Over the next 2 Sundays we are going to be looking at the question of “Who is Jesus?“. In 325 A.D. (or thereabouts) a group of Christian leaders got together to ask the same question. Rather than only define themselves by what they were against, they decided to formulate a statement that positively expressed who Jesus is. That statement became known as the Nicene Creed (so named after the city where they meet for discussion and debate). This is not a subject to dismiss lightly. Either Jesus is God in the flesh or he is just another man and unable to be a suitable saviour. However the reasons that most will deny the identity of Jesus as God the Son is not because of some intellectual argument, rather it is the implications of who he is that determine their response. If he is just a teacher, than take it or leave it. If he is God, then what he says is of critical importance and has profound impact on what we value, how and for what purpose we live.
A modern version of the creed (copied from Phil Johnson) is below. Phil also has some excellent notes explaining each portion of the creed in more detail.
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
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.We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son].
With the Father and the Son
he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. AMEN.
