Nicaea - Renewing the FaithSample

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.

The Church originates with God. The existence, sustaining, and unity of the Church flow from the Lord Jesus, the head of the Church. In The Gospel of Matthew, after the confession of Peter, Jesus said: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18, ESV). The Apostle Paul teaches that the unity of the Church flows from the Lordship of Christ and that our surrender and allegiance to His reign: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6, ESV). Baptism, a holy act that marks our acceptance and proclamation of the Lordship of Christ, initiates us into the death of Christ so that we might partake of His resurrection. Paul writes, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:1-4. ESV). Because of the Lordship of Christ and His mark placed upon us at baptism, we have the certain promise that we will be raised from the dead. The Apostle Paul taught at the consummation that our world would be changed and that those who have died in Christ would be raised from the dead, “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:49-52, ESV). In the resurrection of Jesus, the head of His Church, Christ Jesus marks His people by holy baptism, and He promises to return to raise His flock to eternal life in a world that He has made anew in His glory.

The line “We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church,” was formally adopted at the First Council of Constantinople in 381 A.D., building on the original proclamation at Nicaea to counter the many heresies and false teachings that sought to fracture and divide the Church. The word “one” affirmed the unity of the Church under the Lordship of Jesus (Ephesians 4:4-6), the descriptor “holy” signified that its origin was divine and that Christ Himself would build and sustain the Church (Matthew 16:16-18), “catholic” referred to the worldwide reach of the Church (Matthew 28: 18-20), and “apostolic” anchors the teaching and authority of the Church in the Scriptures and the Apostles (Ephesians 2:20).

The line “we acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins” reaffirmed the sacramental and historic theology of the early Church on the purpose and practice of baptism. This statement served as a rejection of the Donatist heresy, that insisted that the validity of the sacraments depended on the moral and ethical purity of the minister. This proclamation, following the creedal statement on the nature of the Church, emphasized the sacred nature of baptism and linked it directly with the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), underscoring the sacramental nature of this rite initiation and its sufficiency in Christ.

The proclamation “we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come” refuted the Gnostic and dualist heresies that rejected the goodness of the material world and the body (Genesis 1:31) and denied a physical resurrection. The phrase “we look” denotes the strong and certain eschatological hope of the early Church in the Parousia (second coming of Jesus) and the renewal of all of creation (Revelation 21:5). The resurrection of Jesus stands at the heart of the Christian faith and the proclamation of the Church. It is by no accident that the Creed of Nicaea places the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead directly after the creedal statement on the Church and baptism. The resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of the dead are linked to culminates in His return and the renewal of all of creation to holiness. The Apostle Paul, when writing to the Church in Corinth, argues, "If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:14, ESV). In the resurrection of Jesus, the Christian faith finds its deepest dimension and most profound meaning. Likewise, the message of the resurrection of Jesus communicates eternal truths for our and our world's salvation, healing, and ultimate transformation.

In the resurrection of Jesus, human resurrection is ensured. Death is not the end. As Jesus was raised from the dead, those who put their hope and trust in Him will also be raised. The Apostle Paul argues, "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15: 20-22, ESV). The devastation and hopelessness of death are reversed in the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus proclaims the hope of a new and better world to come. The early followers of Jesus called this a "living hope." The Apostle Peter writes that God "has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading" (1 Peter 1:3-4, ESV). In a world short on visions of a brighter future, the resurrection of Jesus gives us hope that our world can be healed and that the future can be better. In the resurrection of Jesus, true justice is restored to our world. In raising Jesus from the dead, the first followers of Jesus understood that He would return to judge the world in truth and justice. The Apostle Paul, standing in the Areopagus in ancient Athens, told the Athenians that God "will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead" (Acts 17:30-31, ESV). All that is wrong in our world will one day be made right by Him, who is raised from the dead.

Christianity is more than philosophical commitments, moral ideals, or aspirations for a good life. The faith the first witnesses of Jesus proclaimed was rooted in affirming the truth of the birth, life, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus of Nazareth. The apostle and evangelist, John the Beloved, the author of the Gospel of John, explains in his first letter, "That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you" (1 John 1:3, ESV). The resurrection of Jesus matters today. The Church matters. Baptism forgiveness and newness of life. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the world to come. This is especially true for those who no longer see themselves as part of the organized Church, which itself has not always lived up to the truths communicated in the resurrection of Jesus. Moral failure, hypocrisy, and leadership abuses have caused many to depart and reject the faith altogether. May these precious people rediscover their deepest concerns for this world are answered in the truth the death and resurrection of Jesus proclaims, and may the Church, which has often failed them, be renewed and revived to live in all that the resurrection of Jesus brings. In a world marred by envy, self-seeking, and violence, the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus opens the door to a better way. We can be forgiven, and our world can be healed. Death does not have the final say. Life triumphs over death. May this ancient truth find its way back to the center of our world: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! He is building and sustaining His Church, and we can be forgiven in His grace. He will come again, and we will be raised to eternal life in a world renewed to His holiness and glory. May we all boldly declare, “we believe, we believe, we believe!”

Prayer

“Most gracious Father, we pray to you for your holy Church. Fill it with all truth; in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purge it. Where it is in error, direct it. Where anything is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen and defend it. Where it is in want, provide for it. Where it is divided, heal it and reunite it in your love; for the sake of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.”

– William Laud (1573-1645 A.D.)

Corné J. Bekker, D. Litt. et Phil., serves as Dean and Professor at the Regent University School of Divinity.