Introduction
- James Collazo
- Jan 14
- 8 min read
Updated: Nov 19
First Century Christian Faith calls believers to follow Jesus Christ as he was first known—fully human, fully divine, and active among his people. This ministry does not focus on abstract ideas or distant history. It invites believers to encounter the living Christ and to let that experience shape how every disciple lives, worships, and serves.
I started First Century Christian Faith in 2013 to explore the roots of Christianity and to unite two worlds that often remain separate: the devotion of believers and the insight of scholarship. Many researchers study the historical Jesus as a figure of history, while many worshipers focus only on the Christ of faith. I affirm that the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith are one and the same. Seeking the authentic Jesus—divine and human together—remains the central purpose of this ministry.
The academic field of Christian origins examines Jesus' identity, why his followers recognized him as the Messiah, and how the early church expanded through the apostolic mission. Scholars in this field study archaeology, ancient languages, and the literature of the Greco-Roman and Near Eastern worlds to clarify the historical context of the New Testament. When believers unite these studies with personal discipleship, they see the same Jesus who transforms hearts in the present age, not only the figure who lived in the past.
An Introduction to Jesus & Discipleship
Faithful interpretation of Scripture requires both reverence and reason. The historical-grammatical method studies Scripture within its cultural background and linguistic setting. This approach grounds belief in the real world of the biblical authors and the meaning of their words. The method allows believers to see Jesus in his first-century world and to recognize his message in their own time. Through this approach, believers encounter the living Christ, who awakens faith and renews commitment. Seeking first-century faith means embracing both the divinity and the humanity of Jesus Christ in their whole reality.
I use this same method to teach believers how to follow Jesus faithfully. The goal of this instruction is to recover the essential beliefs of the early church—the truths that have united Christians across cultures and centuries. Authentic faith remains loyal to what the earliest generations of believers confessed and passed down to their successors.
The theological disciplines of christology and ecclesiology are inseparable because the church belongs to the living God and is "the pillar and foundation of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:15). The church finds its identity not in traditions or denominational labels but in its shared life with the risen Christ. The true church remains holy in character, multiethnic in membership, and devoted to its mission. Every believer within this fellowship seeks to "worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth" (John 4:23).
Reading with First-Century Eyes
Believers must learn to read the New Testament as its first hearers did. Many modern readers approach Scripture through the perspectives of later centuries—through the theological debates of the Reformation (1517–1648) or the philosophical assumptions of the Enlightenment (c. 1715–1789)—rather than through the world of the first century. Faithful interpretation requires first-century eyes and twenty-first-century questions. When believers read Scripture in this way, they recognize that the teachings of Jesus—such as the Beatitudes (Matt. 5:3–12)—are not abstract ideals but living commands that call every disciple to practice righteousness, mercy, and peace in daily life.
Heritage of Faithful Disciples
First Century Christian Faith stands in continuity with generations of disciples who carried the gospel forward through devotion, courage, and service. These disciples include the early Christians of the first century, the desert ascetics of late antiquity, the reformers and revivalists of later centuries, and renewal movements that sought faithfulness apart from political power (see "Paleo-Orthodoxy & Succession"). Many of these communities also preserved the Jewish roots of the Christian faith and maintained devotion to the Messiah of Israel while welcoming the nations into God's covenant promise.
Each movement rediscovered the heart of discipleship: to love God fully, to serve others humbly, and to live holy lives in the world. Genuine faith transforms both the inner life and the outward conduct of every believer. True discipleship forms hearts shaped by grace and actions marked by justice, compassion, and hope. This living tradition also helps believers appreciate the shared roots of their faith and the ongoing work of God in uniting his people through the covenant fulfilled in Christ (see "Israel: Election & Identity").
Experiencing a Hebraic Renewal
First Century Christian Faith teaches commonwealth theology, a covenantal vision that honors both Israel and the church. God's promises to Israel remain firm, and through Christ, God welcomes Gentiles into the same redemptive plan that began with Abraham. God relates to Israel through the Law of Moses and to the church through the Law of Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 3:17–25, 6:2), without changing the promise of salvation in Christ for all, received by the justification of faith (see "Salvation: The Romans Road").
The rediscovery of the Jewish roots of the gospel—through Scripture, archaeology, and renewed theological study—reveals the unbroken continuity of God's faithfulness. Christianity fulfills Israel's hope rather than replacing it. God has not abandoned his people, for the gifts and the calling of God remain irrevocable (Rom. 11:25–26, 11:29). In the present generation, believers around the world are experiencing a Hebraic renewal that reconnects the global church to the biblical story of redemption and covenant.
Witnesses of Christian Unity
First Century Christian Faith seeks reconciliation among all who follow Jesus, whether of Messianic Jewish or Christian Gentile heritage. This ministry affirms the shared inheritance of faith and the unity of all believers under one Lord. The apostle Paul teaches us, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28).
True unity grows out of love, humility, and service rather than uniformity or political identity. Every follower of Christ brings peace where conflict divides, forgiveness where injury endures, and hope where despair overshadows life. The unified church of Jesus Christ stands as a living body with one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all (Eph. 4:4–6). Every believer who follows this way bears witness to divine peace and carries the love of Christ into the world.
Conclusion
In the earliest days of the church, believers formed a living fellowship centered on the presence of Jesus Christ. Over the centuries, the church adapted to new settings and sometimes drifted toward philosophy, institution, or culture. First Century Christian Faith calls believers to return to that living fellowship where Christ himself remains at the center.
This ministry rejects political ambition and seeks spiritual renewal. The ministry promotes transformation through love, faith, and daily devotion. Wherever Jesus Christ changes hearts, heals communities, and reshapes lives through grace, the true church flourishes. First Century Christian Faith follows the enduring way of faith, hope, and love (1 Cor. 13:13). The mission of this ministry is to recover the original way of following Jesus Christ—a faith that endures through hope, serves through love, and lives for the glory of God.
Respectfully,
James M. Collazo, M.T.S.
Theological Content Lead
First Century Christian Faith
Prayer
Blessed are you, LORD our God, King of heaven and earth. You reveal yourself through your Son, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Lead us to know the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith, that we may live with first-century faith. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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