What Is Arianism: The Ancient Heresy That Still Lurks in Modern Theology and even in the church today. Now, the question is, Have we truly grasped who Jesus is?
Is He just a wise man? A miracle worker? A good moral teacher?
Or is He—God in the flesh?
These are not new questions. They are echoes of an ancient war for the identity of Christ—one that once threatened to tear the early Church apart. And that war began with a man named Arius.
What Was Arianism—and Why Did It Shake the Church?
Arianism was more than a theological disagreement.
It was a full-blown attack on the core of the Christian faith: the divinity of Jesus Christ.
Arius, a 4th-century priest from Alexandria, taught that Jesus was not eternal, not equal to the Father, and not truly God—but a created being. His slogan?
“There was a time when the Son was not.”
Let that sink in.
Imagine removing the eternal nature of Christ from the gospel. What would remain? A powerless savior. A broken bridge between God and man. A message with no redemption.
The Three Core Errors of Arianism:
Jesus Had a Beginning
Arius claimed that Jesus was created by God the Father and therefore had a starting point. But Scripture teaches that Jesus was with God in the beginning (John 1:1), and all things were made through Him (John 1:3).
Jesus Was Inferior to the Father
Arians believed Jesus was subordinate—not just in role, but in essence. This contradicts what Jesus Himself declared:
“I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)
Jesus Was the Highest of All Creatures—but Still a Creature
This makes Him more like an angel than God. But Hebrews 1:6 tells us that even angels worship Him. No created being is ever worthy of that.
Why Is This So Dangerous?
Let’s break it down simply:
If Jesus isn’t God, then He can’t save us.
If He’s a creature, then His blood has no eternal power.
If He’s not equal with the Father, then the Trinity collapses—and our entire view of God is flawed.
Salvation requires a Savior who is both God and man. Anything less is deception, no matter how intellectually packaged.
How Did the Early Church Respond?
Enter the Council of Nicaea in AD 325—a spiritual showdown backed by years of fierce debates.
The Church leaders gathered and declared without apology:
“Jesus Christ is begotten, not made, being of one substance (homoousios) with the Father.”
This wasn’t about winning an argument—it was about protecting the integrity of salvation.
Athanasius: The Man Who Stood Alone
When nearly the whole Church world tilted toward Arianism, one man stood his ground—Athanasius of Alexandria.
He defended the truth that only God can save.
If Jesus is not God, Athanasius said, then we are still in our sins.
He was exiled five times, mocked, threatened, and called a disturber of peace. But history remembers him by one title:
“Athanasius Contra Mundum” — Athanasius Against the World.
He preserved the truth when the Church almost forgot it.
Is Arianism Still Around Today?
Absolutely—though it wears new clothes.
Jehovah’s Witnesses deny Jesus is God.
Oneness theology distorts the Trinity.
Liberal Christianity praises Jesus as a great teacher but denies His deity.
And in popular culture, Jesus is often portrayed as a symbol or example, not as Lord of all.
If we’re not careful, we too will subtly begin to believe in a Jesus who inspires but doesn’t save.
Let’s Ask Ourselves:
Do I truly believe Jesus is God in the flesh, not just a figure in history?
Has my understanding of Christ been shaped by culture or Scripture?
Do I talk about His miracles and teachings more than His identity and mission?
Am I standing for this truth, or avoiding the controversy it can bring?
Final Revelation: The Gospel Depends on the Divinity of Christ
The battle against Arianism was never just about philosophy—it was about the cross.
Only a sinless, eternal Savior could carry the eternal judgment of sin.
Only God Himself could offer the kind of love that saves to the uttermost.
As John 1:14 declares:
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”
Not a word that was created.
Not a word that began later.
But the eternal Word—Jesus.
The Real Question Today:
Who do you say Jesus is?
If He is less than God to you, then He is not your Savior.
If He is fully God and fully man, then He is your only hope.
Let us know Him rightly, worship Him fully, and guard this truth fiercely—for it is the very foundation of our faith.
What are your thoughts on this revelation?
Drop your comments below and bookmark Church History Chronicles for more hidden truths and bold teachings that protect the faith once delivered to the saints.
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