Ancient Antiochene
Christians –
Stewards of
the Ancient Mysteries
“To find
a true Christian you should not have to look for a building with a
denominational name on it. A true Ancient Antiochene Christian does not send
somebody to a specific building or organization to find Jesus. The Antiochene
Christian shares Jesus all the time. If you have found us it is by the grace of
God. We are freed from denominationalism and sectarianism. We, the children of
God, are the true Church – the Body of Christ on Earth.” ~ Presbyter King
The
Ancient Antiochene Church of God is a remnant of the First Church
and has the original mysteries of the Christian Faith. The Bible documents that
we were first called “Christians” in ancient Antioch (Acts 11:26). Before that
we anciently were called Nazoreans. Our original doctrine was founded on
the “teachings of the Way”. The spiritual path of “the Way” was started
by descendants of the original patriarchs of old and comprised the remnant of
God’s people when Jesus was born. John the Baptist preached and taught “the
Way”.
The title Nazorean (Nazoraean) included different Hebrew
mystics of the Torah. Essenes were sometimes also called by this name. It was
said that the Nazoreans held to what was “hidden”. The ancient word Nazara
meant “perfect Truth”. This Truth was a spiritual Truth. Many from the
Nazoreans followed what was called “the Way”. Jesus Christ was finally revealed
as the “man of the Way”, the anticipated Messiah.
Many
Galilean fishermen were Nazoreans. The fish as a symbol for the followers of
Jesus Christ was used early on. The Greek word “fish” is ichthys and
became a Christian anagram pointing to; “Jesus Christ Son of God”. An inverted
“V” was also used with a circular dot almost in the middle which pointed to the
“life-force surging up”. This was a sort of fish-head pointing up, the dot
being the eye. It represented resurrection and new life. It was placed over
some of the ancient Christian ossuaries in ancient Jerusalem. It was used way
before the cross became a symbol of Christianity. In ancient Aramaic the word Ras meant “head”
or “point” and the word Nasrani was a term which meant “lots of fish”. This
phrase, Ras Nasrani was used when many followers of Christ were passing
through. So, the symbol of the fish has connections with the title Nazorean.
Another connection is, the Hebrew title “Nazorean” comes from the Hebrew root word, Netser – pronounced; nay-tser. It means “shoot” or “branch”. The early Messianic sect was also called this because of the “Branch” prophecies regarding the coming Messiah found in the prophets. The Messiah is referred to as “the Branch”.
Members of five additional Essenian groups [a religious sect
during the time of Christ] became part of the original group of Nazoreans.
After God called the apostle Paul, some years later, we became known as “Christians”.
Apostle Paul accepted this official title during the middle point of his
ministry. Originally, if somebody wanted to become a Christian, he was to hear
the message of the Gospel and then get baptized with water. If they got baptized first as an infant, then
they would study the Neophyte doctrines as they grew up with their Christian
parents. If a young adult wanted baptism, this means that he or she was moving
out of Neophyte Christianity and into baptized [fully initiated]
Christianity.
The Neophyte received basic
instruction of the first and important Christian doctrines. These would include
basics about; “The Doctrine of Original Sin [Mans true sinful condition]” and
“The Doctrine of Salvation [Christ died for our sins]”. Finally, the importance
of getting properly baptized and the true meaning of the sacrament. It is the
hope that the Neophyte would want baptism. The newly baptized Christian was
called a “milk drinker”.
When a baptized child turned 8 years old, he or she could
enter Catechism class [all baptized adults may enter]. Completing this course,
the Christian becomes an official Catechumen. The Catechumen
learns even more about the “new birth” [spiritual birth] and is taught the
Small Catechism. They learn the Apostles Creed, the Ten Commandments, the
importance of proper Baptism and the proper Eucharist, and they graduate to
receive their first communion [Eucharist – Lord’s Supper]. The Catechumen was
called a “meat eater”.
Finally, as you grow older and stay involved with the
church, you may take the last initiation. You may officially become one of “the
Faithful”. The Faithful learns important prophetic information and
teachings. They learn about the deeper aspects of our Christian faith including
the Septenary Mysteries. In the original practices of the Ancient
Antiochene Church of God, the sacraments [baptism & communion] were held to
be very special and sacred - they were seen as extremely sacred. The Faithful help
to protect the true and sacred teachings from false teachers. We still
understand this sacredness today.
Finally,
the John Class…
Today, mature Christians who have gone through these three
initiations may become part of “the John Class”. The “John Class”
is made up of those Christians who feel called to share the “Seventh Epochal
Revelation of Jesus Christ” with the rest of the Christian world – to
Christendom. We know that God’s “true elect” will hear the “John Class” and be
saved from the sad Laodicean condition of the church today.
You may become a True Antiochene
Christian Right Now!
Today,
the Ancient Antiochene Church of God practices all these things the same way.
We accept those Christians who have been baptized correctly by “the water
& the Word”, if they were baptized in a basic Protestant believing
church. It is the “water” mixed with the institution of the Holy Word that
makes the true baptism, not the minister or church denomination.
