In his sermon, Eric Bechler delves into the significance of the Nicene Creed, emphasizing its historical context and its role in establishing foundational Christian beliefs. The sermon begins with a prayer, acknowledging the courage of historical figures who defended the faith. Bechler outlines the importance of understanding and memorizing creeds, likening it to how Secret Service agents study authentic currency to recognize counterfeits. The Nicene Creed, formed during the Council of Nicaea in AD 325 and finalized in 381, was pivotal in addressing the Arian controversy, which challenged the deity of Christ. The Council's decision underscored the unity and co-eternality of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, countering Arianism by affirming the consubstantiality of Jesus with God the Father. Bechler explains the structure and key phrases of the Creed, supported by numerous scriptural references, and stresses the necessity for Christians to study the Bible to discern false teachings. He concludes by encouraging the congregation to memorize and internalize the Creed as a foundation for expressing their faith.

Thanks for joining us at Burnet Bible Church. This week Mr. Beckler gives his sermon on the Nicene Creed. Let's start with a word of prayer. Gracious, Heavenly Father, we thank you, Lord, for this day.

We thank you for your word. We thank you for your people. Lord, we thank you for the faithful defenders of your word and history that took a bold stand at cost, Lord, to stand up for your holy word. Lord, I pray that we would have courage, Lord, that we would know your word well enough, Lord, to see false teachings, to see misunderstandings, to take a stand. Stand up for your word.

Try to clarify. Try to correct. Lord, any misstatements of your holy word. Lord, I pray that your spirit would be upon me, that my words that I speak, Lord, would come from you, and that I would not also misspeak your holy words. Lord, be with us.

Be with me, be with us today. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. Burnet Bible Church is a confessional church. Our church follows the Second London Baptist Confession of faith in 1689 and the Nicene Creed. To covenant with Burnet Bible Church, we're asked to be in substantial agreement of the London Baptist Confession, and we must believe in the Nicene Creed.

Each week we read part of the 1689 confession and we talk about what it teaches. It's good for us to do that, to better understand what it says and to go back and make sure it's based on scripture. I think also based on what we do to covenant with our church to also every now and then take a look at the Nicene Creed. Not sure how familiar you are with it, but we'll spend some time this morning on the Nicene Creed and its ties to Scripture. It won't be exhaustive, but it will just be an overview for today.

If you want to learn more about it, I would encourage you. There's sermons on Sermon Audio. There's a lot of stuff online that you can read to dig deeper into the history about it and also the importance of it. As an illustration, you've probably heard that an agent in the Secret Service who's going to go into the area of counterfeit money, his training is solely based on becoming familiar and analyzing good money. He doesn't study the counterfeits.

He studies the true authoritative bills and coins of the Federal Reserve. They learn the characteristics and the qualities of authentic money and they don't spend time in studying all the different variations of possible counterfeits. When they come across a bad bill, they know right away, this isn't right. It feels wrong. It looks wrong.

Something's different about it. Likewise, we should spend our time studying God's truth, His word, so that we will be able to spot any false teachings or counterfeit teachings. Learning creeds helps us to understand what we believe. And many churches recite either the Apostles' Creed or the Nicene Creed as part of their weekly service. Some even on an annual basis read the Athanasians' Creed once a year.

It's a bit long, but it's also very thorough. Noah Webster's about what is a creed. He defines the states that the word seems to have been introduced by the use of the Latin word credo, I believe. And it's used at the beginning of the Apostles' Creed and most creeds. Its primary definition is a brief summary of the articles of Christian faith.

The creeds of the Christian faith are condensed versions of who God is and the gracious things He's done for us. They're basic statements of belief. They have been developed primarily for correcting and for clarifying false teachings introduced into the church. Augustine once defined a creed as a rule of faith, which is few in words, but full in meaning. Well, what are creeds and what creeds are out there and where do they come from?

