Every once in a while, I have an opportunity to visit a more traditional church that incorporates liturgy including the early church creeds: the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed, etc. I appreciate those opportunities to be reminded of what the early church clung to as they reminded themselves of the essentials of the Christian faith. Nate Pickowicz, in his latest work, Christ and Creed does a remarkable job of helping the reader see how these creeds simply magnify (make known) what is true from Scripture. I highlighted several things while reading and have posted those notes below.
- The Bible is the Word of God. This one truth undergirds every component of the Christian life. The Bible is the scriptural revelation of truth from the mouth of God. Everything we are meant to know from God regarding the Christian faith has been given to us by God in the form of Holy Scripture. p. 7
- As we consider the use of creeds, it may be helpful to think through the value they provide for us as believers. After all, we are never commanded to use any specific creed, but we are commanded to align our understanding of God with his revealed truth. However, our historic creeds are valuable to us for several key reasons. p. 14
- Creeds Summarize Christian Truth Creeds Testify to What the Church has Always Believed Creeds Help Us Be Precise in How We Express Truth Creeds Help Us Guard Against Heresy and ErrorCreeds Unify Believers Who Share the Same Testimony p. 16
- One of the most universally recognized and accepted creeds in church history is no doubt what has come to be known as the Apostles’ Creed. For centuries, it has been recited widely, confessed boldly, and believed sincerely. J.I. Packer observes, ‘If life is a journey, then the millionword-long Holy Bible is the large-scale map with everything in it, and the hundred-word Apostles’ Creed…is the simplified road map.’1 Additionally, R.C. Sproul notes, ‘It boldly declares that there is truth that is foundational to life, a truth that cannot be compromised without the peril of falling into the abyss of meaninglessness.’ p. 19
