The Christian Statement of Faith

[Orthodoxy]

The Christian Statement of Faith

Now we all know the protestant reformations little ditty that goes something like this:

"I dont need no stink'un creed"

Thus another myth arises which has to do with "the creed", the "I believe" statement of every true Christian. Even this very forum has a "statement of faith".

http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=11740

Why is it ok for this forum and other protestant faiths across the globe to have a "statement of faith" but the Church with it's Nicene/Constantinople Statement of Faith is somehow "apostate" as some would say about the Church for it's "belief"?

Examine the Statement of Faith then please tell me what makes the Creed invalid and "apostate".

The Nicene/Constantinople Creed is the "I believe" statement that defines "believe" in the Christian faith. I know what I believe about the person of Jesus Christ and the nature of God.

"I Believe" ....

The Nicene Creed should be called the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed since it was formally drawn up at the first ecumenical council in Nicea (325) and at the second ecumenical council in Constantinople (381).

The word creed comes from the Latin credo which means "I believe." In the Orthodox Church the creed is usually called The Symbol of Faith which means literally the "bringing together" and the "expression" or "confession" of the faith.

In the early Church there were many different forms of the Christian confession of faith; many different "creeds." These creeds were always used originally in relation to baptism. Before being baptized a person had to state what he believed. The earliest Christian creed was probably the simple confession of faith that Jesus is the Christ, i.e., the Messiah; and that the Christ is Lord. By publicly confessing this belief, the person could be baptized into Christ, dying and rising with Him into the New Life of the Kingdom of God in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

As time passed different places had different credal statements, all professing the identical faith, yet using different forms and expressions, with different degrees of detail and emphasis. These credal forms usually became more detailed and elaborate in those areas where questions about the faith had arisen and heresies had developed.

In the fourth century a great controversy developed in Christendom about the nature of the Son of God (also called in the Scripture the Word or Logos). Some said that the Son of God is a creature like everything else made by God. Others contended that the Son of God is eternal, divine, and uncreated. Many councils met and made many statements of faith about the nature of the Son of God. The controversy raged throughout the entire Christian world.

It was the definition of the council which the Emperor Constantine called in the city of Nicea in the year 325 which was ultimately accepted by the Orthodox Church as the proper Symbol of Faith. This council is now called the first ecumenical council, and this is what it said:

We (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 Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose Kingdom shall have no end.

Following the controversy about the Son of God, the Divine Word, and essentially connected with it, was the dispute about the Holy Spirit. The following definition of the Council in Constantinople in 381, which has come to be known as the second ecumenical council was added to the Nicene statement:

And [we (I) believe] in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

In one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

This whole Symbol of Faith was ultimately adopted throughout the entire Church. It was put into the first person form "I believe" and used for the formal and official confession of faith made by a person (or his sponsor-godparent) at his baptism. It is also used as the formal statement of faith by a non-Orthodox Christian entering the communion of the Orthodox Church.

In the same way the creed became part of the life of Orthodox Christians and an essential element of the Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church at which each person formally and officially accepts and renews his baptism and membership in the Church. Thus, the Symbol of Faith is the only part of the liturgy (repeated in another form just before Holy Communion) which is in the first person. All other songs and prayers of the liturgy are plural, beginning with "we". Only the credal statement begins with "I." This, as we shall see, is because faith is first personal, and only then corporate and communal.

To be an Orthodox Christian is to affirm the Orthodox Christian faith -- not merely the words, but the essential meaning of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan symbol of faith. It means as well to affirm all that this statement implies, and all that has been expressly developed from it and built upon it in the history of the Orthodox Church over the centuries down to the present day.

Taken from:

http://www.oca.org/OCchapter.asp?SID=2&ID=10

Next we will examine the "I believe" statement of faith to see if it meets scriptural standards that the Protestant Reformation demands.

In Love,

Orthodoxy

 

[Orthodoxy]

Nicene/Constantinople Creed, 381 ad.

Here we will place scriptural referances next to each point made in the "I believe" statement of faith that the Christian Church has confessed for over 1600 years. What a glory that this document has remained unchanged by the Holy Orthodox Church for these many years in this chaos and confused world. Want to see what God is doing? How about preserving the faith as given for 2000 years?

