Mark A. Smith
- Jan 2
- 2 min read

I Believe In One God

The Nicene Creed

I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD . . .

Again, along with the Apostles’ Creed, there is a confession of God as Father in this Nicene Creed, but in addition, there is a distinction of the Father existing as one God, though without mention of equally co-existing as one God with the Son and the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, as the creed is further examined and studied, it is surely implied that the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are one God. But before God is confessed as the Father Almighty, He is confessed as one God (Mal.2:10; Mk.12:32; Acts 7:35; Rom.3:30; 1Cor.8:6; Eph.4:6; 1Tim.2:5).

This implies sovereignty and judgment over the false gods that are not gods at all by nature or existence but are imaginations of sinful men who don’t know nor ever knew God (James 2:19), yet testify of the wrath of God and His existence in their conscience passed on through the corruption of their fathers (Rom.1:18-25). Therefore their imaginations cry out, not from a pure heart, but from the nature of their father’s disobedience, adding sin to sin in demonstration of the curse and work of the law of sin and death (Rom.2:15; Gal.3:10; 1Cor.15:56; Rom.6:6; 7:23-25; 8:2), which they were delivered over to in Adam’s fall from the divine representation (Gen.2:17; 3:4, 11-12, 22-24).

Therefore, this “belief” that is required to confess God as one God is not in them by nature of this law (Gen.2:17; Eph.2:1-3), demonstrating (in them) that they are of the works of the law according to unbelief (Gal.4:8; 1Jn.2:4, 15; Rom.1:25), which produces the fruit of death as dead works in God’s sight (Heb.6:1; 9:14; James 1:13-15; Rom.6:21-23). They are dead to God through trespasses and sins according to the curse of the law in relationship to God’s sovereignty (Col.2:13-14; Rom.8:2-8).

Creeds proper, it is alleged, took their rise in connection with the rite of baptism.1

1 J. N. D. Kelly, Early Christian Creeds, Third Edition. (London; New York: Continuum, 2006), 30.

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Quote of the Month

The Glory of Christ
Christ's Glory as God's Representative

In fact, the light of faith is given to us chiefly to enable us to behold the glory of God in Christ (2Cor.4:6). If we do not have this light which is given to believers by the power of God, we must be strangers to the whole mystery of the gospel. But when we behold the glory of God in Christ, we behold Christ's glory also. This is how the image of God is renewed in us, and how we are made like Christ. Anyone who thinks that this is unnecessary to Christian practice and for our sanctification does not know Christ, nor the gospel. Nor has he the true faith of the universal (catholic) church. This is the root from which all Christian duties arise and grow and by which they are distinguished from the works of heathens. He is not a Christian who does not believe that faith in the person of Christ is the source and motive of all evangelical obedience or who does not know that faith rests on the revelation of the glory of God in Christ. To deny these truths would overthrow the foundation of faith and would demolish true religion in the heart. So it is our duty daily to behold by faith the glory of Christ!

John Owen; pg. [22]