| The Apostles' Creed, Part 16: Why So Much about Jesus (II) |
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| Written by David Lawrence |
| Monday, January 30 2012 00:00 |
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Why does the Apostles’ Creed devote so many more words to a description of Christ than to the other persons of the Trinity or other great truths that Christians believe? The answer lies in the fact that Jesus defines the faith and moves it into a dimension and realm entirely different and distinct from every other so-called religion. And there were many of them competing with Christianity in the early days of the church, as there are today in our world. The person and work of Jesus became the subject of the seven great ecumenical (world-wide) councils that were held from 325 until the eighth century (787). The Apostles’ Creed precedes the great Christological controversies that started about two hundred years later. Between the time of the beginning of the church and the first ecumenical council there existed confusion about Christ, the Bible, the church, and other significant aspects of the faith. Although the Apostles’ Creed is absolutely correct in all it says, Christian scholars found themselves confronted with questions about Christ that demanded considerable study, prayer, and meditation. It began when a church leader in Egypt named Arius latched on to the statement in Psalm 2 that says “thou art my Son; today have I begotten thee,” and proclaimed that there was a time when the Son was not. He was saying that Jesus was a created being, therefore less than God. If Jesus is not divine and not God, then how could He pay the price for our sin and redeem His people? The first ecumenical council met at Nicaea in 325 and defined Christ as God and denied Arius’ position. The second council in 381 actually composed the important Nicene Creed that states very well that Jesus is eternally begotten and not made and is true God. The following five councils further defined the nature of Christ as revealed in the context of the entire Bible. There were those who thought that Jesus was really God, but His human nature was subordinate or even an illusion. Others believed that His human nature should be emphasized more, and some asserted that the two natures of Christ demanded two persons. Then there was concern over whether He had two wills or not. The ultimate statement really came in the fourth ecumenical council held at Chalcedon in 451 and was expressed in the Definition of Chalcedon: that Jesus is completely God and completely human in one person. As God He could live apart from sin, fulfill every demand of the law perfectly, and offer an acceptable sacrifice to God the Father to satisfy His holy justice. As man he could rectify the failures of the man Adam. Man sinned; man must suffer for sin; man must keep the law and satisfy God’s justice. Man must stand before the holy God perfect to enjoy His blessings and eternal favor. Only the God-man Jesus Christ could do that. Yes it is important what we believe about Jesus Christ. The salvation of souls lay in the balance. We should thank God for the indefatigable efforts of early Christian theologians who have handed to us an understanding of Christ that is simple, Biblical, and necessary: that Jesus is both totally God and man in one person! |
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