Title: Building On The Blessing (5)
Author: Jeff Strite
Series: Building Blocks For Life
Text: Matthew 5:11-12
In August of 325 A.D., the Roman Emperor Constantine brought together leaders from churches all across the Empire to a city called "Nicaea" to discuss a new heresy that had risen called Arianism. Arianism was a cult led by a man named Arius who taught that Jesus was NOT God... but was merely a man. And Arius himself was at the conference. Now, there was another man at the conference named Nicholas. Nicholas had been imprisoned and tortured during the Great Persecution under the previous Emperor Diocletian (ruled 284-305), but he'd been released under the orders of Constantine and was invited to the conference at Nicaea. You probably wouldn't have given Nicholas a 2nd thought... except he was better known as "St. Nick" - he was a godly Christian leader who was well known for his gifts to the poor... and who ultimately became renamed: Santa Claus. At one point in the debate about Arianism, Nicholas became angry because of comments that Arius was making about Jesus... and he just walked over and slapped Arius across the face. He was almost kicked out of the conference, but Constantine allowed him to stay if he apologized.
At the Nicene Council, there were 318 delegates... and fewer than 12 of those present at the council had not been tortured for their faith and lost an eye or a hand or limped because of crippled legs. (Vance Havner). Let me repeat that - OVER 300 of the Christians at the council of Nicaea had been tortured, imprisoned, and had lost hands, and eyes, and many limped as they entered the conference.
Christianity was NOT a healthy lifestyle for those people. And Jesus was very plain that this was the kind persecution that Christians could expect. In John 16:33 Jesus said: "In this world you will have trouble."
In Matthew 10:17 Jesus warned His disciples: "Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local counc ...
Author: Jeff Strite
Series: Building Blocks For Life
Text: Matthew 5:11-12
In August of 325 A.D., the Roman Emperor Constantine brought together leaders from churches all across the Empire to a city called "Nicaea" to discuss a new heresy that had risen called Arianism. Arianism was a cult led by a man named Arius who taught that Jesus was NOT God... but was merely a man. And Arius himself was at the conference. Now, there was another man at the conference named Nicholas. Nicholas had been imprisoned and tortured during the Great Persecution under the previous Emperor Diocletian (ruled 284-305), but he'd been released under the orders of Constantine and was invited to the conference at Nicaea. You probably wouldn't have given Nicholas a 2nd thought... except he was better known as "St. Nick" - he was a godly Christian leader who was well known for his gifts to the poor... and who ultimately became renamed: Santa Claus. At one point in the debate about Arianism, Nicholas became angry because of comments that Arius was making about Jesus... and he just walked over and slapped Arius across the face. He was almost kicked out of the conference, but Constantine allowed him to stay if he apologized.
At the Nicene Council, there were 318 delegates... and fewer than 12 of those present at the council had not been tortured for their faith and lost an eye or a hand or limped because of crippled legs. (Vance Havner). Let me repeat that - OVER 300 of the Christians at the council of Nicaea had been tortured, imprisoned, and had lost hands, and eyes, and many limped as they entered the conference.
Christianity was NOT a healthy lifestyle for those people. And Jesus was very plain that this was the kind persecution that Christians could expect. In John 16:33 Jesus said: "In this world you will have trouble."
In Matthew 10:17 Jesus warned His disciples: "Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local counc ...
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