The document discusses creeds and their purpose and history. It explains that creeds are statements of basic Christian beliefs meant to unite churches and protect against heresy. The Apostles' Creed originated in the 2nd century and the Nicene Creed was formulated in the 4th century in response to the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. The Nicene Creed used the term "homoousios" or "consubstantial" to affirm Christ's oneness in being with God the Father. Creeds were meant to standardize doctrine but some argue they now hinder the mission of the church in a postmodern age.

1. Creeds

2. What do we Mean When We Say Creed?

3. What do we Mean When We Say Creed?
✤ Not our Creed:

4. What do we Mean When We Say Creed?
✤ Not our Creed:

5. What do we Mean When We Say Creed?

6. What do we Mean When We Say Creed?
✤ Not our Creed: Man Made Rules Elevated over the Bible

7. What do we Mean When We Say Creed?
✤ Not our Creed: Man Made Rules Elevated over the Bible

8. What A Creed is:

9. What A Creed is:
✤ A creed is a statement of belief

10. What A Creed is:
✤ A creed is a statement of belief
✤ A creed is simply the baseline theology of the whole of scripture put
into memorizable form

11. What A Creed is:
✤ A creed is a statement of belief
✤ A creed is simply the baseline theology of the whole of scripture put
into memorizable form
✤ A creed is not all we believe but we in the case of the Nicene and
Apostles Creed we can not believe less

12. Why We Need Creeds

13. Why We Need Creeds
✤ The Creed was a public statement of faith, a standardized way in which
new people could confess their faith in Jesus Christ.

14. Why We Need Creeds
✤ The Creed was a public statement of faith, a standardized way in which
new people could confess their faith in Jesus Christ.
✤ The Creed anchored Christian faith to a tradition, to make it difficult for
people or churches to be led astray by strange doctrines.

15. Why We Need Creeds
✤ The Creed was a public statement of faith, a standardized way in which
new people could confess their faith in Jesus Christ.
✤ The Creed anchored Christian faith to a tradition, to make it difficult for
people or churches to be led astray by strange doctrines.
✤ The Creed was a preaching and teaching tool, giving an outline for
further discipleship.

16. Why We Need Creeds
✤ The Creed was a public statement of faith, a standardized way in which
new people could confess their faith in Jesus Christ.
✤ The Creed anchored Christian faith to a tradition, to make it difficult for
people or churches to be led astray by strange doctrines.
✤ The Creed was a preaching and teaching tool, giving an outline for
further discipleship.
✤ The Creed was memorized through frequent repetition, which helped
the many believers who could not read.

17. Why We Need Creeds
✤ The Creed was a public statement of faith, a standardized way in which
new people could confess their faith in Jesus Christ.
✤ The Creed anchored Christian faith to a tradition, to make it difficult for
people or churches to be led astray by strange doctrines.
✤ The Creed was a preaching and teaching tool, giving an outline for
further discipleship.
✤ The Creed was memorized through frequent repetition, which helped
the many believers who could not read.
✤ The Creed provided a doctrinal basis for different churches to accept one
another, and to reject those who did not accept the basic truths.

18. Why We Need Creeds
✤ The Creed was a public statement of faith, a standardized way in which
new people could confess their faith in Jesus Christ.
✤ The Creed anchored Christian faith to a tradition, to make it difficult for
people or churches to be led astray by strange doctrines.
✤ The Creed was a preaching and teaching tool, giving an outline for
further discipleship.
✤ The Creed was memorized through frequent repetition, which helped
the many believers who could not read.
✤ The Creed provided a doctrinal basis for different churches to accept one
another, and to reject those who did not accept the basic truths.
✤ They protect us

19. On Protection from Danger

20. On Protection from Danger
✤ "The rest of us like to look into the Bible and see if there is grounds for
jumping, and then jump if it seems a good idea."

21. On Protection from Danger
✤ "The rest of us like to look into the Bible and see if there is grounds for
jumping, and then jump if it seems a good idea."
- Jehovah's Witness

22. On Protection from Danger
✤ "The rest of us like to look into the Bible and see if there is grounds for
jumping, and then jump if it seems a good idea."
- Jehovah's Witness
✤ I have come that they might have life and that they might have it
abundantly.

