Fundamental Beliefs of Conservative Friends #21 Primitive Christianity Revived Part 1

Fundamentals #21 This podcast focuses on the 1698 publication “Gospel Truths” (by William Penn and three other Friends) which is found as an appendix to the edition of William Penn’s Primitive Christianity Revived . The first four (of thirteen) sections are read with commentary.. Section 1The “Scriptures of Truth”: an early Quaker name for the bible. God is a “rewarder of all who fear [have reverential awe of] Him”, andeternal rewards of happiness for all who obey and follow Him. Those whodo not fear Him, shall be “turned into hell”.Section 2“Trinity” 1 John 5:7 - In the original King James Version “the Father, the Word,and the Holy Ghost” are mentioned here. However, since then, modernbiblical scholarship has discovered that the earliest and most reliable Greekmanuscripts do not contain this verse. It is an addition from many centurieslater.The concept of “Trinity” was not declared to be a "doctrine" or“dogma” until the Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.). Friends are not trinitarian (since the Scriptures do not use the term),but do believe in the oneness of God as divine Father, divine Word (Logos)and divine Holy Spirit. Section 3 Jesus, was the Word (the Logos) of God, both fully divine and fullyhuman. “The only begotten of the Father” (i.e., Gk: monogenēs - one of akind, unique).  Jesus’ sacrifice as a human being on the cross was an act ofcomplete obedience to God the Father. Salvation is a much broader concept, with a different perspective thancommonly understood by some today. It involves beingsaved/rescued/healed from the propensity or inclination toward sinning.Romans 12:1,2.Section 4JustificationThe true meaning of justification has become very clouded and madecomplex by the accretions over the centuries, and it is understood verydifferently today than in the early church.  One is only made righteous (Greek dikaios: upright) in the sight ofGod, through the work of the Light of Christ in us. If we walk in the Light asHe is the Light, His precious blood cleanses us from all sin (and the guilt ofsin). We must receive and obey the holy illumination of Christ. . .  with a“sincere repentance [transformation] and amendment of life”. We can bemade truly righteous/upright, and walk according to the Holy Spirit in thislife. Jesus is our examplar. The word “Christ" is actually a title given to Jesus: Jesus, the Christ,meaning Jesus, the Anointed one. (Greek: Christos: the anointed one, i.e.the one anointed with the Holy Spirit). Jesus, the Messiah.This “seed” of Christ within us must be tended, watered, and fertilizedfor us to become truly Christlike, truly Christian. Greek:Greek Lexicon:Logos – any verbal utterance, expression, God’s expressing Himself;reasoning. Monogenēs adj.: one of a kind, unique, only-begottenDikaiōsis (Latin: justificatio): being made righteous, just, upright [in God’seyes]dikaios adj.: righteous, just, upright Hilasmos: propitiation, the means by which sins are forgiven.Christos: anointed (one), Messiah, Christklēronomeō v. - inherit, obtainThe quote in our introduction is From George Fox’s Journal.  It can be found in the first chapter of that book. A complete list of our podcasts,  organized into topics, is available on our website.We will be publishing video interviews with Conservative Friends on YouTube.  See our YouTube channel.  The first interview is with Susan Smith. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit  ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups.  Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website.   Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline.We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes.   Contact us through our website.