There is one God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God the Father made all things through the Son, sent the Son for our salvation, and gives us the Holy Spirit.
The Son of God, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, was born of the virgin Mary, fully God and fully human, and is the perfect revelation of the Father and the perfect representative of humanity. He suffered and died on the cross for all human sin, was raised bodily on the third day, and ascended to heaven. Standing in for all humanity before the Father, Jesus Christ provides the perfect human response to God. Since he died for all, all died in him, and all will be made alive in him.
The Holy Spirit brings sinners to repentance and faith, assures believers of their forgiveness and acceptance as God’s dearly loved children, and works in them to conform them to the image of Jesus Christ.
The Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God that testifies to Jesus Christ. The Bible is fully authoritative for all matters of faith and salvation.
Salvation comes only by God’s grace and not by works, and it is experienced through faith in Jesus Christ. Christians respond to the joy of salvation when they gather in regular fellowship and live godly lives in Jesus Christ.
We look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come.
Historical Documents of the Christian Church
A creed is a brief statement of faith used to enumerate important truths, to clarify doctrinal points, and to distinguish truth from error. Creeds are usually worded to be easily memorized. The word creed comes from the Latin word credo, meaning, “I believe.” The Bible contains a number of creed-like passages. For example, Jews used the Shema, based on Deuteronomy 6:4-9, as a creed. St. Paul wrote simple creed-like statements in 1 Corinthians 8:6; 12:3; and 15:3-4. 1 Timothy 3:16 also appears as a creed, a concise statement of belief.
As the early church spread, there was a practical need for a statement of faith to help believers focus on the most important doctrines of their Christian faith. The Apostles’ Creed is appropriately named not because the original apostles wrote it, but because it accurately reflects the teaching of the apostles. Church fathers Tertullian, Augustine, and other leaders had slightly different versions of the Apostles’ Creed, but the text of Pirminius in A.D. 750 was eventually accepted as the standard form.
As the church grew, heresies also grew, and the early Christians needed to clarify the defining boundaries of the faith. In the early 300s, before the canon of the New Testament had been finalized, controversy developed over the divinity of Jesus Christ.
At the request of Emperor Constantine, Christian bishops from across the Roman Empire met at the town of Nicea in 325 to discuss the matter. They wrote their consensus in the form of a creed, called the Creed of Nicea. In 381, another major council was held at Constantinople at which the Creed of Nicea was slightly revised to include a few more doctrines. The resulting Creed is called the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, or more commonly, the Nicene Creed.
In the next century, church leaders met in the city of Chalcedon to discuss, among other things, questions about the divine and human natures of Jesus Christ. The result was a Definition of Faith they believed to be true to the gospel, true to apostolic teaching, and true to the Scriptures. This statement is called the Definition of Chalcedon or the Faith of Chalcedon.
Regrettably, creeds can become formal, complex, abstract, and sometimes equated with Scripture. When properly used, however, they facilitate a concise basis for teaching, safeguard correct biblical doctrine, and create a focus for church fellowship. These three creeds are widely accepted among Christians as consistent with the Bible and as statements of true Christian orthodoxy, or right teaching.
The Nicene Creed (A.D. 381)
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again 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.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
(Translation based on The Book of Common Prayer, 1979)
The Apostles’ Creed (c. A.D. 700)
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
(Translation based on I Believe by Alister McGrath, Downer’s Grove, Il.: InterVarsity Press, 1997)
The Definition of the Union of the Divine and Human Natures in the Person of Jesus Christ (Council of Chalcedon, A.D. 451)
Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach people to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in humanness, truly God and truly human, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance (homoousios) with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his humanity; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his humanity begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer (Theotokos); one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only–begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the Fathers has handed down to us.
(Translation from The Book of Common Prayer, 1979)
The Athanasian Creed or Quicunque Vult=(Whosoever will) (350-415? AD)
Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled; without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons; nor dividing the Essence.
For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Spirit. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Spirit.
The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Spirit uncreated.
The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy Spirit unlimited. The Father eternal; the Son eternal; and the Holy Spirit eternal. And yet they are not three eternals; but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated; nor three infinites, but one uncreated; and one infinite. So likewise the Father is Almighty; the Son Almighty; and the Holy Spirit Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties; but one Almighty.
So the Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Spirit is God. And yet they are not three Gods; but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord; the Son Lord; and the Holy Spirit Lord. And yet not three Lords; but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity; to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord; So are we forbidden by the common religion; to say, There are three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none; neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created; but begotten.