If one comes from another church to claim faith as a true
Ancient Antiochene Christian, we welcome he or she. We ask that they read the “Book
of Concord” with their Bible off and on. This helps them to understand some
of the most important history of their true Christian faith along with proper
doctrine. Study using this AACG BLOG every week. The true Christian
should also learn the Apostles Creed. By reading about the Patristic
Period of the church - along with learning the Catechism [found in the “Book
of Concord”], this is accepted in place of having to take an official Catechism
Class. A Christian can find all that they need to know on our AACG BLOG to
become a true Antiochene Christian. It is difficult for Christians today to find
a church that is teaching the catechism correctly. If one has already attended
(from past experience) a catechism class then this is great! He or she can help
and teach others.
If you cannot attend a Protestant Catechism class that is
okay. You may teach yourself by reading it along with the rest of the writings
found in “The Book of Concord”. (We have a link to it here on our BLOG)
To become a true Christian there are no fines, fees, or
forms that one must fill out. The true Church of God is not denominated. It is
not a denomination or non-denomination. There are no membership
fees. True Christianity is completely free.
So, in this short paper we have outlined for you how the
early and original Christian church did things and still does. The early church
understood the importance of proper doctrine. People were admitted to
the Christian Mysteries by way of another Christian. The motive of the person
wanting true salvation is important. We have outlined for you what the three
basic initiations are. Here they are with a basic explanation;
1- Neophyte (This first initiation has to do with a person’s
“ears”, faith comes through “hearing” – some form of understanding the Gospel. A
Christian studying before baptism or Catechism is a Neophyte – some wait for years
to get water baptized but they should not wait.)
2-Catechumen (A Christian who has studied the Catechism after
baptism – the person also demonstrates some participation in the church. Learns
about the true history of the Christian faith.)
3-Faithful (An adult Christian moving into spiritual
maturity. A Faithful understands the true Christian faith well and protects the
true faith from false doctrine. Many of the Faithful are also part of “the
John Class”.)
Sadly, many Christians today simply have been baptized but
have never gone beyond the understanding of being reconciled and justified
through Jesus Christ. They never “grow up” in their faith. They remain
spiritual “milk drinkers”. We have modern “pastors” in the fallen
churches telling people: “It’s okay if you don’t want to be baptized, your
still Christian.” The nominal churches have brought the “world” into the church
and have turned it into a business.
Others have studied many different spiritual paths and have
much knowledge regarding spirituality and religion but they have never gotten
serious about their own sinful nature. Some who started out trying to be
Christian have become dissatisfied because of all the fake American
Christianity today.
We understand that many modern Christians today have not a
clue about how the original church worked and many people get offended by the
word “initiation”. The facts are the facts. The true Church of God is a school
for God’s children. God’s true people are a family. The true Christian grows
into his or her theogenesis.
For those young and old adult baptized Christians who have
studied here off and on for a year, we consider you “a Faithful” - a disciplined
Christian. We have posted many important Christian talks and lectures on our
BLOG. We urge all Christians to learn from our online ministries. We also ask
Christians to find a healthy church and to share the Gospel when and where they
can.
We do not believe in “casting or pearls before swine” so we
are prayful regarding who we share the true Gospel with. We must allow the Holy
Spirit to lead us. Our Truth is very sacred. Apostle Paul stated:
“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and
stewards of the mysteries of God.” (1st Corinthians 4:1)
And Jesus Christ tells us; “To you it has been given to know
the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside [“those
outside” means not true Christians], all things come in parables.” (Mark 4:11)
St. Gregory of Nazianzen stated: “you have heard as much of the
Mystery as we are allowed to speak openly in the ears of all; the rest will
be communicated to you in private; and that you must retain within
yourself…Our mysteries are not to be made known to strangers.”
We guard many things that God has given us with a “faithful
silence”. In ending this important article, we must stress that true
salvation comes to all those who love the Lord and become baptized into the
family of God. A Christian must only know Jesus the Christ and love Him with
all their heart, mind, body, and soul to be saved. All the Christian knowledge
that we have to share is for Christians to study and grow into maturity. Having
this knowledge does not save you, accepting Jesus Christ as your true Savior
saves you.
We are saved by grace through faith
alone in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you have been a Christian for a long time but haven’t
been active, we urge you to awake from the Laodicean condition [spiritual laziness]
and begin to truly study with us here. Simply spend ten minutes a day, five
days a week [total of 50 minutes a week] reading and learning from our lecture
studies - using your Bible. You will begin to notice a remarkable difference in
just one week. People have gotten closer to our Lord through this kind of
discipline. If you do this in conjunction with practicing the “Silent Walks”
along with time spent meditating on the Word of God in your Home Sanctum
you will find a magnificent spiritual rest in Jesus Christ our Lord.
We hope to keep helping our fellow Christians no matter
where they might be. We realize that true and ancient Christianity is very
different from “American Christianity”. Please pray about what you learn and
study for yourself. We accept all true Christians as our brothers and sisters
in Christ. Please continue to study with us here at “The Shepherds Way
& Nugget of Truth”.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
AACG (July 27th 2026)
Note: You can learn all that you need to know to become
a true Antiochene Christian on this BLOG. We encourage you to continue your
studies with us here. Print out our articles to share and also share our online
video lectures. Christians have reported developing a closer relationship with
our Lord after having studied with us for only a short time. May our Lord
continue to bless you and keep you.