If that is not awe inspiring compare it to the man made document of the United States Constutition that rules every life in America. We revel in our pride in that unchanging document. What one man can change the US constitution? None. Why is the "I believe" statement of the Christian Church changable at the whim of anyone that comes along claiming the Christian faith as their own? I dont think anyone person, no one, has any authority what so ever to change the Christian Statement of Faith to fit what "they personally believe".

I believe in one God (Dt.6:4, Acts 17: 22-25,1 Corinthians 8:6), the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and all things Visible and Invisible.(Genesis 1)

Can we agree on this statement?

I believe in One Lord, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 8:6),

Can we agree there is One Lord?

the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16),

Can we agree the One Lord, Jesus Christ is the only begotten son of God?

begotten of His Father before all ages (John 1:1, John 17:5),

With God? Was Jesus with the Father before all ages? Can we agree that this is true?

Light of Light (John 1),

Can we agree that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Light of the Father shining on the world?

Very God of Very God, begotten not made (John 1:14),

Can we agree the bible is correct in this?

of one essence with the Father (John 10:30, John 17).

and this?

Through Him all things were made (John 1:3).

Can we agree the bible is correct in this?

For us and for our salvation (John 1:29),

Is it true that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God for our salvation....

He came down from Heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became Man. (Luke 1:35, Matthew 1:23)

Can we agree with the bible that Jesus came from heaven and was made fully a man? Can we agree?

He was crucified, also for us under Pontius Pilate. (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19)

Are we in agreement the bible states this about the person Jesus Christ? I believe it is true.

He suffered, died and was buried. (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19)

Are we in agreement the bible states this about the person Jesus Christ? I believe it is true along with all of the Christian faith. Jesus Christ died for us and our salvation.

The third day He rose again according to scriptures. (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20)

He ascended into the heavens (Acts 1:9)

I believe this really happened. Is this apostate?

and sits at the right hand of the Father (Act 2:32-36, Acts 7:55-56).

And He will come again with Glory to judge both the living and the dead, and of His Kingdom there will be no end.

(The Bible)

I believe in the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1, John 1),

Can there be agreement on this?

The Lord (Acts 5:3-4),

Is the Holy Spirit the Lord?

the Giver of Life(Acts 5:5).

Does God give life? and take it away?

Who proceeds from the Father (John 15:26),

Jesus said this so it must be taken at His word correct? Or can we add what ever feels good and sounds right? Do we take Jesus at His word or not?

Who, together with the Father and the Son, is worshipped and glorified (Exodus 34:14, Psalms 99:5, Matthew 4:10, Luke 4:8)

Is it apostate to worship and glorify God in three persons? Surely Abraham did not see it that way. (Genesis 18)

; who spoke through the prophets.

Do I need to give referances on every time the Holy Spirit spoke through the prophets concerning Jesus Christ and His life?

I believe in one holy, universal and apostolic Church.
(Matthew 16:18, Matthew 18, John 20:21-23), 1 Corinthians 12:12:14, Romans 12:5, Ephesians 3:10, 14-15, Ephesians 4:4, Colossians 3:15)

I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38)

and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life to come. Amen. (Isaiah 26:19, Matthew 27:53, Revelation)

Can we rationally discuss the points outlined by the Histoical Church that would make us "apostate" as charged?

What do the Orthodox Christians world wide believe about the Person of Jesus Christ that makes us "apostate"?

Are we going to trust the bible or not?

In love,

Orthodoxy

 

[Nocturnal_Principal_X]

Now we all know the protestant reformations little ditty that goes something like this:

"I dont need no stink'un creed"

.....

Why is it ok for this forum and other protestant faiths across the globe to have a "statement of faith" but the Church with it's Nicene/Constantinople Statement of Faith is somehow "apostate" as some would say about the Church for it's "belief"?

Examine the Statement of Faith then please tell me what makes the Creed invalid and "apostate".

Interest, I am not familiar with the “ditty.†Just curious which protestants reformers said the Creeds and Confessionals of the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches are apostate?

Now perhaps some ‘protestant’ reformers have made the statements you suggest but that fact does not necessarily mean that all Protestant churches today expect or share those sentiments. A good example of something said by a great reformer that most, if not all, Protestant churches today don’t agree withâ€â€the anti-Semitic sentiments of Martin Luther.