to Christianity, called a Church Council at Nicæa in AD 325 to bring some unity to the church amid developing controversies and false teachings. The Council at Nicæa adopted an early form of the creed, although the basic present form emerged from the Council of Constantinople in AD 381. It was officially adopted by the Council of Chalcedon in AD 451.

A major controversy in the church has swirled around one phrase of the creed, the so-called filioque clause. In the phrase, ”We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son” the debate concerned whether the Holy Spirit proceeded from only the Father, or from the Father and the Son [filioque in Latin]. The phrase ”and the Son” was not in the original Greek version of the Creed accepted at Nicæa and Constantinople. It was added in the Latin versions used in the Western (Roman) church in AD 589 as an attempt to clarify the relationship of the three persons of the Trinity. The concern was that the original wording made Jesus the Christ subordinate to the Father, a view that the Western church felt endangered the doctrine of the Trinity.

However, the Eastern tradition was committed to the earlier Greek version of the Creed and resisted any change. This highlighted the growing rift between the Eastern and Western traditions that would eventually lead to a permanent break in AD 1054. As a result, the Eastern Church has never used the version with the filioque clause (see Eastern Orthodox Catechism), while most churches that derive from the Western tradition use the creed with the filioque clause. However, the Episcopal Church has recently approved omission of the filioque clause in new editions of the Book of Common Prayer.

The Church has widely used the Nicene Creed since the fifth century. In some liturgical churches, for example the Episcopal/Anglican Churches, it is recited every Sunday. In others, the Nicene Creed is alternated with the Apostles’ Creed for Sunday worship, although the Apostles’ Creed is more often used at Baptismal services. The Eastern Orthodox tradition uses only the Nicene Creed. While most non-liturgical Protestant churches prefer the shorter Apostles’ Creed, none would object to the doctrines the Nicene Creed summarizes. It is the only creed accepted by all three major branches of Christendom: Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox. -Dennis Bratcher, ed.

We believe in one God the Father, the Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being [substance] with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

The Nicene Creed is also sometimes divided into 12 sections for catechesis (see Eastern Orthodox Catechism):

1. We believe in one God the Father, the Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and of all that is, seen and unseen.

2. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being [substance] with the Father. Through him all things were made.

3. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made truly human.

4. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.

5. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;

6. he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

7. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end..

8. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.

9. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

10. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

11. We look for the resurrection of the dead,

12. and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Adapted from a translation by the International Consultation on English Texts, 1975
The Definition of Chalcedon (451)

The Council at Nicæa in AD 325 had addressed the discussions and controversies over how to understand the relationship between God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. However, it did not put an end to them. Nicæa had rejected the view of Arianism, which held that Jesus was so human that he was of a different substance and nature than God. However, soon afterward the opposite idea emerged, that Jesus was not really a human being, that his human nature was so overpowered by the divine nature that his humanity was either obliterated altogether or was submersed in the divine (a position known as monophysitism, ”one nature”).

The fourth ecumenical Council at Chalcedon in Asia Minor (what is now Turkey) met in 451 to address the idea that Jesus lacked a human nature (along with other ecclesiastical issues). Chalcedon attempted to define a middle way that balanced Jesus’ divine and human aspects by emphasizing that Jesus had two natures unified in one person, so that he was genuinely human and yet truly divine. Chalcedon was also careful to avoid saying that Jesus was two persons, a position called Nestorianism that had already been rejected at the third ecumenical Council at Ephesus in 431.

As might be expected, Chalcedon had no better success in ending the Christological controversies than had Nicæa. Several groups in the Eastern Church, especially in the Middle East, rejected Chalcedon and adopted the ”one nature” position of monophysitism, which many still hold today. However, in most of the church the Definition of Chalcedon became the accepted doctrinal definition of the person of Jesus the Christ. -Dennis Bratcher, ed.

Following, then, the holy fathers, we unite in teaching all men to confess the one and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This selfsame one is perfect both in deity and in humanness; this selfsame one is also actually God and actually man, with a rational soul and a body. He is of the same reality as God as far as his deity is concerned and of the same reality as we ourselves as far as his humanness is concerned; thus like us in all respects, sin only excepted. Before time began he was begotten of the Father, in respect of his deity, and now in these ”last days,” for us and behalf of our salvation, this selfsame one was born of Mary the virgin, who is God-bearer in respect of his humanness.