I mentioned a few already and we can start with scriptures. There are a number of statements about faith. In Deuteronomy 6 4 It has the classic creedal formula, hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Also in Matthew 1660 with Peter's confession, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. These are brief and only touch on certain parts of the Christian faith.

There are others that you find throughout the Bible. We can read one in 1 Corinthians 15, 3 through 7. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures, and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the Twelve. After that, he was seen of above 500 brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that he was seen of James and then of all the apostles.

We also see something similar in Philippians 2, 6 through 11, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name, that the name of Jesus every knee should bow, the things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Again, the three most common creeds out there are the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. The Apostles' Creed shows up somewhere between the fourth and eighth centuries, but it comes from what's called the Old Roman Creed, which dates back possibly to the second century.

It was written to address the challenges regarding Christ's humanity by the Gnostics, the Marcionites, and the later the Manichaeans. The Nicene Creed was written originally in AD 325 and finalized in 381 to address the Arian position challenging the deity of Christ. The Athenation Creed was written in the 5th or 6th century, and there are disagreements as to who actually wrote it, and it of course is by far the longest of our creeds. The content of the Athenation Creed stresses the affirmation of the Trinity, in which all members of the Godhead are considered uncreated, coeternal, and of the same substance. In the affirmation of the Trinity, the dual nature of Christ is given central importance, and it also includes condemnations for those who don't believe its statements.

Again, our focus this morning is on the Nicene Creed. Let's start with the historical setting for the Nicene Creed. It comes from the Council of Nicaea. In February 23rd 303 AD, the great persecution began by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. This was the tenth and worst in a series of persecutions of Christians in the Roman Empire.

It lasted 10 years. Churches were destroyed, Bibles and writings were destroyed, Christians were horribly killed in untold numbers and ways. His goal was to completely eradicate Christianity from the earth, from the Roman Empire. God had other plans, though, and he rose up Constantine the Great, who took over the Roman Empire in AD 324 when he openly confessed Christianity. Constantine established Christianity as the official religion of the empire.

So leading up to the Council of Nicaea, most Christians had either personally experienced persecutions themselves or had known someone who had suffered or died. Christians then at that point took their faith very, very seriously. Confessing Christ had been an act bringing great risk to that Christian and his or her family. In AD 325, Constantine, seeing some disagreements throughout the empire about Christianity, wanted to resolve that and make things more peaceful, sent a letter out to approximately 1800 bishops throughout the Roman Empire to address a number of issues. He was concerned that these disputes might lead to disorder within the empire.

The items to be addressed were Arianism, which we'll talk a little bit more about, the calculation for when to celebrate Easter, and the Melitian schism and 20 other canons or church laws that were to be discussed. Of these items, the major dispute at the time came from the teachings of Arius. Arius was a presbyter or an elder in Alexandria, Egypt in the early 300s. He denied that Jesus was fully God. He taught that the Father in the beginning created or begot the Son and that the Son in conjunction with the Father then proceeded to create the world.

He could not conceive of a mediator other than a created being. The sun had no existence before he was begotten. Thus, in Arius's words, there was a time before he was not. Assuming the sun was a creature, he therefore could not be of the same substance of the uncreated God. He could only be called God in a lower and improper sense.

One of various proof texts comes from Colossians 1.15, speaking about Christ, who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. There are differing accounts of how many bishops attended, but an estimate about 318 attended. And upon arriving, more than 20 bishops were in support of Arius. After about a month of debate, the profession of faith, as we find in the Nicene Creed, was adopted. Actually, it was a little bit different version, and I'll read it later.

It was adopted by all but two of the bishops. One of the attendees in the party was Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria, and Athanasius, a deacon. Athanasius later became Bishop of Alexandria. He spent the remainder of his life leading the Orthodox position against Arianism, which unfortunately didn't disappear after the Council of Nicea nor the next council in Constantinople. The area in position actually still exists today.

