The Nicene Creed: belief, faith, and divine authority for modern teens

Nicene Creed

Good morning everyone and welcome to our Sunday school class for this week. We will continue our discussion of the Nicene Creed, its general meaning, and what it means for teens today. The three parts of the Nicene Creed that today's lesson will explore in depth are: 1) I believe, 2) in one God the Father, and 3) Maker of Heaven and Earth. These concepts will be illustrated with relevant Bible verses, comments from contemporary theologian Ravi Zachairas, and the lesson will also explore cultural challenges and skepticism.

I Believe

The concept of believing is the foundation of the Nicene Creed. However, the actual meaning of what is means to believe is elusive. The book of Hebrews illustrates the meaning of believe. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (11:6). It follows that believing is synonymous with having faith in God.

With this is mind, an understanding of what faith is needs to be examined. Faith can generally take on one of two meanings. It can mean what is believed or how a certain concept is believed. It follows that as a believer, one must understand what she believes and then have faith in that being. For example, based on the Hebrews' scripture, a Christian must "believe that God is -- " in other words, know who He is, what he stands for, and what a relationship with Him means. The second part of belief is the actual act of believing or committing. Based on the Hebrew's scripture above, "…believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him." Therefore, a believer knows that a relationship with God is activated through her commitment to Him and what He represents.

Richard Dawkins, an Oxford professor, is a cultural example of the skepticism regarding belief in God. Dawkins wrote, "There is no reason for believing that any sort of god exits." On the other hand, Ravi Zacharais, a contemporary theologian, commented regarding the power of God, "When someone denies the existence of God, what are they affirming in its place?" In other words, that if someone does not believe in God such a void will exist in the person's life that something will have to take its place. The contrast between Dawkins and Zacharias demonstrates the skepticism that Christian believers are routinely confronted with.

2. In One God the Father

The doctrine of the Nicene Creed establishes a belief in one God the Father who is Divine and perfect. To say that God's character is Divine means perfection that is centered on God's power, His knowledge, and His goodness. Humans, who are not perfect, are able to connect to someone who is perfect and this completes human imperfections. This is one of the reasons that believing that God is Divine is extremely important.

To understand that God is Divine, one must understand what Divine means. It is helpful to describe God's Divinity in terms of what Divinity is and who is the Divine God actually is. As mentioned previously, Divinity is another way of describing perfection. Something that is divine is able to do all and be all. In describing Divinity in terms of who God is, God is Divine because He has perfect power, perfect knowledge, and perfect goodness. He is without flaws.

Who is the Divine God? In the next section, the lesson will cover that God is the Maker of heaven and earth. He is described in Genesis 1:1 as the Creator, in Genesis 18:25 as the Judge, and in Psalms 23:1 as the Shepherd. What this means is that the Divine God is the Maker of all, the Judge of all, and the Shepherd of all. For a believer, a Divine God serves dual roles in one's life the Judge of His creation, but also as the One who leads and protects them when they seek Him. Ravi Zacharias's comment from the previous section also illustrates the Divinity of God. For example, it supports that a lack of God's divinity in someone's life, because he is represents essential components of a person's existence, will leave a void that must be filled by something else.

5. Conclusion: What This Means for Teens Today

As teens, peer pressure is a powerful phenomenon and moreover today's world especially for teens and youth, glamorizes many of the actions that the Bible warns against. If confronted with the "Richard Dawkins" of the world who believe that there is no reason for believing that God exists, keep in mind that God is Divine perfection while the world is not. A world that does not know Him and believe in Him cannot know and believe in His Power.