Analysis of Nicene Creed - Essay Example

Nicene Creed Meaning Nicene Creed means, “Symbol of faith” in Greek. It is a formal ment of doctrine of the Christian faith adopted at the council of Nicaea in 325AD to defend Orthodox from Arianism. The council asserted that Christ was "God from God, light from light, true God from true God, of one substance [or being] with the Father, begotten and not created." The council condemned in harsh language the Arian teaching that Christ was a creation of the Father" (Campbell 24) the belief that denied Jesus was truly God and was later expanded in the councils. The Nicene Creed is considered the most widely accepted for its use of belief statements in Christian faith and liturgy. It is the only creed, which is promulgated by the seven ecumenical councils. Even though some groups do not recite it, many groups however which do not have a traditional way of using it in their services are committed to the doctrines of its teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, east Orthodox, Lutherans, Calvinists and many other Christian groups, commonly use Nicene Creed as it forms a common and unifying worship ground. The Nicene Creed is majorly about the Trinity. It also highlights the historical realities as concerns the life and times of Jesus Christ. Its ideas are derived and found in scriptures and manifested in the New Testament. Others have remarked that “The Nicene Creed, and that which is commonly called the Apostles Creed, ought thoroughly to be received and believed: for they may be proved by most certain warrants of Holy Scripture." Understanding of what the articles mean There are twelve articles included in the Nicene Creed, which defines the most important doctrines of our faith. These articles can be outlined as: - We believe in one God. This shows that as Christians, Jews or Muslims there is an overrunning belief that a Super Natural power God exists. The creed highlights an act of unity through belief. It is both my confession as well as our confession. God the Father. God almighty is called “Father” in the scriptures by Jesus. This shows loving and omnipresence within His creation. God the Father also comes as the first person in the Holy Trinity – God Head. “Father” is the origin and spring of life in the Holy Trinity for He is the source of all things. God the Father is also referred to as “God unbegotten” in early Christian thought. Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. This implies the feeling that God created all visible and invisible elements in the universe. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ. This shows the belief that Jesus Christ is the Lord of all, with the title “Lord” meaning Jesus is master of all. This title emirate from the deity Hebrew title “Adonai” and Greek “Kyrous” (both meant Lord). Jesus is also seen as a friend to the oppressed and a servant of the people. The only Son of God, Eternal begotten of the Father. Jesus is in a unique relationship with God the Father as seen and is regarded as the only true Son of God. With the Hebrew kings considered as symbolic true sons of God. Jesus is seen as born of the essence of God the Father. He is seen to share the same manners with his parents and equally share the desire nature with God. With God’s eternity nature, the son being generated from God is also eternal. God from God, Light from Light. Jesus the Son of God exists in relation to God the Father. However the son is not God the Father although both are God. The son God and the Father are distinct but all of them are God. The scripture has all three persons, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit all in one. During Jesus’ baptism, it is evident that the Father and Son are somehow two as well as one. In John’s Gospel, the Father and Son testify as two witnesses, not one (John 8:17-18). True God from true God. God the Son is fully and utterly God just like God the Father and is not inferior to God the Father nor divided from Him. Begotten, not made. The Creed tells us that Jesus was not created like the angels and just like when a woman gives forth a child, so was Jesus born from God. The son is not created out of nothing since his birth occurred even before time was created. This relationship shows a permanent relationship beyond time. One being with the Father; through Him all things were made. God the Father and Son are equally divine, united in substance and divine will. This shows that Father and Son share the same qualities and essential of beings that make one person in God. However, this does not mean they are the same person (s). The Bible refers to the Son as word of God all things were created. Doctrinal Issues Trinity: The main doctrinal issue addressed is the doctrine of the Trinity. This was actually the reason the Creed was written. The Arians were refuting the belief that Jesus was the son of God and by extension that He was God. The only difference being that, He was the begotten son but His attributes were derived from God. That He was in God and God was in Him. That together they could not be