We find that as a position accepted by the Watchtower Society, the Jehovah's witness. I'd like to read to you the actual resulting creed from the 325 Council of Nicaea. You'll find it's a little bit different than what we're familiar with, but it's what they came up with. You'll also notice it doesn't talk much about the Holy Spirit, and it also has some curses at the end, which is something we're not usually familiar with. We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of all things visible and invisible, and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten from the Father, only begotten, that is, from the substance of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one substance with the Father, through whom all things came into being, things in heaven and things on earth, who because of men and because of our salvation came down and became incarnate and became man and suffered and rose again on the third day, ascended to the heavens, and will come to judge the living and the dead and in the Holy Spirit.

But as for those who say there was when he is not and before being born he was not and that he came into existence out of nothing or who assert that the Son of God is of a different hypostasis or substance or created or is subject to alteration or changes, these the Catholic and Apostolic Church anathematizes or curses. This is what came out of the council of Nicaea. It does sound a little bit different than what you're familiar with. I'll read also as a comparison what came out of the first council of Constantinople, which is following in 381. You'll notice some of the differences.

It may sound actually quite a bit more familiar to you. I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father, through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate.

He suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one holy Catholic and apostolic church.

I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. And I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. So very similar it serves. There's a few differences from what our more modern words are and we'll touch on that as I go through each of the parts.

We'll go by phrase by phrase. Hopefully it'll be interesting to you. A lot of the comments here come from an article from Spurgeon's website from a man, James Keifer. The basic structure of the Creed is laid out in four sections. Belief in the Father, belief in the Son, belief in the Holy Spirit, and belief in the Church.

We'll start with, I believe in one God. There are many verses in the Bible supporting monotheism, the belief in one God. Some of the more recent versions of the Nicene Creed start with we believe. But it seems more appropriate as we confess our own beliefs, we should state I believe. With this statement, we make clear what follows is what I believe.

We begin with God, one God. We believe in one God, not three, and not as the Egyptians, the Bible, who is several thousand deities, one God. And we derive this from scripture. In Deuteronomy 6, of course, verses 4 and 5, here, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soul and with all thy might.

Ephesians 4 6 one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all. Exodus 20 verses 2 & 3 I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, thou shalt have no other gods before me. There's a lot of verses again, we'll just touch on those. We'll move on to the Father Almighty. I believe in one God, the Father Almighty.

Who is this one God? The Father Almighty. God the Father. Jesus throughout scripture calls God Father. This tells us that God is a loving God active within his creation.

In Matthew 10-32, whosoever therefore shall confess me before men him will I confess also before my father Which is in heaven words from Jesus also Words from Christ as well And when he went a little further and he fell on his face and prayed saying, Oh my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. That's from Matthew 26. Ephesians 4-6 we read, one God and Father of all. Malachi 2 10, have we not all one Father?

Hath not God created us? Revelation 1 verse 8, I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is and which was and which is to come, the Almighty. Continuing maker of heaven and earth, of all that is visible and invisible, we ask our Father, our God, what did he do? This statement provides a summary of what God has done. He made heaven and earth, and all that is visible and invisible pretty comprehensive In our society today.

We are bombarded with the truth of evolution It's become a religion However, the supporters of evolution are unable to come up with any idea of where everything actually came from. There's a Big Bang Theory, but you would ask who lit the fuse, and where was the stuff that actually blew up? It falls short. Only the Bible tells us where things began. The Bible tells us God created the heavens and the earth.

You see that at the very beginning, Genesis 1.1. In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. In verse 21, and God created great whales, every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind. And God saw that it was good." Genesis 1, 27. So God created man in his own image.

In the image of God created he him. Male and female created he them. So we see God, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is Visible and invisible in the next section and I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God Referring back to Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary for Lord, he defines this as the supreme being. When printed in the Old Testament is the translation of Jehovah. So with this phrase we're acknowledging that Jesus Christ is our Lord, master of all.