We also teach that we apprehend this one and only Christ-Son, Lord, only-begotten – in two natures; and we do this without confusing the two natures, without transmuting one nature into the other, without dividing them into two separate categories, without contrasting them according to area or function. The distinctiveness of each nature is not nullified by the union. Instead, the ”properties” of each nature are conserved and both natures concur in one ”person” and in one reality. They are not divided or cut into two persons, but are together the one and only and only-begotten Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus have the prophets of old testified; thus the Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us; thus the Creed of the Fathers* has handed down to us.

*a reference to the Nicene Creed
Another version of the Definition of Chalcedon (in more traditional language)

We, then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach men to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man, of a rational soul and body; consubstantial with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the Manhood; in all things like unto us, without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, according to the Manhood;

One and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person and one Subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, and only begotten, God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ; as the prophets from the beginning [have declared] concerning Him, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has taught us, and the Creed* of the holy Fathers has handed down to us.

*a reference to the Nicene Creed
The Athanasian Creed

While the Athanasian Creed is one of the three most important Creeds of the early Church, its author and origin remains a mystery. It is named after the well known fourth-century apologist and theologian Anathasius who played an important role in defining and defending the orthodox doctrines of the Trinity and the person of Christ, which are central features of this creed. However, Anathasius died in AD 373 and the Athanasian Creed closely reflects wording of the Nicene Creed adopted by the Council of Chalcedon in AD 451, suggesting that it was written sometime after that. It is not mentioned in historical documents until the later seventh century, and was likely written in the Western Church sometime in the sixth or early seventh century. However, since the first work on the Nicene Creed began at the Council of Nicæa in AD 325, it is likely that Anathasius helped shape much of the Trinitarian language that the fourth and fifth century church used in both creeds. -Dennis Bratcher, ed.

Whoever wishes to be saved must, above all else, hold to the true Christian Faith. Whoever does not keep this faith pure in all points will certainly perish forever.

Now this is the true Christian faith: We worship one God in three persons and three persons in one God, without mixing the persons or dividing the divine being. For each person — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit — is distinct, but the deity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, equal in glory and coeternal in majesty. What the Father is, so is the Son, and so is the Holy Spirit.

The Father is uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated; The Father is eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal. And yet they are not three who are eternal, but there is one who is eternal, just as they are not three who are uncreated, nor three who are infinite, but there is one who is uncreated and one who is infinite.

In the same way the Father is almighty, the Son is almighty, and the Holy Spirit is almighty. And yet they are not three who are almighty, but there is one who is almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord; yet they are not three Lords, but one Lord.

For just as Christian truth compels us to confess each person individually to be God and Lord, so the true Christian faith forbids us to speak of three Gods or three Lords. The Father is neither made not created, nor begotten of anyone. The Son is neither made nor created, but is begotten of the Father alone. The Holy Spirit is neither made nor created nor begotten, but proceeds from the Father and the Son. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.

And within this Trinity none comes before or after; none is greater or inferior, but all three persons are coequal and coeternal, so that in every way, as stated before, all three persons are to be worshiped as one God and one God worshiped as three persons. Whoever wishes to be saved must have this conviction of the Trinity.

It is furthermore necessary for eternal salvation truly to believe that our Lord Jesus Christ also took on human flesh. Now this is the true Christian faith: We believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is both God and Man. He is God, eternally begotten from the nature of the Father, and he is man, born in time from the nature of his mother, fully God, fully man, with rational soul and human flesh, equal to the Father, as to his deity, less than the Father, as to his humanity; and though he is both God and Man, Christ is not two persons but one, one, not by changing the deity into flesh, but by taking the humanity into God; one, indeed, not by mixture of the natures, but by unity in one person.

For just as the reasonable soul and flesh are one human being, so God and man are one Christ, who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty, and from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. At his coming all people will rise again with their own bodies to answer for their personal deeds. Those who have done good will enter eternal life, but those who have done evil will go into everlasting fire.

This is the true Christian Faith. Whoever does not faithfully and firmly believe this cannot be saved.

-Dennis Bratcher

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