The coming of the long-awaited Christ into the world was a revelation unlike any other, the unveiling on God’s plan of redemption by the life, death, and resurrection of the Son of God. As the good news of God’s love and mercy for sinful human beings swept the ancient world, new questions arose concerning Jesus’s nature as the Son of God, and what kind of relationship He had to God the Father. None disputed that the Son of God was a divine being. But was the Son of God a created being? Was the Son of God similar to God the Father, or were they one being, the same Holy God? Was salvation earned by imitating Jesus Christ, or was it a gift given by Jesus Christ? In 325AD church leaders gathered to provide clear answers to these questions, resulting in the Nicene Creed. Built on the Rule of Faith established by the apostles, Nicaea affirmed and clarified the Trinitarian faith given in the Scriptures: We worship one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

This year marks the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed, and in our season of Advent we will reflect on this powerful statement concerning the incarnation of the Son of God. In Jesus Christ we see God the Son, of one being with God the Father, who took on human flesh and became man for us and for our salvation. Together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, we worship and give glory to Him.

Special thanks to Josh Swartwood for the sermon series artwork!