August 24, 2025

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TEXT: The Nicene Creed

TOPIC: The historic creed and what it means

SERMON SUMMARY:

Standing in Faith: The Power of the Nicene Creed

Father Jose delivered a compelling message about the profound significance of the Nicene Creed, challenging congregants to understand the weight of the words we speak each Sunday.

The Creed as Our Altar Call

Drawing inspiration from Martin Luther's courageous stand—"Here I stand. This is my faith"—Father Jose explained how the reformer's commitment to Scripture alone (sola scriptura) and salvation by faith alone through Christ connects to our weekly recitation of the creed. In liturgical churches, the creed serves as our "altar call"—a moment when we publicly declare our beliefs before God and community.

The Bible is filled with what Father Jose calls "creedal statements," including Paul's declaration in Ephesians 4:4-6 about "one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all."

The Cost of True Belief

Father Jose shared a sobering truth from his studies: early Christians who first said "credo" (I believe) did so "at risk of their lives under severe persecution." He emphasized that genuine faith requires more than intellectual assent—it demands the willingness to suffer and even die for what we profess.

This challenges our modern understanding of belief. In Greek, faith is a verb requiring action, not merely a noun representing thought. When we say "I believe," we're committing to live according to that belief, not just think it.

One God, Infinite Implications

The opening phrase "We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty" carries profound personal significance. Father Jose asked: "If God is my father and he is almighty, what do I have to be afraid of?" This Almighty Father who created and sustains all things—visible and invisible—is the same God who answers our prayers with both willingness and power.

The sermon concluded with an invitation to approach the creed with "conviction and knowledge," understanding that our weekly declaration connects us to centuries of faithful believers who staked their lives on these same truths.