The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten; but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits. And in this Trinity none is before, or after another; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal. So that in all things, as aforesaid; the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshiped. He therefore that will be saved, let him thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation; that he also believe faithfully the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess; that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the Essence of the Father; begotten before the worlds; and Man, of the Essence of his Mother, born in the world. Perfect God; and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father as touching his Manhood. Who although he is God and Man; yet he is not two, but one Christ. One; not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh; but by assumption of the Manhood by God. One altogether; not by confusion of Essence; but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man; so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell; rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of the God the Father Almighty, from whence he will come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies; And shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.
This is the common faith; which except a man believe truly and firmly, he cannot be saved.
There are some uncertainties as to who put the Athansius' Creed together, however the Theology found in its text reflects Athansius'.
Doctrinal Statement
(Basic Summery)
My preaching and teaching are in agreement and accordance with historic Christian teaching as articulated in the Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed and the Definitions of Chalcedon, Athanasian Creed or Quicunque Vult (also called Quicumque Vult) and other historic creeds which are accepted and recognized by the greater Christian Community down through ages and is in full agreement with a Incarnational Theological framework and focuses on Jesus and stresses that salvation is only through Jesus Christ, through faith alone in Christ alone, by Grace alone. I believe and teach the Scriptures both Old and New Testament are the inerrant Word of God and are faithful for our lives and lead us to the Person of Jesus and living Christocentric life.
· There is one God, The Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Mark: 12:29,1Tomothy:1:17, Ephesians:4:6, Matthew:28:19,1jhn:4:8,5-20, Titus:2:11, John:16:27, 2Corthians:13:14,1Corthians:8:4-6.
· God the Father-Made all things through the Son, sent the Son for our salvation, and gives us the Holy Spirit. John: 1:1,14, Romans:15:6, Colossians:1:15-16, John:3:16,14:26,15:26, Romans:8:14-17, Acts:17:28
· The Son of God-Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, he is fully God and fully man, perfect deity and sinless humanity in one person, Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, fully God and fully human, and is the perfect revelation of the Father and the perfect representative of humanity. He suffered and died on the cross for all human sin, was raised bodily on the third day, and ascended to heaven. Standing before the Father, as our High Priest and Intercessor and provides the perfect response to God. Jesus will at the close of the age return as King. John: 1:1,10,14, Colssians:1:15-17, Hebrews:1:3, John:3:16, Titus:2:13, Matthew:1:20, Acts:10:36,1Corithians:15:3-4, Titus:3:4-5, Hebrews:2:9,7:25, Galatians:4:5,2Corithina:514, Ephesians:1:9-10, Colssians:1:20,1Timmothy:2:25, Hebrews:1:8, Revelation:19:16
· The Holy Spirit-He brings sinners to repentance and faith, assures believers of their forgiveness and acceptance as God’s dearly loved children, and works in them to conform them to the image of Jesus Christ.Matthew:28:19, John:14:16,15:26, Acts:2:38, Matthew:28:19, John:14:17,1Peter:1:2, Titus:3:5,1Corithians:12:1-11, John:16:13.
· The Bible-Is the inspired and infallible Word of God that testifies to Jesus Christ. The Bible is fully authoritative for all matters of faith, Christian living and salvation.2Timothy:3:15-17,2Peter:1:20-21, John:5:39,17:17, Luke:24:25-26,44-47.
· Salvation-Comes only by God’s grace and not by works, and it is our’s through faith in Jesus Christ and is declared through the Sacrament of Baptism. Christians respond to the joy of salvation when they gather in regular Worship, Prayer, Study and Fellowship and live godly lives in Jesus Christ.Romans:8:21-23,6:18,22-23, 1Corinthians:1:19,1Timothy:2:3-6, Matthew:3:17, Colossins:3:1, Ephesians:2:4-10.
· The Inheritance of Believers- Believers Look forward to Heaven and to the resurrection and the life of the age to come. 1John: 3:1-2,1John:2:25, Romans:8:16-1Corithians:15: 1-2-58, Colssians:1:13, Daniel:7:27,1Peter:1:3-5, Revelation:5:10, 21:1-7.
Benediction: May we each and all, regardless of which Church, ministry, association, tradition or denomination we are bound to ever rejoice in the preservation of these historic documents which keep us grounded in Orthodox Christian beliefs and which speak to us of all that our Lord Jesus has accomplished for us as set forth in the Holy Scriptures, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen
Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor
Topinabee Community Church
Topinabee , MI.
"If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"
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