By the way, this title is found in the "Nicene Creed." I grew up until the age of twelve reciting the Apostles' Creed in Sunday worship service each week, but what I learned about the Nicene Creed and love to say about it is that it's a creed with some teeth to it.
These two along with the Athanasian Creed are the three ecumenical ( I'm always afraid to use that word since the Charismatic Renewal Movement because the word sort of carries a different meaning for some folks, but I think the creeds can speak for themselves on this misunderstanding actually, if read. ), anyway these creeds were written in times when heresy threatened the Church. For instance, from the Nicene Creed we get a solid Christology when the false teaching that Jesus was a created being surfaced and began making the rounds.
These creeds are not extra biblical information, no, they are our statement of faith as Christians. They are what we believe.
They are a summary of the Scriptures and were constructed by church fathers and councils when most people did not have a Bible as we do today, and many couldn't read anyway. So reciting the creeds together in church was vital. Reciting the truths were meant to keep us on track in our faith and hold the shepherds accountable for what they were feeding Christ's sheep. So we could readily test the spirits as John instructed us in his epistle. ( 1 John 4 )
The creeds were to be read and taught to our children so they could be raised with sound biblical doctrine and learn to defend the Christian faith, be an effective witness of the Gospel, and disciple others. It's sad to me that the creeds seem to have fallen out of fashion and are no longer read in many, I hate to say it, but most churches, along with the Lord's Prayer each Sunday.
There's something so beautiful to me about a congregation reciting and confirming out loud what we believe about God and then reading the Scriptures together. There's Holy Spirit power in that as we obediently come and gather each week around Christ and his Word.
I know speaking those doctrines summarized in the Apostles' Creed so often at such a young age along with the Lord's Prayer had a profound effect on my life. Even though I didn't come to faith in Christ for many years, those biblical, doctrinal truths never left my heart. Today it's my goal to make up for lost time and treasure them a bit more each day.
No wonder angels long to look into them. ( 1 Peter 1:12 )
💜
"I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And he will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
Amen"
💜