separated (Marhaler, 42). The Creed continues to defend this doctrine by asserting that a belief that Jesus is the begotten son and not created and therefore not a man but God the Son. It also asserts that the Holy Spirit is God in that He is of God and through the Holy Spirit God created and continues to perceive both the thoughts and the intents of man (Heb. 4:12). Other denominations like the church of Jesus Christ do not believe in the Trinity and explains that its origin is it the misinterpretation of the scriptures as well as a misrepresentation of the same. Baptism. The Creed also addresses the doctrine of baptism and clarifies that baptism is for the forgiveness of sins. According to Romans 6:1-4, baptism is actually a participation in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It is here that Christians get into contact with His blood that forgives sins. The Resurrection. The issue of resurrection was a controversial one even in the first century church (Marhaler, 65). Today Jehovah Witnesses do not believe in the doctrine of resurrection at least not in the contemporary way. They believe that the earth is the promised heaven only that evil will be gotten rid of so that the faithful can live together in harmony. The Nicene Creed continues to express the Christian faith today in many ways. Its wide acceptance by the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox churches as well as the Anglican movement together with a number of Pentecostal churches makes it of great influence in the Christian worship today. It both unites and gives the Christians a sense of purpose. The Nicene Creed explains in simple words the essence of Christian faith. Its recital serves the purpose of reminding the faithful of their solemn commitment to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the Catholic and Orthodox churches its recital is fondly referred to as the “Profession of Faith”. Since the Creed came as a defense to the belief of the Holy Trinity where the Arians had attacked the belief of God the Son, today the Nicene Creed is viewed as an essential document that affirms the belief of the Trinity. It is felt that it is necessary to restate this belief since the Trinity is one of he most controversial issues in Christianity. In fact there are other denominations that have argued against the belief in the Trinity. They include the Jehovah Witness and the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. Most denominations that do not recognize or recite the Nicene Creed are found to live by the principles of the Creed. This is because the Creed itself is based upon the foundation of their faith as well as on the Bible. It affirms the belief in God the Father and Maker of heaven and earth. This is in line with the scriptures in Genesis 1:1. Then it also recognizes Jesus as the begotten Son through whom the world was made. This is also scriptural and universally accepted by the Christian churches. The third aspect is that of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection which is central for the Christians. Christianity is actually based on the belief that Christ died for the sins of the people and through His death man has fellowship with the Father. Without the cross there can be no Christianity. The Creed then serves as s constant reminder of the foundation of the Christian faith. It calls the Christian to live a life that reflects their appreciation of the sacrifice that Jesus gave in the form of his suffering and eventual shameful death on the cross so that their sins may be forgiven. The reason why a Christian should live such a life is also re-affirmed with he promise. Indeed a Christian ought to always keep their goal in sight so that they do not lose heart or become discouraged. The promise is that Jesus proceeded to heaven and will come back in the last day to reward the faithful with eternal life and judge the wicked. The last expression of faith form the Nicene Creed is the proclamation of belief in the Holy Catholic and in other texts Catholic and apostolic church. The Christian church as it is known today originated from the apostles in the book of Acts 2, where Peter also designated the Rock (Mathew 16) started officially the church and baptized about three thousand followers (Acts 2:38-44). The Catholic is believed to be that church that St. Peter started. However this is common belief mostly for those who profess that faith. The rest of the denominations also base their Christianity on the 1st church since the scripture (written by the apostles and other members of the apostolic church) usage is common and universal. Works Cited Campbell, Ted A. Christian Confessions: A Historical Introduction. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996. Questia. 29 Mar. 2007 . Marhaler, Bernard. The Creed. Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 1993 Sidak, J. Gregory. "True God of the Next Justice." Constitutional Commentary 18.1 (2001): 9+. Questia. 29 Mar. 2007 . NAIROBI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL NBNHFNHH HHBHRHRG OF KHNFHGGH HNFFH RN Read More