How Four Key Christological New Testament Passages Can Keep Us From Heresy

Abstract

This article explores the Christocentric biblical outlook found in John 1:1,14, 18; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 2:5-18, and Colossians 1:15-20. The aim of this article is to prepare Christian Evangelicals in Mpumalanga Province to be able to silence the heretics who raise questions related to Christ's deity; particularly in the areas of apologetics and evangelism. Some analysis and critique of some questionable views found in Black Theology, the Prosperity Gospel, African Initiated Churches like the AmaNazaretha Shembe Baptist Church, and the Zion Christian Church were predominantly echoed during the first four century AD ecumenical councils. This was indifferent forms like Ebionism, Docetism, Arianism, Apollinarianism and Modalism. Preachers of these contemporary Christological errors tout a religion of selfdeification coupled in some instances with syncretistic elements of mysticism and/or ancestral worship. Jesus Christ is often presented as 'less than' who He actually is. It is important to know that Jesus Christ is not a created being; He is eternal God in that He is the creator (Col 1:15-17), He is the Head of the Church (Col 1:18) and Christ is the beloved Son of God. Christ being fully man and fully God, Him, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are God and equal. Indeed, Jesus Christ is the sole reason for the existence of the Church.