Nicene Creed: God the Father part 1

Tradition is the fruit of the Spirit’s teaching activity from the ages as God’s people have sought understanding of Scripture. It is not infallible, but neither is it negligible, and we impoverish ourselves if we disregard it. — J. I. Packer

Last week we introduced our new series, “Confessions & Creeds,” exploring the ancient roots to the Christian faith. What is a creed and why should we know about them? Creeds are short summary statements of faith. The earliest creeds are thought to have been in circulation as early as 2 years after the death of Christ. See Dr. Gary Habermas explain this HERE.

Why are they important? It is hard to imagine life differently than what we know, but can you imagine life without being able to read or write? No access to smartphones, computers, or libraries? In the first century, most people were illiterate and lacked education. They needed to pass on information in ways that they could remember, like, songs, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19). Creeds were developed quickly to pass on the essentials of the faith. Robert Godfrey explains, “These creeds were designed to define the faith, protect the faithful, and testify to the world what the church believed.”

The Nicene Creed was established to defend the Christian understanding of the Trinity, the relationship between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When we recite this creed, we learn from those who came before us and fought to understand what the Scripture revealed about the God in whom we believe.

Not only is it difficult to imagine living at a time when reading and writing was not the normal experience, we also have a hard time imagining the majority of people believing in many gods. If you think back to the Ancient Greek and Roman periods, the people believed the legends of the gods on Mt. Olympus. Even beyond that, the cultures surrounding the times of the Old Testament believed in many gods and localized gods. For instance, when David fights Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, we see Goliath cursing David “by his gods.” David is angered by Goliath’s blasphemy and rebukes him (1 Sam. 17:41:47).  This was common in the Ancient Near East.

The Jews were different than the surrounding cultures, for the believed the Word of the Lord, that God is one (Deut. 6:4-9; Ex. 20:3). Monotheism, belief in one God, was different and defining. The Christian teaching on God is summarized with the opening stanza of the Nicene Creed:

We believe in one God,

      the Father almighty,

      maker of heaven and earth,

      of all things visible and invisible.

God is one. This one God has been revealed in the three persons of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 8:6; John 14:26; Matt. 28:18-20). Three persons, one essence. The Nicene Creed helps identify the Son and the Spirit as part of the godhead.

This God is revealed as the “Father Almighty.” He is a relational God who is involved with his creation. Jesus instructed us to pray to the Father (Matt. 6:9). Paul shows how we are adopted into His family and can come to God as our “Abba Father” (Rom. 8:15). James further shares with us that God the Father gives good gifts to his children (James 1:17). John tells us that everyone who believes in Jesus is a child of God (John 1:12). 

This relational language sets the Christian faith apart from all religions, even other monotheistic religions. But this is just the beginning and first point of the Nicene Creed. I am looking forward to exploring it more, I hope you are too!

Confessions and Creeds: an Introduction

Thus says the LORD:

“Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16)

Jeremiah had a word of caution for the Israelites as impending judgement was at their door. Israel had rebelled against God and forgotten the good things that He had done for them. God, being a holy God, had to bring punishment on their unfaithfulness, but sent a prophet to call His people back in repentance. Jeremiah spoke to them about looking to the “ancient paths,” back to the Scriptures and the traditions of the fathers who walked faithfully with God. The ancient paths contained the “good way” and guidance for how to live. The ancient path also provided the way to find “rest for your souls.” 

As I think about these words and consider the current culture we live in, these words resonate with me. Today there is so many who claim to be Christian but have no idea what that even means. Some churches have forgotten the ancient paths in their pursuit of being culturally relevant. In our postmodern era, people have rejected absolute truth for moral relativism and these philosophies have crept into Christian churches. What does it mean to be a Christian? The Church was never intended to be a “place” that we go to, rather it is supposed to be a “people called out” from culture. Christians are to be “aliens” in a foreign land.

We need to look back to the ancient paths, to the ancient roots of the Christian faith, and remember who we are, who we believe in, and what we believe. Jeremiah’s promise to the people is that when they follow the ancient path in faithfulness to God, they will find rest for their soul. I find it interesting that this phrase is only used once again the Bible when Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30). The longing of our soul will continue to grow restless in our rebellion and unbelief, but it will find rest and peace in knowing Christ and following Him faithfully.

This new series will be looking at the ancient beginnings to the Christian faith by looking at the early creeds and confessions that were established to provide a guide to the right beliefs (orthodoxy). This week we will read through the three creeds: The Apostles’ Creed, The Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. The Apostles’ Creed is an ancient summary of the Apostles’ writings, or the New Testament teachings. It has been accepted and used in the Western tradition of the church. We will recite the Apostles’ Creed each week as part of our worship.

The Nicene Creed is the only creed that has been officially accepted by both the Eastern and Western church traditions in the ecumenical councils throughout church history. We will be unpacking the Nicene Creed in our lesson time each week. The Nicene Creed is like the Apostles’ Creed but has expanded on a few areas that we will discuss.

The Athanasian Creed is a different approach to the creeds as it was written to defend the Trinitarian concept of God. This week we will read it and highlight its historical significance. 