23. On Protection from Danger
✤ "The rest of us like to look into the Bible and see if there is grounds for
jumping, and then jump if it seems a good idea."
- Jehovah's Witness
✤ I have come that they might have life and that they might have it
abundantly.
- John Shelby Spong, Speaking of Jesus

25. ✤ If the resurrection of Jesus cannot be believed except by assenting to
the fantastic descriptions included in the Gospels, then Christianity is
doomed. For that view of resurrection is not believable, and if that is
all there is, then Christianity, which depends upon the truth and
authenticity of Jesus' resurrection, also is not believable.

26. ✤ If the resurrection of Jesus cannot be believed except by assenting to
the fantastic descriptions included in the Gospels, then Christianity is
doomed. For that view of resurrection is not believable, and if that is
all there is, then Christianity, which depends upon the truth and
authenticity of Jesus' resurrection, also is not believable.
- John Shelby Spong

27. The Apostles Creed

28. The Apostles Creed
✤ Earliest forms referred to in around 200 AD by Iranaenus . Presented
not as something new but as something that the church had been
using for a long time.

29. The Apostles Creed
✤ Earliest forms referred to in around 200 AD by Iranaenus . Presented
not as something new but as something that the church had been
using for a long time.
✤ Iranaenus a disciple of student of Polycarp who was a student of
the apostle John.

30. The Apostles Creed
✤ Earliest forms referred to in around 200 AD by Iranaenus . Presented
not as something new but as something that the church had been
using for a long time.
✤ Iranaenus a disciple of student of Polycarp who was a student of
the apostle John.
✤ A Latin version of the creed is found in 220 in the writings of
Tertullian in North Africa

31. The Apostles Creed
✤ Earliest forms referred to in around 200 AD by Iranaenus . Presented
not as something new but as something that the church had been
using for a long time.
✤ Iranaenus a disciple of student of Polycarp who was a student of
the apostle John.
✤ A Latin version of the creed is found in 220 in the writings of
Tertullian in North Africa
✤ Standard in Gaul by 650

32. The Apostles Creed
✤ Earliest forms referred to in around 200 AD by Iranaenus . Presented
not as something new but as something that the church had been
using for a long time.
✤ Iranaenus a disciple of student of Polycarp who was a student of
the apostle John.
✤ A Latin version of the creed is found in 220 in the writings of
Tertullian in North Africa
✤ Standard in Gaul by 650
✤ Our Creed is identical to the 750 version

33. Text
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. On the
third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of Father. He will
come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic
Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness
of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life

35. ✤ I believe in God,

36. ✤ I believe in God,
✤ the Father almighty,

37. ✤ I believe in God,
✤ the Father almighty,
✤ creator of heaven and earth;

39. ✤ I believe in Jesus Christ,

40. ✤ I believe in Jesus Christ,
✤ his only Son, our Lord.

41. ✤ I believe in Jesus Christ,
✤ his only Son, our Lord.
✤ He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

42. ✤ I believe in Jesus Christ,
✤ his only Son, our Lord.
✤ He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
✤ born of the Virgin Mary.

44. ✤ He suffered under Pontius Pilate

45. ✤ He suffered under Pontius Pilate
✤ was crucified, died, and was buried.

46. ✤ He suffered under Pontius Pilate
✤ was crucified, died, and was buried.
✤ On the third day he rose again.

47. ✤ He suffered under Pontius Pilate
✤ was crucified, died, and was buried.
✤ On the third day he rose again.
✤ He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of Father.

48. ✤ He suffered under Pontius Pilate
✤ was crucified, died, and was buried.
✤ On the third day he rose again.
✤ He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of Father.
✤ He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

49. ✤ He suffered under Pontius Pilate
✤ was crucified, died, and was buried.
✤ On the third day he rose again.
✤ He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of Father.
✤ He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
✤ I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church

51. ✤ I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion
of saints

52. ✤ I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion
of saints
✤ the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life
everlasting.

53. Nicene Creed

54. Nicene Creed
✤ Originates from 321 at the First Counsel of Nicea

55. Nicene Creed
✤ Originates from 321 at the First Counsel of Nicea
✤ Updated at 381 at the Second Ecumenical counsel

56. Nicene Creed
✤ Originates from 321 at the First Counsel of Nicea
✤ Updated at 381 at the Second Ecumenical counsel
✤ Response to Arianism

57. Arianism

58. Arianism
✤ From the teaching of Arius a leader in the church from Alexandria,
Egypt (ca. AD 250–336)

59. Arianism
✤ From the teaching of Arius a leader in the church from Alexandria,
Egypt (ca. AD 250–336)
✤ The Arian concept of Christ is that the Son of God did not always
exist, but was created by - and is therefore distinct from and inferior
to - God the Father.

