The Nicene Creed
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, consubstantial with the Father;
through Him all things were made.
For us men 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 [united] 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.
Put Another Way…
Jesus Christ is God, eternal, almighty, co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He was born of the virgin Mary, was crucified and died on our behalf, rose from death, and lives & reigns forevermore in Heaven.
The Holy Spirit did and does interact with the world and those in it, giving guidance and support as we strive to follow God’s universal and individual instructions.
Scripture has been given by God through mankind inspired to write and preserve what the Holy Spirit presented to them. God is able to protect its consistency and authority, and has abundantly demonstrated its accuracy to the smallest detail. It is our only standard for determining how and whether one’s life is in alignment with God.
All have rebelled against God’s authority over the universe He created and all that lives in it. The only way to restore our relationship and live with Him forever is to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and trust His sacrifice alone. Eternity without this Divine relationship is to be avoided.
All other routes to peace, guidance, a relationship with the Divine, and a future in Heaven are illustrations of this rebellion. They declare that we can find our own way to join or become God, and thus repeat the first offense, pride. It is this pride that makes us forever unsuitable to live in God’s home with Him.
Baptism is a public confession of our trust in Jesus and a symbol of death to rebellion and resurrection to trust and obedience. It is important as a measure of obedience, but has no influence on the work Jesus completed alone on the cross. Infants may be baptized as a commitment by the family to raise the child according to God’s direction, but each person must make their own decision once they can understand rebellion and obedience.
Denominational constructs, such as the length of hair or skirts, may promote self-discipline or wise living (or hypocrisy), but they have no influence on the work Jesus completed alone on the cross. We risk duplicating the errors of the pharisees and sadducees when we put more effort into appearing holy to others than actually being holy before God.
Five Solas
By Grace alone
Through Faith alone
In Christ alone
According to Scripture alone
For God’s Glory alone
