We Believe
By Pastor Thomas Waters
By definition a creed is a declaration (confession) of belief. Below are what some consider examples of creeds contained in the Bible.
Deut. 6:4: Hear O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD alone.
1 Kings. 18:39: And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God."
Matt. 16:16: Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
1 Timothy 3:16 - Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
Notice the progression of thought in these creeds (confessions of belief). “The LORD is our God” of Deuteronomy becomes “The LORD, he is God” in 1 Kings. In other words, the LORD’S “Godness” is not just a personal matter, it is a universal matter of fact. In the New Testament, one reads declarations of belief concerning the deity of Jesus Christ. Why? Although the pre-incarnate Christ existed forever, in time and space (history) He came as the man Jesus. Never before was God incarnate in the flesh before Bethlehem. Was it important that believers confess this fact? Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am? So now the believer’s confession expanded and included a confession that the man Jesus was God.”
A short time after Matthew 16, Jesus is crucified, buried, resurrected, seen, preached, believed on and ascends into glory. All of these events became historical facts concerning the incarnate Son of God. Prior to the crucifixion and resurrection and ascension, one could hardly confess that Jesus was crucified, resurrected and ascended, but after He was it became important to confess this. Of course these truths about Jesus were challenged and denied by false teachers and heretics. In response to erroneous teachings, believers (church) refined and expanded their confession concerning the true nature of Christ.
For example, in the 4th century a teacher named Arius began to question Jesus’ deity. Arius based his doubts on passages like John 4:6 and Matthew 24:36 where Jesus was tired or stated he did not know the date of His return. Arius said God can’t be tired or not know something, therefore, Jesus of Nazareth was not God, but a created being with some divine attributes. Arius’ teachings began to have followers and Biblical, historical Christianity was seriously challenged. In response to this false confession concerning Jesus, and heeding the counsel of Proverbs 11:14 and the example of the Synod which met in Jerusalem (Acts 15), church councils met to discuss this issue. After much debate the false teaching of Arianism was denounced by the Council of Nicaea.
Now, wouldn’t it be wonderful if after the Council of Nicea the Christian community was never again bothered by heretical teachings that deny the deity of Jesus? But as we know that is not the case and today groups like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons hold quasi-Arian positions. As one studies church history he becomes aware of this ongoing battle and the need for able men to take stands against false and harmful teachings. So, we at EBC join the long procession of those who have gone before and declare, “We Believe . . .” |
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