A recent study sponsored by Ligonier Ministries and conducted by Lifeway Research sought to discern what Americans believe about God. It revealed that American Christians are confused about core Christian doctrine. It appears that 71% of American Evangelicals agree with the statement “Jesus is the first and greatest creature created by God.” The answers to other questions seem to demonstrate that most American Christians hold to some form of beliefs that do not reflect orthodox Nicene Theology. That many pastors don’t know what “Nicene Theology” is may demonstrate the source of American theological illiteracy. But the real question is “Does it matter?”
Footwashing & Confession of Sin
The problem of post-baptismal sin was an issue of great concern in the early church. The baptismal doctrine of the early church taught that water baptism was the initial act of Christian confession which cleansed the human soul of original sin and all sins committed up to the point of baptism.