What is it that you believe about God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit? Can you put it into words?

Throughout the history of the church, Christians have struggled to keep the main thing the main thing, which is the unity of the Trinity. In 325 A.D. the church leaders got together to answer this question. At the Council of Nicaea, the Bible was canonized and a creed was written to verbalize our faith. It is known as the Nicene Creed:

I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not created, of one essence with the Father through Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; And He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father; And He will come again with glory to judge the living and dead. His kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets.

In one, holy, catholic [worldwide], and apostolic Church.

I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come.

Amen.

The leaders of that council agreed that all who believed and lived by this creed were members of the body of Christ, the Church. If we were to use a target as an illustration, this creed would be the bulls-eye. Is it necessary to know this creed by memory? No. Would it be beneficial? I think so, just to be able to articulate what it is that we believe.

Abba, knowing what I believe is one thing; being able to verbalize what I believe is quite another. Help me to learn this creed, to plumb its depths, and to stake my life on its truth. Amen.