Eric W. King ~ TSW, "The Shepherds Way": "This, we hold to." ~ TSW

Ancient Antiochene

Mysteries

Part Three

“This, we hold to.”

By presbyter Eric William King (August 4^th 2024)

The Ancient Antiochene Church of God is the remnant of the Nazoreans and Followers of the Way. We were first called Christians in Ancient Antioch (Acts 11:26). We are the true philo-Sophia’s, the lovers of God’s philosophy. So dear sophists, let us be the true quibblers.

We reject the Docetists and Separationists. Why? Because they reject the power of the Ultimate and unnamable. The offshoots have despised the Hidden Gnosis, these Kenites appeared after the passing of St. John. We do not reject the true experiential mysteries, the apophatic reality. Those who hold to the outer-shell of Christ’s teachings hold only to rule lists and false regula-fideli – cataphatic realities.

As for those who reject the resurrection of the body, they do not understand that the entire Pleroma will be renewed, at the Restoration of All-things. This will include glorified bodies. St. Paul confirms this under inspiration. There will be New Heavens and a New Earth. We worship the True God.

The Seventh Bishop of Ancient Antioch rightly brought forth the first proclamation of Trinity. Referring to Father, Son, and Sophia. The First Church had the doctrine of the Trinity long before Alexandria and the Roman sect. Today, the Ancient Antiochene Church of God has proclaimed and still protects the Sacred Doctrine. We also hold to the first Liturgy of our Lord’s brother, St. James – the Holy Apostle.

We hold to the reformation of St. Luther who again revealed the true doctrine of Salvation – the Book of Concordia. We have been revealed the Seven Dispensations of time and understand that since our Lord’s embodiment we have entered the Sixth Dispensation. We believe in the complete fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant and the renewal of this planet for 1000 years. This will complete the work of the Church of God and the Davidian fulfilment in our current space-time continuum.

We hold to the Didache, the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasius Creed. All these were revealed before the coming of the fallen Roman sect. We rebuke the Roman Pope and pray that he falls to his knees before the Almighty in repentance. We pray for all the lost.

We believe in the dual nature of Christ as He is truly One, the Second Person of the Godhead. We believe that Holy Mother Mary did give birth to Jesus Christ who became fully man and was at the same time fully God. So, we accept that Mary is “the mother of God”. St Martin Luther also affirms this. Having stated that fact we must be careful with the term, Theotokos (meaning “mother of God” or “God bearer”) because of what the Roman Church has done to Mary. They state that Mary is now a co-mediatrix with Christ meaning that Mary has the mediation attributes of the Son of God. This is blasphemy.

The Roman Cult insinuates by “Mary Mother of God” to transform her into a “goddess” or what they refer to as “the Queen of Heaven”. Again, blasphemy.

Upon further review of the early church, we actually agree with St Nestorius regarding this issue who stated that it was more Biblically correct to call Mother Mary “Christotokos”, meaning “bearer of the Christ” or Kyriou (Lord). This agrees with Sola Scriptura (Luke 1:43) However we - like St Luther - reject some of St Nestorius’ views on the separate natures of Christ.

We also know from Scripture that Jesus is ultimately “without father or mother”. (Hebrews 7:3) Seeing what the Roman Cult has done to Mother Mary we believe that St Luther would most certainly agree with us on the current use of Theotokos.

We do not think it is wrong to bring into remembrance Holy Mary, Mother of the Christ. We also bring into remembrance the sacred apostles, prophets, and passion-bearing martyrs. We do not pray to anybody but God. We do recognize that the Saints in Heaven may be praying for us.

Also, we agree with St Martin Luther that Jesus (fully God, fully man) used His majesty while on earth “as it pleased Him” but we clarify always in agreement with God the Father’s will. In this sense we have stated that Jesus worked within the Father’s will completely while incarnate. This also agrees with Sola Scriptura.

We fully agree with “The Formula of Concord”, Article 8, “The Person Christ”-18 which states:

“Christ is and remains to all eternity God and man in one undivided person. Next to the Holy Trinity, this is the highest mystery, upon which our only consolation, life, and salvation depends, as the apostle testifies in 1^st Timothy 3:16.”

This, we hold to.

This is most certainly true.

By Eric William King (August 7^th 2024)