Catechumenate Topic: Creed

Catechumenate Topic: Nicene Creed

We believe (I believe) in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, and born of the Father before all ages. (God of God) light of light, true God of true God. Begotten not made, consubstantial to the Father, by whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven. And was incarnate of the Holy Ghost and of the Virgin Mary and was made man; was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried; and the third day rose again according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of the Father, and shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, of whose Kingdom there shall be no end. And (I believe) in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father (and the Son), who together with the Father and the Son is to be adored and glorified, who spoke by the Prophets. And one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We confess (I confess) one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for (I look for) the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.


History of the Creed: The Nicene Creed was approved and the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD. It predates the Canon of the Bible in this way. It was approved as a formula of the authentic Christian Faith.

“We believe (I believe) in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.” What does the word believe mean? It means more than agree, it also means to live by. We talked about God the Father a few weeks ago. Here the Creed reaffirms God created everything from nothing.

“And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, and born of the Father before all ages. (God of God) light of light, true God of true God. Begotten not made, consubstantial to the Father, by whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven. And was incarnate of the Holy Ghost and of the Virgin Mary and was made man; was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried; and the third day rose again according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of the Father, and shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, of whose Kingdom there shall be no end.” Christ appeared in a particular place, at a particular time, his Mother was a Virgin and he was conceived by the Holy Spirit ( so He is both Human and Divine) he suffered under a man named Pontius Pilate. He was resurrected, ascended and will come again.

“And (I believe) in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father (and the Son), who together with the Father and the Son is to be adored and glorified, who spoke by the Prophets.” The Holy Spirit is the sustainer and giver of our life, and the inspirer or all good things, and especially of the Prophets and the scriptures.

‘And one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.” The Church is one. There is only one Messiah, one god, one Baptism one Church. There is only one body of Christ. The Church is Holy, because it is mystically the Body of Christ in the world. The Holy Spirit make it Holy, keeps it Holy, and calls us to Holiness. As individuals we are sinners. This marks the humanity and divinity of the Church, and our destiny of perfection in Heaven. The Church is Catholic. The Church is universal. The Church welcomes all individuals, is composed of all nationalities, and peoples, and is the historical Church. The Church is Apostolic. The Church is the Church built by the Apostles, continued in the line of their successors, and the church is on a mission. Apostle means sent. Christ does not have a mission for His Church, He has a Church for His Mission.

‘We confess (I confess) one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for (I look for) the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.” The forgiveness of sins through baptism is a primary belief of Christianity. We do believe in judgment, we believe in forgiveness. We will have a personal judgment, then purification, then Heaven, or Hell. At the end of time all will be raised, some to the Resurrection of Life others to the Resurrection of Judgment. Then the universe will be renewed, and God will dwell among man for all eternity.