What Did Arius Really Believe?

The intoxicated doctrines of Babylon

The cause of the fall of Babylon is thus stated: "she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." Her fornication was her unlawful union with the kings of the earth. The wine of this, is that with which the church has intoxicated the nations of the earth. There is but one thing that this can refer to; viz., false doctrine. This harlot, in consequence of her unlawful union with the powers of earth, has corrupted the pure truths of the Bible, and with the wine of her false doctrine, has intoxicated the nations. A few instances of her corruption of the truths of the Bible must suffice:

1. The doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul. This was derived from the Pagan mythology, and was introduced into the church by means of distinguished converts from Paganism, who became

"fathers of the church." This doctrine makes man's last foe, death, the gate to endless joy, and leaves the resurrection as a thing of minor importance. It is the foundation of modern spiritualism.

2. The doctrine of the Trinity which was established in the church by the council of Nice, A. D. 325. This doctrine destroys the personality of God, and his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The infamous, measures by which it was forced upon the church which appear upon the pages of ecclesiastical history might well cause every believer in that doctrine to blush.        J.N. Andrews, Review & Herald, March 6, 1855

Do you believe God has a Son?

If you are a Roman Catholic, you will say YES because the Creed of Athanasius says Jesus was begotten in eternity, the same substance as the Father.    

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If you are a Protestant, you will say YES because the Council of Nicaea voted that Christ is of the same substance as the Father.

If you are Orthodox (any kind), you will say YES because of the decision of the  Council of Nicaea.

If you are an Anglican, you will say YES because it is contained in the Thirty Nine Articles of Faith.

If you are a Jehovah's Witness, you will say YES because the Watchtower decrees that Christ was the first of God's creation.

If you are a Mormon , you will say YES, even though it is believed Jesus was the literal spirit brother of Lucifer, a creation.

If you are a Seventh-day Adventist, you will say YES because the Bible says Jesus is the Son of God.​

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Press a little harder and you will see that not one of the above really believes God has a Son -- a strong statement in the light of each answer, but think it through.

If Christ is eternal with the Father, He cannot be a begotten Son.  A Son must come forth from the being of the Father at some point in time.

The Council of Nicaea placed the word consubstantial in the creed (Greek - homoosius - meaning 'same substance') to separate the majority of council members from Arius who believed Christ was of 'like substance' (homoiosius) begotten of the Father.  All who believed in 'like substance' were banished from the realm.

​If Christ was created by the Father, He is a created son and not a begotten Son.​

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To believe Christ is the Son of God because the Bible says so is commendable, but it must be believed.  

According to John's epistle, "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself:  he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son."  John 5:10.   This text is not speaking of a salvational belief in God's Son, but whether God sent His Son.

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Ask yourself the question:

Did God have a Son to send?

Think about it.  

Your answer could condemn you.

 Or it will prove you believe the record that God did indeed have a Son to send. 

Do you believe God has a Son?

The subject of God's Son has many aspects that need to be pondered.   It is in fact, the most important subject in the Bible.  You may not have thought about it before, but it is wise to consider the question. After all, we are saved by God through His Son.  If we don't believe in God's real Son, we may not be saved in the end.

"He that hath the Son hath life;  and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."   1 John 5:12                                   Source