The Function of the Nicene Creed - Essay Example

? The function of the Nicene Creed to the faith of modern-day Christians Introduction One of the major questions that faceall people, particularly the Christians is the question of, “what happens to a person after they die”. In traditional Jewish traditions and Christianity, the answer to the question has evolved through thousands of years, according to the documented decrees and the values of the bible (Ayres, 2006). The scriptures of the bible are largely undecided in some cases, including the notes of Job 7:9, Gen 37:35 and Psalms 6:6, where death is presented as the shift from the earthly plane to Sheol, where there is no remembrance of God or life in general (Dales, 2005). However, during the 2nd century, there was an increasing belief in the resurrection and the ultimate judgement of those that die before the day of judgement. The belief is that the dead will be woken up and some will proceed to enjoy everlasting life while the rest will suffer everlasting disgrace and reproach. This paper will review the effect of the creeds, particularly the Nicene Creed on the faith of modern-day Christians, by exploring its meaning, why it is a creed and its relevance for Christians. Discussion The Christians of today get the basis, for the interpretation of the creed, by exploring the subject covered by the creed during the time of Jesus. During his time, the New Testament tells of the division that existed in the understanding developed around the question, among the Sadducees and the Pharisees, like it is mentioned through Acts 23:8, Mark 12: 18 and Mathew. 22:23 (Muldoon, 2013). However, the position of Jesus about the question was made clear through the account of the gospels. Among the eschatological accounts contained in the bible, which talk about the end of the world, the most memorable is contained in Mathew chapter 25. Through the account, Jesus said that after the return of the son of man, alongside the angels, all nations will be assembled before him, so that he can choose those to be blessed and those to be damned (Ayres, 2006). From the passage, the stand of Jesus is clear that, after people die, God judges all and separates the good from the bad. The stand taken by Jesus, amidst the division about the question of the future and what happens to the dead offers Christians the basis, for arriving at the understanding that death does not separate God from his people; that death does not end all (Ayres, 2006). Further, the stand adopted by Jesus gives the Christians of today, the faith to stand by all good values, walking according to the decrees of God and to remain faithful in their service to God. The emphasis of faith in God is evident from the ultimate course taken by God after his return, which offers Christians the faith that, in whatever things and experiences they go through, he expects them to stand by his values (Muldoon, 2013). Through Standing by him, the ultimate promise, which is the backbone of their faith, is contained in the role of God in deciding those to be blessed and the ones to suffer the pain of damnation. The meaning of the creed is straight forward and clear, when making the promise to those that keep their faith in the lord. First, it starts by emphasizing the nature of the coming of the son of man, contrasting it with the past times when he came to the world, because he will be accompanied by the glory of a king (Muldoon, 2013). It emphasizes that he will come in glory, and with the main goal of judging all people, whether they are living or dead. The emphasis of the judgement of the dead and the living, gives emphasises to the importance of keeping faith while alive in the world, due to the knowledge that death will not mark the end of God’s people (Ayres, 2006). For the Christians that still keep their faith in God, the promise is clear that, whether he will return to find them alive or dead, the price will be the same – which is an eternal place in the new kingdom (Bauckham, 1993). The promise offered to those that keep their faith is also as clear as the decree of judgement, because God promises that his kingdom will be created after his return, and that it will never have an end. The promise is offered to motivate Christians, so that they can hold on to the promise. The Nicene Creed is among the creeds, because it offers the background of Christian faith, and the fundamental value of Christianity. The creed is revered as a creed, mainly because it forms the basis of the mainstream definition of Christian faith and Christianity in general. The revered nature and the importance of this creed is evident from the fact that it is the normative basis on which different churches and faith groups are grounded (Bauckham, 1993). The churches that find it the normative doctrine include the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church, oriental Orthodox churches, Church of the East, the Anglican Communion and a majority of protestant churches. Due to the centrality of the creed to the values of Christianity and Christian values, the creed gives the reference point for Christian faith, strengthening their stand in the lord, because the end result will be the acquisition of a place in the kingdom of God (Muldoon, 2013). The relevance of the Nicene Creed can be evaluated from the importance of the message communicated to Christians, straight from their father in heaven. However, it is important to note that the relevance of the creed can only be conceptualised by a Christian, whose belief in the promises of God is not questionable (Ayres, 2006). The relevance of the creed to Christians can be evaluated from the coverage of the definitive decree, where it is stated that the son of man (God) will return to the world, clothed in the glory of a king (McGrath, 2010). From a Christian standpoint, it is possible to conceive that the glory being mentioned will not be anything, comparable to the glory of humans and their symbolism of glory. Apart from returning with the heavenly glory, the Christian believer is led to the relevance of the next clause, where it states that he will not come for any other role, but the duty of judging the living and the dead – according to their good and evil (Ayres, 2006). The emphasis that he will judge the dead and the living presents more relevance to the Christian, because it shows them that, death to them does not mark the end of their faith or their importance in the sight of God. Lastly, the relevance of the creed is enclosed in the promise placed in the sight of the believers – that those who will keep the faith and the values of God will be rewarded with the acquisition of a place in the kingdom of heaven (Muldoon, 2013). Conclusion One major question that confronts people, especially Christians is that on “where people go after they die”. The question was an area of debate among the Pharisees and the Sadducees, but in response, Jesus made a definitive answer that God would return to judge the dead and the living. The role of the creed, among today’s Christians is that it offers them a basis for their faith, by giving them the promise that death is not the end of their relationship with God, and that God will return to judge all. Its meaning is straight forward and clear that those who keep their faith in God, whether they die or remain alive, will acquire a place in the kingdom of God, after he returns. Its importance as a creed can be evidenced by the wide groups that identify it as the guiding principle of their faith as well as the strength it offers to Christians, encouraging them to keep their faith. Reference list Ayres, L., 2006. Nicaea and Its Legacy. Oxford Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press. Bauckham, R., 1993. The Theology of the Book of Revelation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Dales, D. ed., 2005. Glory Descending: a Michael Ramsey Reader. Norwich: Canterbury Press. McGrath, A., 2010. Christian Theology: An introduction. Fifth ed. Oxford: Blackwells. Muldoon, T., 2013. He Will Come Again In Glory to Judge the Living and the Dead. [Online] Patheos Catholic. Available at: [Accessed 14 Nov 2013]. Read More