Both the Hebrew word Adonai and the Greek word Kyrios mean Lord and were used many times throughout the Bible. Again, as with the Father, we see the word one. He is one Lord Jesus, not two and not one third. And for the second part of this phrase, the Greek word used here is monogenes, which when used for Christ means the only begotten Son of God. Gen is found in words like genetics and generation, which suggests a beginning.

In John 1 14, And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. In John 3, 18, he that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Begotten of his father before all worlds. Beget from Noah Webster's means to procreate as a father or sire, to generate as to beget a son. Also to produce as an effect, to cause to exist, to generate as luxury begets vice.

Begot or begotten means procreated or generated. And this is very hard to understand in how it's used in the Nicene Creed. When we look at the Trinity, you have God the Father who is of himself. You have God the Son who was begotten of the Father and God the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. All three are fully God.

A lot of controversies even today regarding the use of begotten. This is one of the main items of focus in the Council of Nicaea. Arius argued that the logos is not eternal. God begat him and before he was begotten he did not exist. Athanasius would reply that the beginning of the logos was not an event in time, but an eternal relationship.

God is outside of time. Alexander the Bishop of Alexandria understood it this way. To beget is to cause someone to have one's nature or to cause someone to become equal with one's nature. For example, a human father begets a son. The human father who begets had a beginning of existence.

That is why the human who was begotten had a beginning of existence too. To apply this definition to eternal, an eternal being would be like this, the one who begets is eternal, that is why he who is begotten is eternal also. Again, this is really hard to understand. I think it helps if you can remember that the terminology of begotten doesn't apply to people the same way as it applies to the father-son relationship in the Godhead. God the Son was begotten of the God the Father.

God the Son is one substance with the Father. He's not inferior. He's fully God. Nor do we look at God the Son inferior just because we call Him the Son. We shouldn't consider him inferior because he was begotten of the Father.

We so easily get trumped up by applying human standards and conditions on God. It just doesn't make sense. God of God, light of light. God is the Son of God. You know the Son.

You know the Father. Again, this is in the section of the Son of God. In John 8, 19, then said they unto him, Where is thy father? And Jesus answered, you neither know me nor my father. If you had known me, you should have known my father also.

God the Son is the light of the world. We read in John 1 verses 4 through 9. In him was the life and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God whose name was John.

The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light that all men through him might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of the light. That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." Athanasius had several analogies that he applied to this phrase, light of light. The first one, When we look at the father and the son, the ear is one as the sight of two eyes is still one. Second, we can think of a C chord on a piano.

The C, the E, and the G notes are all distinct notes. The joined together is one chord. The sound is richer and more dynamic than had the notes been played individually. And finally, the third analogy used regarding the light. Light is continuously streaming forth from the sun.

The rays of light are derived from the sun and not vice versa. But it's not the case that first the Sun existed and afterwards the light. It's possible to imagine that the Sun has always existed and emitted light. The light then is derived from the Sun, but the light and the Sun exist simultaneously throughout eternity. They are co-eternal.

Just so the sun exists because the Father exists. But there was never a time before the Father produced the sun. The analogy is further appropriate because we can know the sun only through the rays of light that it emits. To see the sunlight is to see the sun. Just so, Jesus says in John 14, 9, he who has seen me has seen the Father.

The next phrase, very God, a very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father. Some versions that we read use true God of true God. This is another phrase to counter the Aryans. God did not create Jesus, like the angels which were made. God the Son was begotten and not made, begotten before even time was created." Again, we mentioned begotten refers to an eternal relationship rather than an event within time.

Time is a relation between physical events and only has meaning in the context of the physical universe, not to the Godhead. With this phrase, this is where the conflict they assumed would be closed. Arius was clever at pulling out scripture to counter many arguments. However, the bishops at the council decided that using the Greek term homoousios in the confession was the only way to contradict the Aryans and to stay true to scripture. Homoousios is a Greek word meaning being of one substance.

