The Importance of the Christian Creeds

107 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. This is an amazing piece of Scripture, and because the Holy Spirit speaking through the Apostle Paul includes it here, we ought to give more credence to the creeds of the church. Many scholars believe this portion of Scripture with it's six separate declarations was used by the early church much in the same way creeds are used today. But seriously, when is the last time you recited the Apostles Creed, or the Nicene creed, or the Athanasian Creed anywhere! These creeds were written during times of controversy in the Christian church. Times when false teachers had crept into the church, and theologians gathered and crafted them to help dispel heresies that had crept in. These creeds, like this creedal statement used by Paul dealt with the miraculous mysteries of the faith. In them we declare things that we Christians believe about God. They speak of things like creation, the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, His redemptive work on the cross, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Athanasian Creed speaks to the mystery of the Trinity and it is a great read! Creeds are Reader's Digest forms of what we believe as Christians and as such should be taught to our children in such a way that they not only recite them, but they grasp a basic understanding of those things that are declared in the Creeds. These Creeds serve as a time tested guards against false teaching and go a long way in keeping our faith on point. Some shy away from the use of creeds because they feel there is a certain roteness to them, kind of meaningless chants. But I assure you, to the heart that has been quickened by the Holy Spirit through rebirth, every line strikes a chord with the Holy Spirit who lives in us and at the end of the creed, our soul shouts a glad Amen, with all the other gathered saints.