As Christianity worked to find its footing with regard to Jesus there were a few different creeds that cropped up to describe Jesus’ place in the Christian world. The Roman interpretation was first and indicated that he descended into hell before rising to sit of the right hand of God. It interestingly deletes most references to Jesus’ work on Earth.

The Nicene

This particular creed comes from 324 CD and begins to resemble today’s tenants a bit more closely then the Roman creed. It begins by indicating that Christ existed before the world and judges the living and dead. Christ is one with God and that baptism is necessary for the remission of sins. Further, it proclaims that the Holy Spirit is the giver of life and speaks through the prophets. The orthodox divisions of Christianity reject this last portion to a degree but this in of itself shows how variations of Christianity were forming very early on.

Getting specific with the Athanasian

About the same time, or just a bit later the Bishop of Alexandria and/or a combination of religious people (conjecture) began to become a bit more specific with the creed that would unite Christianity in a common set of Christian beliefs. This dealt with there being three equal parts to the Trinity and that only Christians could be saved. Further, only the correct belief system would enable a person to be saved and that they could do no evil if they wanted to avoid the fires of hell.

Slowly comes together (almost)

There are portions of modern Christian beliefs cropping up in each of these creeds. Unfortunately, none is all that concrete about who gets saved and who burns in hell. Each creed believes that Jesus will return to Earth and take an assessment of each person. He will then judge their accomplishments and misdeeds. He will also make sure that all who are to join with him are baptized. Each creed, however, does not indicate whether individual divisions with the Catholic Church are acceptable for the “keeping the Catholic Faith” aspect of the provisions.

A loophole to be sure

Interestingly enough, another interesting loophole crops up on the way to salvation. If “all-men” is used as a description when considering ones good deeds does that mean everybody regardless on faith? It might appear that Jesus has slipped a ringer into the belief systems of all Christian belief systems and their acceptance into heaven and everlasting life, and it would make sense. We are all Gods children, so each of us who has not been evil and done “good works” of any kind will rise up.