The Aryans could not come to accept that God the Son was fully God in the way God the Father was. The Trinity was three persons united in one substance. This meant that God the Son was of the same substance as God the Father. He was fully God. He was not inferior.

And we read John 10 30, I and my father are one. In Colossians 2 9, for in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead fully. Again, many scriptures support this. And the Next phrase, by whom all things were made. A lot of the final phrases that we'll read through come just directly from scripture.

By whom all things were made, John 1.3. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, again from scripture. John 3, 16 and 17, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved." John 1, 14, and the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

First Thessalonians 5, 9, for God hath not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. The next phrase, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary and was made man. Again straight from scripture we can look at Luke 1 verse 27 and 35. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary, an angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that the holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Matthew 1, 18.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise, when as his mother Mary was a spouse to Joseph, before they came together, She was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Again, there's several other verses that support that as well. Philippians 2.6 and Acts 2.36. The next phrase, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, he suffered and was buried. Mark 15.1.

And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and the scribes and the whole council and bound Jesus and carried him away and delivered him to Pilate. Matthew 27 verses 23 through 26. And the governor said, why? What evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, let him be crucified.

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tome was made, He took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person. See ye to it. Then answered all the people and said, his blood be on us and on our children. Then released Hebarnebus to them, unto them. And when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Finally here in Matthew 27, 59 through 60, and when Joseph of Arimathea had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock, and he rolled a great stone to the door of his sepulcher and departed. The next phrase, and the third day he rose again according to the scriptures. This phrase expresses what happened to Jesus after he was crucified, died and was buried. Three days in the tomb, the tomb was found empty. This again is straight from scripture.

Here it even emphasizes this great point, according to the scriptures. As Christians, this is what we believe. These are the basic tenets of Christian faith, of Christian doctrine expressed in a creed. Luke 18.33, and they shall scourge him and put him to death, and on the third day he shall rise again. We can go to Luke 24.7, Acts 10.40, 1 Corinthians 15.4, and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.

That's just straight from scripture. The next phrase, and ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. Each of these phrases have direct scripture supporting them. Once again, there can be some confusion with the oneness of God if the son is sitting at the right hand of the Father. As an established standard, the right hand is a place of honor and authority.

When someone of rank places someone on his right hand, he gives him equal honor, equal dignity, and equal authority. So God is actually exalting Jesus by placing him in his right hand. If we look at Ephesians 1, 19 through 21, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us, swore, who believe according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come." The fact that Jesus was at the right hand of God was proof to his disciples that he indeed had gone to heaven. He had told them that he had to go away and would send the Holy Spirit, which was evidenced at Pentecost. The fact that Christ sits at the right hand of the Father indicates that the work of redemption is done.

Again, many verses to support this, Acts 10-40, Hebrews 8-1, Psalm 110-1, Romans 8-34, Mark 16-19, on it goes. In the next phrase, and he shall come again with glory both to judge the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end. John 5.22, for the father judges no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. Acts 10 42, and he commanded us to preach unto the people and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the judge of the quick and the dead. John 5 22, for the father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.

Many other verses. In the next phrase, and I believe in the Holy Spirit 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, and who spoke by the prophets." In the third section, these phrases are included to address any misconception that the Holy Spirit did not exist or was not active before Pentecost. The prophets were spokesmen of God. The Holy Spirit revealed God's will to them. And the Holy Spirit's part of the Trinity.

We have God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Three persons, one step, since each fully God. I don't know if you noticed in the phrase that I just read versus the Nicene Creed of 381. In 381 the Roman Empire and the church was one, it was united. There wasn't an East based out of Rome and a West based in Constantinople.

Anyway, since they were both sides of the one empire together in 381, there actually was a disagreement from the East side versus the West side about whether the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father or proceeded from the Father and the Son. At a future council, the eastern side of the kingdom wasn't present, so they slipped that in. So, you'll see some differences. There's arguments of whether that should be or not. The standard phrase that we read is that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.