The Creeds are written to define “who we believe in.” The word Creed comes from the word Credo which means “I believe in…” As we walk through the Creeds, the first question is “do you believe in this God?” As each of us individually believes, then together we can affirm “we believe in…” The Creeds add some clarifications to who God is, so that we can know which God they are affirming. This is because there was and still is false teaching about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Church, baptism, and the resurrection. For this reason, we will walk through each of these affirmations. Understanding this, we must acknowledge that the Christian faith is first a personal faith and also a community faith. It is to be a private affirmation that is also shared with others. 

Will you join me on this journey to the ancient paths? Will you look to the ancient roots of the faith and walk in them? I pray that as we look back, that we see Jesus in a clearer way, and that we follow him with more faithfulness. He is the only one who can provide rest for our weary souls. 

Be Bold

Have you ever done something bold or outrageous for your faith? I guess that is somewhat of a subjective question as “outrageous” and “bold” may take on different meanings for all of us. Personality and temperament will determine your perspective. As an introvert, some of the regular practices of my extrovert friends seem bold and outrageous. I guess the question is have you ever stepped out boldly by faith, getting out of your comfort zone because God is calling you to something beyond you? 

When I went to Word of Life Bible Institute, we had to pick a ministry to participate in as a way of practicing what we were learning. There were several types of ministry opportunities from drama team, sound team, Sunday School teacher, to name a few. God was leading me to get out of my comfort zone, so signed up for Open Air Evangelism in NYC. Open Air Evangelism (or OAE) is basically street preaching on the busy streets of New York City! 

I do not know why I actually signed up for it. I did not like public speaking. I am introverted and I have a hard time starting conversations with people I do not know. I thought this would stretch me…and it did. After some training, we went to NYC for a week to do OAE. The entire drive to NYC my stomach was in knots, and I was terrified. Upon arrival, our team leader selected me to go first. I felt like running away but stepped up and began proclaiming the Gospel on a busy street in the Bronx. It was crazy! It was amazing! 

That week I was way outside of my comfort zone, but I had a life changing experience. I was terrified at the beginning but grew to love it. By the end of the week, I did not want to return to school, I wanted to continue street preaching. It seemed so foolish, yet people stopped, listened, and our team lead several people to the Lord. Once you take the plunge and do something bold because of your faith, it will change you and influence others. Let’s consider Peter and John’s story of holy boldness.

Read Acts 3-4 

Peter and John’s life has been transformed over the past few years. Peter leaving fishing behind to follow Jesus. John, being the youngest disciple, went all in to follow Jesus. Having been commissioned by the risen Lord, they are going about their business when they encountered a paralyzed man asking for money. Spontaneously, they stated, “we do not have money, but we have Jesus. Rise up and walk!” and the man was healed! 

This miracle led to questions and a crowd. They proclaimed the Good News of Jesus boldly. Crowds continued to gather but the religious authorities opposed them. Consider this description by the religious leaders in Acts 4:13:

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

This is an amazing verse that speaks to the proverb that says, “God does not call the equipped, he equips the called.” They knew that Peter and John didn’t go to college. They knew that that were common men who didn’t grow up in the halls of learning. They could not explain their boldness, but they say the effects of Jesus on their lives. They “had been with Jesus!” 

Spending time with Jesus will change you! Reading God’s Word, hearing His voice, and talking to Him in prayer will change you. Warning – when you are changed by Jesus you will become bold for Jesus. Spontaneously you may encounter an opportunity to proclaim your faith like Peter and John. 

The religious leaders arrested Peter and John and told them to be silent about Jesus. But because of the crowds, the leaders let them go. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19–20).

The boldness to stand up to the political and religious leaders was another sign that their lives had been changed. Just a few days before, these men were running away and hiding. On this day, they stood their ground and declared that they will obey God even in light of the leaders threats on their very lives. What were the leaders so mad about? 

The message Peter and John said,

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). 

Boldly proclaiming the exclusivity of Jesus turned off the religious leaders. Telling people that Jesus is the only way will result in one of two responses. Either people will want to learn more and will be drawn to Christ, or they will be offended by Christ and oppose you. There is no middle ground when it comes to Jesus. 

Peter and John were bold in their actions, healing the paralytic man. They were bold in their speech, clearly testifying in the name of Jesus and not caving before the religious leaders. They were bold in their prayers, having been released they gathered with the believers and prayed. They prayed so boldly that the place was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Spirit to continue speaking boldly about Jesus (Acts 4:31). 

As a Christ follower, we are called to be bold, to proclaim the Good News to the World. Unfortunately, we get distracted and we miss the opportunities for being bold. Not this year. As the school year is starting back up, will you choose to be bold for Jesus? Will you boldly act? Will you boldly speak? Will you boldly pray? 

If you decide you want to be bold for Jesus it starts with being with Jesus. You need to spend time in his Word and with his people. You need to pray for boldness, courage, and opportunity to speak up when the opportunity arises. You need to get out of your comfort zone and trust God to speak through you. Lastly, you need to put it into action. Spending time with Jesus in prayer will lead to the Holy Spirit giving you boldness and empowerment to be bold! It's crazy! It's amazing!