Nicaea - Renewing the FaithSample

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.

These words of the Creed underscore the heart of the gospel: Jesus died for the sins of the world, and by His death, He defeated sin and death, as demonstrated by His resurrection from the dead and His exaltation to the Father’s right hand. His exalted status signifies His authority and rule. These words of the Creed also affirm the duality of Jesus’s nature—He is both human and divine. As a human, He experienced suffering and death. As divine, He is God, seated at the Father’s right hand, equal with the Father in authority and glory.

Importantly, the words of the Creed align with what the Scriptures teach about the life and work of Jesus. For example, John 3:17 states that God sent the Son into the world so that “the world might be saved through Him.” 1 John 2:2 asserts that Jesus’s death atoned for the sins of the world. Later in the same epistle, John declares, “the Son of God appeared… to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8), referring to the destruction of the devil’s power over sin. Texts such as these confirm Old Testament prophecies that foretold God’s suffering Servant would be punished for humanity’s transgressions and iniquities and that this punishment would accomplish peace between human beings and God (Isaiah 53:5). As such, Jesus’s death was “according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23), and as the Gospels attest, His death was by means of a cross (Matt 27:35; Mark 15:24). Accordingly, the Nicene Creed rightly proclaims that it was “for our sake” that Jesus was crucified.

The formulation of the Creed not only explains why Jesus came to earth but also highlights that He appeared in human history at a particular point in time and under a specific Roman governor. Jesus’s crucifixion under Pontius Pilate underscores “the true humanity of Jesus and the historical nature of Christian belief. The Word of God, by becoming man, enters into the history of the world and genuinely submits to the conditions of time and space.” Consequently, the Nicene Creed grounds Christian belief not in myth, but in real, historical events. Critically, this section of the Creed reflects what the Gospels teach—that Jesus was delivered over by the chief priests and scribes to the Gentiles, through whom He was put to death (Matthew 20:17–19; Mark 10:32–34; Luke 18:31–34).

Moreover, the Creed recapitulates Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 15:3–4: “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” While Paul was keen to declare that what happened to Jesus fulfilled the Scriptures, the apostle’s statements also emphasize that Jesus died a physical death and was buried. The biblical text thus contradicts the heretical claims of Docetism, which argued Jesus did not have a physical body and only appeared to die at the crucifixion. The fact that Jesus remained buried for three days, as testified by eyewitness accounts and confirmed by Scripture, further negates the Docetic understanding. Critically, as Paul explained, if Jesus did not experience a physical death and resurrection, there would be no resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:13), our Christian faith would be vain, and there would be no hope of salvation (1 Corinthians 15:14–17).

However, thanks be to God, there is a resurrection that proclaims Christ’s victory over sin, death, and the grave and assures believers that redemption is complete. As Paul explains, Christ’s resurrection also anticipates our own: “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Through Him, those who die in Christ will be raised to glory. What a marvelous hope for the believer!

Finally, this section of the Creed traces the utter humiliation and vindication of the Son. First, He stooped and became incarnate and stooped further still in His death and burial (Philippians 2:6–8). The living God condescended to an ignominious death and interment in the earth for humans who had rebelled against Him. But His descent into death resulted in His glorious resurrection and exaltation and reminds us that death is not the final word.

The words of the Creed offer great encouragement to believers. Our God is not distant but willingly positions Himself alongside us in our sin and weakness. He does this because of His great love for us and His desire that none should perish but that all should receive eternal life (John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9). In coming to earth and living a human experience, Jesus understands our sufferings and frailties. We can therefore approach Him boldly in our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15–16). Jesus’s death and resurrection also remind us that if God was willing to make such a supreme sacrifice, how much more will He graciously give us all we need (Romans 8:31–32)?

And Jesus is both willing and able. From His exalted position at the Father’s right hand, Jesus reigns above every other name and power (Philippians 2:9–11). Everything is subject to the name of Jesus, and we can rest securely knowing that He will guide, encourage, and protect from Satan’s schemes.

Yet the resurrection points to a much greater, eternal hope. One day, our mortality will be swallowed up in immortality—we too will have resurrected bodies no longer subject to suffering and death. Our salvation will be fully realized in Him.

Prayer

Holy God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - I thank You for Your plan of salvation accomplished through Jesus. I thank You for His death and resurrection and His victory over sin. They assure me that I too will one day possess a resurrected body no longer subject to suffering and death. Jesus, I am reassured knowing You understand my frailties and will comfort me in all my trials. You are a faithful Friend, but I worship You who are exalted to the Father's right hand and sovereign over my life. You are worthy and I surrender.

Andrea Francis, Ph.D., serves as Assistant Professor of Spiritual Formation at the Regent University School of Divinity.