Nazarene Faith And The Nicene Creed: What's The Belief?

The Nazarene faith, like many Christian denominations, uses creeds as a statement of faith during worship. The Nicene Creed, formulated in 325 AD and revised in 381 AD, is a creed that summarizes the orthodox faith of the Christian Church. It is used in the liturgy of most Christian churches, including the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, and the Nazarene Church. The Nicene Creed is a statement of faith in the Holy Trinity and addresses heretical teachings about the nature of Jesus Christ and the doctrine of the Trinity.

The Nicene Creed is a statement of faith

The Nicene Creed was formulated in response to heretical preaching about Jesus Christ. It clarifies the divinity of Jesus and addresses heretical teachings, particularly Arianism, which concerned the doctrine of the Trinity and the person of Christ. The Creed was first composed and adopted at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 and was revised with additions by the First Council of Constantinople in 381. It was accepted in its present form at the Council of Chalcedon in 451.

The Nicene Creed is recited during worship in many Christian Churches, uniting Christians across the world and throughout the ages in their affirmation of faith. It provides doctrinal clarity, summarizing essential Christian beliefs in a clear and concise manner. It also fosters unity and identity among believers, establishing a common foundation of faith. Additionally, it serves as a tool for teaching and instructing both new converts and lifelong believers, as well as defending against heresy by clearly defining orthodox beliefs.

It clarifies the divinity of Jesus

The Nicene Creed is a statement of belief in the Christian Church, clarifying the divinity of Jesus. The creed was composed in part and adopted at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 and later revised at the First Council of Constantinople in 381. It is used in the liturgy of most Christian churches.

The Nicene Creed states:

> I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day 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. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is adored and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The creed affirms the belief in Jesus as the "Only Begotten Son of God", who is "true God from true God". This statement clarifies Jesus' divinity, positioning him as equal to God the Father. Through Jesus, "all things were made", and he came down from heaven to be incarnated and become man. This reiterates his divine nature and role as Messiah.

Jesus' crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension further emphasise his divinity. He is described as ascending to heaven and sitting "at the right hand of the Father", a position of honour and authority. The creed concludes by stating that Jesus "will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead", highlighting his ongoing divine role and power.

The Nicene Creed, therefore, provides a clear and direct statement of faith in Jesus' divinity, reinforcing his status as God incarnate and Messiah.

The creed is used in the liturgy of most Christian churches

The Nicene Creed is a statement of faith that summarizes the core beliefs of the Christian Church. It is used in the liturgy of most Christian churches and is recited during worship services, enhancing the liturgical experience and creating a communal expression of faith and devotion. The creed is also used to teach and instruct new converts and lifelong believers, offering a framework for understanding the tenets of Christianity.

The Nicene Creed was formulated in the early centuries of Christian history to address specific theological controversies and establish orthodox beliefs. It clarifies the divinity of Jesus and addresses heretical teachings, especially Arianism, which concerned the doctrine of the Trinity and the person of Christ. The creed was composed in part and adopted at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD and was revised with additions by the First Council of Constantinople in 381 AD. It is accepted by both the Greek (Eastern) and Latin (Western) churches, with a few variations in the wording.

The creed begins with a profession of faith in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. It continues with a declaration of belief in Jesus Christ as the only Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages, and in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and the giver of life. The creed also affirms the belief in the holy catholic and apostolic church, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection of the dead.

The Nicene Creed is often recited alongside another foundational creed, the Apostles' Creed, which emphasizes the humanity of Jesus. Together, these creeds provide a summary of the basic beliefs of Christianity and are used during worship to unite Christians across the world in affirming their shared faith.

It was formulated in response to heretical preaching about Jesus Christ

The Nicene Creed, also known as the Creed of Constantinople, is a statement of belief for Nicene Christians and those Christian denominations that adhere to it. The creed was formulated in response to heretical preaching about Jesus Christ, specifically the teachings of Arius, a clergyman of Alexandria, and his followers, who are known as Arians.

Arius objected to the bishop of his time, Alexander's emphasis on the eternal generation of Christ, which blurred the distinction of nature between the Father and the Son. Arius' teachings, which included the belief that Jesus Christ was not begotten of the Father's essence, but was instead a created being, were widely adopted, threatening to destabilize the entire empire.

The Nicene Creed was adopted at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 to resolve this dispute in the church. The creed explicitly affirms the Father as the "one God" and "Almighty," and Jesus Christ as the "Son of God," "begotten of the Father's essence," and therefore "consubstantial with the Father," meaning "of the same substance." By defining these aspects of the Christian faith, the creed served to distinguish believers from heretics, particularly adherents of Arianism.

The Nicene Creed was later amended by the First Council of Constantinople in 381, and this revised version is often simply referred to as the "Nicene Creed." This revision speaks more about the Holy Spirit, describing the Holy Spirit as worshipped and glorified with the Father and the Son. This version of the creed is the one that is currently accepted and used by the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodoxy, the Church of the East, and much of Protestantism, including the Anglican communion.

The creed addresses heretical teachings

The Nicene Creed was formulated to address various heretical teachings that had emerged before the fourth century, including Arianism. Arianism, proposed by Arius of Alexandria, suggested that Christ was not divine but a created being. The Nicene Creed, therefore, affirmed the equality of the Son with the Father, stating that Jesus was "begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father". This creed also helped settle how Catholics worship one God, who is three persons, and provided a more in-depth understanding of the Holy Spirit and Christ's life and work.

The Nicene Creed also addressed heresies related to the incarnation and the Holy Spirit that arose at the Council of Nicaea. The Council of Constantinople in 381 expanded the creed to bring it up to date regarding these heresies. The additions made by the Council of Constantinople included a more explicit affirmation of the Holy Spirit as worshipped and glorified with the Father and the Son.

The Nicene Creed, in its final form, thus served as a definitive statement of correct belief, distinguishing believers from heretics and helping to settle controversies and disputes within the Church.

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