Nicene Creed
In the year 325 AD – after the Romans stopped persecuting Christians – a group of about 300 Bishops and church leaders came together from all over the empire, to write a statement of faith. Every one of these early church leaders had willingly suffered for their faith because they really believed that Jesus was the Saviour that the world needed. The Nicene Creed was written to explain to the world what true Christians believe about God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), and continue to believe today. Sadly, some who call themselves Christians, believe in a different Jesus and a different Gospel – and has been the case since the beginning. The letters of the New Testament, and statements like the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed, were written to preserve and clarify the truth, and to counter the false teachers who had come into the church. These writings continue to preserve the truth from those who would distort or destroy it for their own ends.
One of the important roles of those who write for Jesus, is to defend the faith and stand against those who would change it to suit themselves. But, you cannot do this unless you are a student of the Bible and recognize it s authority as the Word Of God. We must be Berean’s (Acts 17), who even tested the Apostle Paul’s teachings by going to the scriptures to check whether these things were so. Paul did not get offended like the false teachers do. BUT, if the Bereans had not been diligent in their study of the scripture, then they would not have been able to recognize either the truth or error. Make the Scriptures (Bible) an essential part of your Christian walk and allow God to use them to change you – not just give you topics to write about.
Finally, the Nicene creed is a very useful summary of the teachings of Scripture about God, but it is not a substitute for the Scriptures which are our final authority as God’s Word. The Nicene creed was the result of one man – Athanasius – who was willing to stand firm for the truth, at a time when false teachers were gaining the upper hand in positions of influence. Most of the false teachers of scripture and history started off well, but their desire for the approval of people more than God, and their desire for success and worldly gain lead them down the path of compromise and serious error. Let us be diligent, so we don’t find ourselves doing the same thing.
Here are the words of that famous statement.
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of the same substance with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
May those of us who believe these words, also remember the words of Jesus when He said,
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. By this shall all people know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35