The Words of the Nicene Creed

108 - 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 portion of Scripture is likely a creed of the early church and may have been included in their worship services. I can picture the pastor saying : “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness.” And the congregation responding, “We believe that God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up in glory!.” It is much the same as you might find in some churches today, when the pastor might say something like: Let us confess our faith together in the words of the Nicene Creed: And the congregation responds with: 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, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And I believe one holy catholic (the word means universal) and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. Recited creeds are useful tools in helping people understand and declare the fundamentals of the Christian faith. Are they mandatory? Of course not, but knowing the fundamentals of the faith is very important no matter what your denomination, because they help stand guard against any intrusion of false teaching.