What Makes A Principle Moral?

The Nicene Creed

and of all things visible and invisible

What are things invisible and things visible under the order of creation? Can the invisible and visible ever be intertwined? Or are they each strictly distinct? Are they changeable or unchangeable as principles of the creation?  

Let’s start with the first question: What are the invisible and visible things of the created order (Col.1:16)? The visible things are things that we can see with our eyes, hear with our ears, smell with our noses, touch with our fingers, and taste with our tongues. Therefore, the visible things are those principles that we can know with our physical senses. But these principles are corruptible, and therefore, they are changeable under a new ordered set of principles (Mk.13:31; Lk.21:33; James 1:10; 2Pet.3:10; 1Jn.2:17; Rev.21:4). This is where the invisible becomes intertwined with the visible principles (Rom.1:20). 

For example, the spiritual principle of sin is an invisible principle, but it is intertwined with the visible things that sinners do (Rom.1:18-19, 22-25). Therefore, sin is made known as the wrath of God revealed from heaven (Eph.2:2-3). The spiritual principle of the state and condition of sin is an eternal judgment of the invisible order of God’s sovereign power (Rom.5:19-21). Therefore, those invisible principles are clearly seen in those things that God made under that spiritual principle (Rom.7:7-8, 14). Therefore, sin is a spiritual domain of an invisible order made known only through the visible revelation of God’s law, which is now Christ crucified (Matt.5:17; 2 Cor.5:16-21; Rom.8:3-4). Therefore, the invisible and visible can only be intertwined by the knowledge of God in the revelation of Jesus Christ (Col.1:15-18; 1 Tim.1:17). 

Therefore, what is changeable can only be changed by that which is unchangeable in spiritual principle as the “moral” standard (Jn.8:21-26; 3:3-13, 30-36; Heb.5:12-14; Rom.1:23). God’s morality cannot be corrupted because it is eternal and unchangeable (1Tim.1:17; 6:13-16; 1Pet.1:4, 23). But what commandment without spot (Jn.12:50; 1Tim.1:16; Tit.2:7)? Therefore, to abolish the natural principle given over to total corruption, we have to turn to the Lord to grant us the spiritual principle that transforms corruption into incorruption (1Cor.15:44-57; 2Cor.3:16-4:6; Rom.8:28-30; 1Pet.3:4). 

So then all things visible and invisible serve that eternal principle of the glory and knowledge of God, whether things present or things to come (Rom.8:38-39; 1Cor.3:18-23; 2Pet.3:14-18 /emphasis: v.18). How do we know the eternal principle and moral standard by which we judge evil and good, rightness and unrighteousness, the just and unjust (Jn.1:1-3, 14-16; Rev.1:1-3, 7-8; 3:14; 21:6; 22:13)? Lord willing, more is to come concerning the once-for-all revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ in the next line of this Nicene Creed. Therefore, neither the visible nor the invisible is rightly discerned apart from knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as the moral standard of every truth (Matt.12:33; 15:13; 1Cor.2:6-16 /emphasis: v.15). Therefore may the Lord both rebuke and bless you by the Spirit of the Lord’s grace to know and understand the height and the depth of every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.     

Broadly speaking, and subject to certain reservations which will be mentioned later, this account is correct enough so far as concerns the use of creeds in the fourth century and the long period subsequent to it.

11 J. N. D. Kelly, Early Christian Creeds, Third Edition. (London; New York: Continuum, 2006), 31–32.