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Mark A. Smith
Jan 22 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 

 

We must not rest satisfied with only an idea of this truth or a bare assent to the doctrine. Its power must stir our hearts. What is the true blessedness of the saints in heaven? Is it not to behold and see the glory of God in delight? And do we expect, doe we desire the same state of blessedness? If so, then know that it is our present view of the glory of Christ which we have by faith that prepares us for that eternal blessedness. These things may be of little use to some who are babes in knowledge and understanding or who are unspiritual, lazy, and unable to retain these divine mysteries (1Cor.3:1-2; Heb.5:12-14). But that is why Paul declared this wisdom of God in a mystery to them that were perfect, that is, who were more advanced in spiritual knowledge who had had their 'senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Heb.5:14). It is to those who are experienced in the meditation of invisible things, who delight in the more retired paths of faith and love, that they are precious. We believe in God only in and through Christ. This is the life of our souls. God himself, whose nature is infinitely perfect, is the highest object of our faith. But we cannot come directly to God by faith. We must come by the way and by the helps he has appointed for us. This is the way by which he has revealed his infinite perfections to us, which is Jesus Christ who said, 'I am the way.' By our faith in Christ we come to put our faith in God himself (Jn.14:1). And we cannot do this in any other way but by beholding the glory of God in Christ, as we have seen (Jn.1:14). 

​

John Owen; pg. [24-26]

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