The Nicene Creed (381)

The Nicene Creed (AD 381)

We believe in one God, the Father, Ruler of All, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible;

And we believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten from the Father before all time; Light from Light, true God from true God; begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father, through Whom all things were made.

Who for us and for our salvation, came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made a man.

He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried, and rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures, and ascended to heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.

He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead: His Kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son, Who is worshiped and glorified together with the Father and Son, and Who spoke through the Prophets.

And we believe in one holy, universal and apostolic church. We confess one baptism for the remission of sins, and we look for the Resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

History of the Nicene Creed (AD 381)

Belief in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is an essential part of Biblical faith. Knowing God, and constantly affirming this faith is part of what it means to be a Christian.

In AD 381, in the city of Constantinople, a group of elders formed a council to write a statement reaffirming their faith in Father, Son and Spirit. This statement, commonly known as the Nicene Creed of AD 381 declares Biblical truths such as 1) Jesus is God; 2) Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead; 3) the Holy Spirit is Lord as well; 4) there is one universal church; and 5) the dead will be resurrected. Later, this creed was amended to make clear that the Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son. This creed was an appropriate response to false teaching of the past, and to guard against false teaching that might occur in the future.

This morning, we confess our faith aloud through these words of the Nicene Creed because we believe Jesus Christ is God, our Savior, Lord and Creator, and we believe the Holy Spirit is our Lord and giver of eternal life. At CrossView Church, we know that what we believe about God matters, and so we join saints throughout the centuries who have confessed the same Biblical truth.