THE CHRISTIAN’S CREED

By Charles N. Spence, Jr.

“Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). This is the only article contained in the Christian’s creed. For upon this very principle the church was founded. Faith in Jesus Christ as the true Messiah and obedience to Him as our lawgiver and king is the only test of Christian character. In addition, it is the only bond of Christian communion and cooperation as contrasted with all creeds, opinions, doctrines and traditions of men.

Outside of the word of God, one could not know intimately Jesus. Yet, without a relationship with Jesus, one would be without a confession of faith much like that given by Peter and even the eunuch in Acts 8:37. Without a confession of faith, there would be no basis for remission of sins. This is especially true since baptism has as a prerequisite belief in and confession of Jesus as the Christ and Lord of all mankind (Rom. 10:9-10). Although there is no harm in proclaiming one’s faith in Jesus as the Christ, whether by tongue or by letter, there can be harm in publishing such for the purpose of binding upon a sect a system of religion. For it must remain as once stated concerning the disciples of Jesus throughout the ages, “They take the Bible, the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible.”

As stated in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, I believe all Scripture is God breathed “and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped unto every good work.” Plainly speaking, I believe in the alone sufficiency and the all sufficiency of the Scriptures. The are the divine revelation of God concerning His will for man. Contained within the Scriptures are words for the salvation of man (Acts 11:14; 1 Tim. 4:16). Aside from the Scriptures, there is no rule of faith and practice. Since faith in Jesus is a true test of Christianity, we must go to the Bible to find that faith clearly defined therein. With that in mind, “What book should the church be guided by?” Paul said that Christ is the head of the church and Savior of the body (Eph. 5:23). In Colossians 1:18 Paul says, “He is the head of the body, the church, Who is the beginning the first born from the dead, that in all things he might have preeminence.” Jesus as head speaks through no other book. Therefore, the answer is obvious. We must follow the Bible.

During the period of the reformation, the Protestants’ position was that the Bible was a book that would guide them in response to the question at that time, “An infallible church of an infallible book?” Yet, from Protestantism came various, creeds, confessions, and published dogmas. When we say as Christians, the Bible is our creed, we say this with the uninspired, human compositions, written for the preservation of faith and government of the church in mind.

Getting back to Jesus as head, if for no other reason, one should take the bible without the accompaniment of published doctrines of men because in it contains the words of Jesus. It is through the Bible that the head speaks. He speaks through nothing else. The apostles and prophets referred to nothing else as the foundation of our faith. Someone once said that Christians maintained that the original creed of Christianity contained but a single article. “Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God.” In addition, all doctrinal tests but this should be abandoned. This was the basis for establishing the church of Christ in Jerusalem, Ephesus, Corinth, Antioch, Philippi, Berea, Philadelphia, and in every other place where the inspired apostles preached. This was sufficient then and should be sufficient now.

When people allow themselves to submit to the doctrines of men to the point of being governed by them, the Bible then becomes destitute of divine authority. Jesus said after His Resurrection, “All authority has been given unto Me” (Matt. 28:18). On that basis, He told His disciples to make disciples and teach disciples (Matt. 28:19-20). Jesus had many things that He wanted to tell His disciples. However, as John 16:12, they could not bear them at that time. Yet, a time would come when they could. When that time came, they were given a comforter who would guide them into all the truth (John 16:13-14). The Spirit did not speak on His own authority, but the authority of Jesus. In Acts chapters 2-4, we see the apostles carrying out the authorized mission of the Lord. From Jerusalem unto the uttermost parts of the world, the word of the Lord was established and published (Rom. 10:17-18). The word became the guide for all who would come to Christ. Its sufficiency was carried through the ages and will usher in eternity. The word will be waiting for us in judgment (John 12:48). Those who did not heed it or embrace it as the only standard of faith will be condemned by it. All must receive Christ’s revealed words alone. For they alone can satisfy the spiritual appetites of man. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).

Let us continue to follow the doctrine of Christ as is found in the Word. It alone is sufficient to make us everything we need to be in order to please God. Let us do away with the creeds of man, and be happy with that which has come to us from God, “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.”