Reading With the People of God #13 Nicene Creed預覽

Focus of the Month: Nicene Creed

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:
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and became truly human.
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],
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who 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.

Zeal Without Understanding vs. True Confession

In 2 Kings 10:1-17, Jehu carries out God’s judgment on Ahab’s house with ruthless zeal. While he fulfills God’s command, his actions later reveal a heart more focused on power than true devotion. Jehu’s story warns us that zeal without true understanding can lead to destruction rather than righteousness.

In Matthew 16:1-20, we see a different kind of revelation—Peter’s confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Unlike Jehu’s self-driven mission, Peter recognizes that Jesus is the true King, not through human reasoning, but by divine revelation. Jesus affirms that His kingdom is built on this truth, not on violence or earthly ambition.

The Nicene Creed echoes Peter’s confession, declaring that Jesus is “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.” These readings challenge us to examine our own faith: Are we zealous for God’s kingdom in a way that aligns with His truth? Do we confess Christ not just with our words but with lives shaped by His reign? The foundation of our faith is not human effort but the revealed truth of Jesus, the Son of the living God.