Core Beliefs
The Ante-Nicene Church of The Way is a restoration of the pure, apostolic faith as practiced by the earliest followers of Christ. We are committed to worshiping as the early Church worshiped, living as the first Christians lived, and proclaiming the faith of the Apostles without compromise.
God: The One True Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
We affirm that there is one God, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- The Father is the unbegotten source of all things, the Creator and sustainer of the universe.
- The Son, Jesus Christ (Yeshua the Messiah), is fully God and fully man, the eternal Logos who was with God and was God (John 1:1). He was begotten before all ages, took on flesh for our salvation, and reigns at the right hand of the Father.
- The Holy Spirit is God, proceeding from the Father and working through the Son, dwelling within believers, sanctifying the Church, and leading us into all truth (John 16:13).
Jesus Christ: The Eternal Word Incarnate
We believe in Jesus Christ as God, the only begotten Son of the Father, the divine Logos made flesh (John 1:14).
- He was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died for our sins, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven.
- He is the Savior and Lord of all who follow The Way, the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15), and the ruler over all creation.
- He will come again to judge the living and the dead and to establish the fullness of His Kingdom.
The Holy Spirit: The Life-Giver and Sanctifier
We affirm that the Holy Spirit is God, proceeding from the Father and working through the Son to sanctify the Church.
- The Spirit dwells in believers, empowering them for righteousness and truth.
- The Spirit inspired the prophets, filled the Apostles, and continues to guide the faithful into all truth (John 16:13).
- The Spirit is the comforter and advocate (John 14:16-17), transforming believers into the likeness of Christ and uniting the Church in holiness.
Salvation: Theosis and Union with God in Christ
Salvation is the restoration of humanity to communion with God, made possible through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- We are saved by grace through faith, not by works of the law, but true faith is always expressed in love and obedience to Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10).
- Baptism is the entrance into new life, marking repentance, rebirth, and reception of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
- Salvation is not just a legal declaration but a process of transformation, in which believers grow into the likeness of Christ.
Theosis: Becoming Partakers of the Divine Nature
- The goal of salvation is Theosis (2 Peter 1:4)—our union with God through Christ, in which we are transformed into His likeness by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Through participation in the divine life, we are restored to the image of God and called to holiness, growing in love and knowledge of Him.
The Scriptures: The True Apostolic Teaching
We affirm the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and the New Testament as the authoritative Word of God.
- We recognize the teachings of the Apostolic Fathers (such as the Didache, Shepherd of Hermas, and early epistles) as valuable for understanding the faith of the early Church.
- We interpret Scripture in accordance with the historical and moral approach of the Antiochian tradition, avoiding later allegorical distortions that obscure its true meaning.
Walking as Christ Walked – Keeping God’s Commandments
We believe that:
- True discipleship means walking as Christ walked, living in obedience to God’s will and commandments (1 John 2:3-6).
- Jesus taught that love for God and neighbor is the foundation of all God’s laws (Matthew 22:36-40).
- Faith is demonstrated through obedience, as we are called to keep God’s commandments (John 14:15, Revelation 14:12).
- The moral teachings of the Scriptures remain eternally relevant, guiding us in righteousness, holiness, and truth (Psalm 119:142, 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Holiness and Righteous Living
The call to follow Christ is a call to holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16).
- True faith is expressed through love, humility, and obedience to Christ’s commands.
- We are called to live separately from sin, resisting the temptations of the world and walking in righteousness.
- The early Church upheld strict moral and ethical teachings, including faithfulness in marriage, honesty, generosity, and care for the poor.
Marriage – A Sacred Covenant Between One Man and One Woman
We believe that:
- The Church is called to be a light in the world, actively serving and uplifting our communities (Matthew 5:14-16).
- True faith is demonstrated through acts of love, service, and justice, caring for the poor, the sick, and the oppressed (James 1:27, Galatians 6:10).
- We commit to engaging in our local communities through charitable works, evangelism, and providing spiritual and material support to those in need (Matthew 25:35-40).
- We reject isolationism and embrace active discipleship, mentorship, and outreach, ensuring that the love of Christ is made manifest in all that we do (Romans 12:9-13).
The Sanctity of Life – Condemnation of Abortion
We believe that:
- Human life is sacred and begins at conception, as each person is created in the image of God (Psalm 139:13-16, Jeremiah 1:5).
- Abortion is the taking of innocent life and is a grave moral evil (Exodus 20:13, Proverbs 6:16-17).
- Every unborn child has the right to life, and we stand against all practices that seek to justify, promote, or legalize abortion.
- The Church must offer compassion and support to women in crisis pregnancies, encouraging alternatives that honor life (James 1:27, Galatians 6:2).
Commitment to the Community: Living Out the Gospel
We believe that:
- The Church is called to be a light in the world, actively serving and uplifting our communities (Matthew 5:14-16).
- True faith is demonstrated through acts of love, service, and justice, caring for the poor, the sick, and the oppressed (James 1:27, Galatians 6:10).
- We commit to engaging in our local communities through charitable works, evangelism, and providing spiritual and material support to those in need (Matthew 25:35-40).
- We reject isolationism and embrace active discipleship, mentorship, and outreach, ensuring that the love of Christ is made manifest in all that we do (Romans 12:9-13).
The Agape Feast – A Sacred Fellowship
We believe that:
- The Agape Feast (Love Feast) is a biblical practice of communal fellowship, unity, and thanksgiving, shared among believers (Acts 2:42-47, Jude 1:12).
- This sacred meal is an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood, reflect on Christ’s teachings, and show love and generosity to one another (1 Corinthians 11:20-34).
- The Agape Feast reminds us that the Church is a family, united in faith, sharing with one another in sincerity and humility (Romans 12:10-13).
- We commit to regularly gathering for this sacred time of fellowship, ensuring that no one among us is in need, and that the love of Christ remains at the center of our community (Acts 4:32-35).
The Kingdom of God – Our Hope and Future
We believe that:
- Christ will return to establish God’s Kingdom on earth, fulfilling all prophecy (Daniel 7:13-14, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 11:15).
- There will be a resurrection of the righteous and the wicked, with Christ reigning in righteousness over the renewed creation (Acts 24:15, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28).
- We reject the doctrine of the rapture and dispensationalism, as they are not taught in Scripture and contradict the biblical teaching of Christ’s return (Matthew 24:29-31, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).
- The Church is not a separate "dispensation," but rather the continuation of God's people, united with the faithful throughout history under Christ (Romans 11:17-24, Galatians 3:28-29).
- Our mission is to prepare for Christ’s return by living holy lives, preaching the truth, and awaiting the fulfillment of God’s promises (2 Peter 3:11-13).