The Word and The World

I Believe in God…

“I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth…”

Sometimes it is difficult for us to realize the power and the meaning our words convey. A prime example is the first several words at the beginning of the Apostle’s Creed. So, it is fitting that we begin our study of the rule of faith with these words at its beginning.

To say we believe is very special. It implies that we have complete faith and trust in the object of our belief. That faith and trust is acceptance of the truth that is found in the object of our belief. In this creed, we identify the object of belief in the first sentence. We believe in God, not just a god, but God almighty who created the heavens and the earth.

We acknowledge as true and absolutely correct God’s work in creating the heavens and the earth. This does not mean an acceptance of creation from nothingness, although many Christians do believe this. Instead, what the creed acknowledges is that however, the world came in to being; evolution, big bang, or creationism, God was the ultimate instigator of creation, responsible for all that is, was, and will ever be.

This is the same God who identified himself to Moses as: “I AM.” This is the same God who led the people of Israel out of Egypt and promised Abraham descendants ‘more numerous than all the stars in the heavens.’

When we identify God as “Father,” this identification has very little to do with gender and more to do with Creation. With this statement we join ourselves to every Jew, Christian, and Muslim on the face of the planet. For we all believe in one God, who is above all other gods. This central belief is a part of what makes this creed an ecumenical creed.

Only Christianity accepts the doctrine of the Trinity. With this sentence we acknowledge both the oneness of God and the belief that God has been revealed to us in the person of the Almighty Father, Creator of all. This is the God that Moses, Jacob, Abraham and all of Israel were so familiar with. This is God who led the people out of Egypt to the Promised Land. And this is God whom Jesus called: “Abba.” This is the object of our belief and the first subject of the Rule of Faith, the Apostle’s Creed.

Almighty God, Creator of all that is, was, and will be, we come to you, believing in your love, your work and your wisdom. Help us this day to solidify our beliefs and our trust in you. This we ask in the name of Christ. Amen.

Podcast will be available soon!!!