Turning to scripture, we can look at John 14-16, and I will pray, the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you forever. John 14 26, but the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance. Whatsoever I have said unto you." The controversy in one of the phrases proceeding from the Father and the Son, this is called the Phililoquy Controversy. It's actually one of the disagreements that have kept the Eastern Orthodox and the Roman Church separated. There's a historian that suggests that this last phrase, the Father and the Son, was included back in the sixth century during the third council of Toledo, which didn't include those from the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Again, at issue here was an old Arian heresy which denied the eternal coexistence of God the Father and God the Son. By having proceeded from the Father and Son you get a better picture that they were all co-eternal coexistence and of one substance. So the Aryan position, the Aryan heresy, where the greatest and eldest of all God's creatures is himself a God but still created and therefore like all creatures of Inessence or substance which previously had not existed This was a heresy that causes difficulty when we talk about the nature of the Trinity After Arius introduced this heresy it was necessary to focus on the identity of God the Son with the Father and later the Holy Spirit's relationship. So the Philo-Lacue was added who spake by the prophets. In 2 Peter 1, 21, for the prophecy came not in the old time by the will of man but by holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost in Genesis 1 1 and 2 in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth and the earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep and the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Many many verses support this.

And in the last section here, and I believe in one holy Catholic and apostolic church. Catholic here means universal, not the Roman Catholic Church. Catholic Church didn't exist back then. With the phrase apostolic church, they refer to the church whose origins go back to the apostles themselves. Rome was just one of the many regional centers that existed throughout the Empire.

This also included Alexandria, Antioch, all being relatively equal. At this time in history, of course, there was no Roman Catholic Church, and the controversial doctrines that are held by that church were not even in existence. In Ephesians 4, 1 through 6, I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that walk ye worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called with all lowliness and meekness with long suffering for bearing one another in love endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit even as you are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all." We look at the next phrase, 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. The baptism that's talked here is not, we're not talking about water baptism. This is water baptism does not remit your sins. When we're indwelt by the Holy Spirit, when He gives us a new heart, He regenerates our heart. And through that baptism of the Holy Spirit of fire, this is the one baptism that's spoken of here.

In Ephesians 4-5, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. Galatians 3-27, for as many of you have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. We live in a fallen world. Our world is filled with lies. Our culture has rejected God.

Continually, they tried to remove all signs of God. But we as Christians know the truth and we know where to find the truth. We look forward to Christ's return wherein The universe will be reconciled and Christ will reign forever and we will be with him. So now that we've gone through this and maybe you're a little more familiar with it, I would recommend that you maybe try to memorize this and try to look at it more closely and try to think about it. If someone asks you, what do you believe, perhaps part of this creed you could respond with well I believe in God the Father I believe in God the Son is a framework for how you can express your Christian faith A tremendous amount of effort was made to counter the false teachings of Arius.

Athanasius used his entire lifetime fighting this heresy. He was exiled five different times from the empire. We as a church need to be picky about scripture and identifying false teachings? We need to stand up and fight to confront it. But do you know enough of scripture to recognize false teaching?

How do we make sure that we can? Well, We need to spend more time in our Bibles. We need to read our Bibles. We need to try to memorize our Bibles. We need to study it as often as we can.

As we see the example of the Secret Service agents, they studied the true and authoritative money so that they could recognize false teachings. We as Christians, we need to study the true and authoritative word of God, so that we would recognize anything that's not God's word. I hear a lot of people in talking religion, Christianity, doctrine, some will say, oh, that's not that big a deal, or oh, that's not so important. Let's just agree here. God's Word is important.

Okay, it's important. There are a lot of disagreements in interpretation of scripture. We need to know our Bibles so that we can confront anything that's raised as a false teaching. To do that you need to know your Bibles.