60. Arianism
✤ From the teaching of Arius a leader in the church from Alexandria,
Egypt (ca. AD 250–336)
✤ The Arian concept of Christ is that the Son of God did not always
exist, but was created by - and is therefore distinct from and inferior
to - God the Father.
✤ The conflict between Arianism and Trinitarian beliefs was the first
major doctrinal confrontation in the Church after the legalization of
Christianity by the Roman Emperor Constantine I.

61. The Arian view of God:

62. The Arian view of God:
✤ God the Father ("unbegotten"), always existing, was separate from the
lesser Jesus Christ ("only-begotten"), born before time began and
creator of the world. The Father, working through the Son, created the
Holy Spirit, who was subservient to the Son as the Son was to the
Father. The Father was seen as "the only true God".

63. The Arian view of God:
✤ God the Father ("unbegotten"), always existing, was separate from the
lesser Jesus Christ ("only-begotten"), born before time began and
creator of the world. The Father, working through the Son, created the
Holy Spirit, who was subservient to the Son as the Son was to the
Father. The Father was seen as "the only true God".
✤ We are persecuted, because we say that the Son has a beginning, but
that God is without beginning.

64. Homoousios/Consubstantiality

65. Homoousios/Consubstantiality
✤ Of One Substance, having the same nature and attributes.

66. Homoousios/Consubstantiality
✤ Of One Substance, having the same nature and attributes.
✤ We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only 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...

67. Homoousios/Consubstantiality
✤ Of One Substance, having the same nature and attributes.
✤ We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only 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...
✤ Christ is consubstantial with God as to his divinity

68. Homoousios/Consubstantiality
✤ Of One Substance, having the same nature and attributes.
✤ We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only 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...
✤ Christ is consubstantial with God as to his divinity
✤ For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the
Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.

69. Homoousios/Consubstantiality
✤ Of One Substance, having the same nature and attributes.
✤ We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only 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...
✤ Christ is consubstantial with God as to his divinity
✤ For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the
Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.
✤ Christ is consubstantial with us as to his Humanity

70. What the Arian Controversy
Teaches Us

71. What the Arian Controversy
Teaches Us
✤ The early church sought to deal with “false beliefs.”

72. What the Arian Controversy
Teaches Us
✤ The early church sought to deal with “false beliefs.”
✤ The Church has one set of beliefs and asserts these to be true to the
exclusion of other beliefs.

73. What the Arian Controversy
Teaches Us
✤ The early church sought to deal with “false beliefs.”
✤ The Church has one set of beliefs and asserts these to be true to the
exclusion of other beliefs.
✤ The disputes were open.

74. What the Arian Controversy
Teaches Us
✤ The early church sought to deal with “false beliefs.”
✤ The Church has one set of beliefs and asserts these to be true to the
exclusion of other beliefs.
✤ The disputes were open.
✤ In the modern/postmodern rush to “tolerance” we have become
intolerant of 2000 years of church history, we are also practicing
chronological snobbery

75. Mission: Are the Creeds Flawed?

76. Mission: Are the Creeds Flawed?
✤ They were concerned with what message would be spread and most
likely would not have comprehended that the church would not be on
Mission

77. Mission: Are the Creeds Flawed?
✤ They were concerned with what message would be spread and most
likely would not have comprehended that the church would not be on
Mission
✤ We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

78. Mission: Are the Creeds Flawed?
✤ They were concerned with what message would be spread and most
likely would not have comprehended that the church would not be on
Mission
✤ We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
✤ Ed Stetzer suggests that “apostolic” in the original sense means
“sent”.

79. Mission: Are the Creeds Flawed?
✤ They were concerned with what message would be spread and most
likely would not have comprehended that the church would not be on
Mission
✤ We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
✤ Ed Stetzer suggests that “apostolic” in the original sense means
“sent”.
✤ If this is correct then the original meaning would be “We believe in
one united and sent church.”