| The Apostles' Creed, Part 1: "I believe in God ..." |
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| Written by David Lawrence |
| Monday, October 17 2011 00:00 |
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The Apostles’ Creed affirms that we believe in God. The word indicates the being who exists in Himself, a Supreme Being, a Being who was not created but is the uncaused first cause of all things. Simple logic teaches us that “nothing comes from nothing” (nihil ex nihilo fit), and thus if there had ever been a time when nothing existed, nothing would exist today. Most people have a concept of God, and the reality of the concept (imagining a being greater than whom there is none) affirms the reality of God, for concept implies something to shape it, and the reality that formed it must be greater than the idea…so having that idea demands the reality of God. The argument is difficult to follow, but when one considers it carefully, it makes sense. St. Anselm presented that argument as what he called the ontological proof of God’s existence. There are other religions that believe in God. Jews believe in God, Muslims believe in God, Hindus claim that they really believe in one God, Buddhists believe in God, and so forth. In our belief in God we stand with other religions. This creed to that point unites us with all but atheists and agnostics who cannot conscientiously and deliberately confess faith in God. Thus no Christian can be a Christian without believing in God, although one can believe in God and not be a Christian. Further, Christians believe in one God, for Scripture teaches that there is but one God. This argument is made over and over again in the older Testament. “Hear, oh Israel, the Lord your God is one…” (Deut. 6:4) We shall see later that the Apostles’ Creed does not deny monotheism but affirms one God in three persons. Some groups, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, deny the Trinity, saying that one God cannot so exist. This argument is similarly made by the Muslims. As we move through this study of the Apostles’ Creed, we shall see a simple answer for this apparent dilemma. For now, we begin by standing firm in our faith that we believe in God. |
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