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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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ECCLESIASTICAL
VIEW OF THE CHURCH: DOCTRINAL
STATEMENT (1Ti 3:16) 11/25/12 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. DEFINITION OF CREED OR DOCTRINAL
STATEMENT A. Creed 1. The English word “creed” comes from the
Latin “credere” which means to believe or trust.” It primarily pertains to
particular religious beliefs. 2. In fact, the word “credo” means, “I
believe” and is the beginning word of each paragraph in the “Apostle’s
Creed,” (“I believe…”). In some cases, these were repeated audibly and
regularly by the Congregation. 3. Sometimes creeds were called “Confessions,” not
apologizing for what was believed of course, but formal statements of
essential beliefs of what a person or church professed to believe. 4. Later, creeds were
sometimes officially called, “Articles of Religion,” or “Articles of
Faith.” 5. A “catechism” is a manual for teaching on
the churches beliefs, which historically included questions and answers as
formulaic statements of faith. B. Doctrinal Statement 1. A Doctrinal Statement is in keeping with
Creeds, Confessions, and Articles of Faith but is the contemporary term for a
brief position statement on doctrine and beliefs. 2. Sometimes these are very brief bullet points
either to simplify the main doctrinal issues or else not to over burden those
not interested in doctrinal differences. 3. In more contemporary terms it is also stated as, “What We Believe.” II. BIBLICAL AND HISTORICAL CHRISTIAN CREEDS A. Apostolic Kerygma 1. The Greek noun kêryma means the
act of preaching or proclaiming (verb kêrussō - to preach or proclaim).
But it also contains another emphatic meaning
referring to the content of a particular message or doctrine proclaimed. 2. In other words, the NT distinctly reveals
the apostolic kerygma which was the content of the apostolic message
and doctrine (“the message preached” - tou kêrugmatos- 1Co 1:21; 2:4). 3. It was a mystery hidden by God but
revealed through the apostles’ message and doctrine (Ro 16:25; Tit 1:3). 4. It is the message and doctrine of the
gospel which brings salvation to those who believe (1Co 1:21). 5. It was particularly the message and
doctrine of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1Co 15:1-4).
It was a message and doctrine that was particularly “delivered” (paradi,dōmi - hand down, entrust, passed down as a
tradition) to the
churches as “first importance” (prōtos - first, foremost, chief in
importance). 1Co 15:3-7 is thought by some scholars
as a creed of the early church which was passed down by verbal citation and
memorization. 6. The kerygma was the divinely
sanctioned, scripturally based, and apostolically proclaimed doctrinal statement
of the early church. B. Biblical Creeds 1. Dt 6:4 - Shema Yisrael a) This was Israel’s initial creedal prayer
depicting the Jewish monotheistic view of God. b) It was to be taught
(Dt 6:7) and recited twice a day. The prayer liturgy consists of three
portions, Dt 6:4-9; 11:13-21; and Nu 15:37-41. 2. 1Ti 3:16 - Mystery of Godliness a) This verse contains part of an early
church hymn that represented a creed for the early church. b) It was by “common confession” (homologoume,nōs - all agree, in the judgment of all) and represented as the accepted
doctrinal belief. c) It emphasized Christ’s deity (cp. Jn
1:1), humanity (cp. Jn 1:14), messiahship (cp. Mt 3:16-17 cp. Jn 1:32-33),
proclamation, and ascension. 3. Php 2:6-11 - Pre-Pauline Hymn a) This was believed
to be a pre-Pauline hymn and creed of the Person of Christ. 4. 1Jn 4:2 - Test of Spirits a) This was given to
be a creedal test of doctrine and faith. C. Historical Christian Creeds 1. 2nd Cent. - The Rule of Faith 2. 3rd Cent - The Apostle’s Creed 3. 325 A.D. - The Nicene Creed 4. 451 A.D. - Confession of Chaledon 5. 5th Cent. - Athanasian Creed 6. 529 A.D. - The Councils of Orange 7. 1517 - 95 Theses of Martin Luther 8. 1563 A.D. - The Heidelberg Catechism 9. 1646 A.D. - The Westminster Confession of
Faith 10. 1978 - The Chicago Statement on
Biblical Inerrancy 11. 1982 - GBC Statement of Faith III. PURPOSES FOR DOCTRINAL STATEMENTS A. To Understand God and His Word 1. A church’s Doctrinal Statement is not just
a spiritual “bio” of a church, but a necessary exercise in doctrinal
discernment by the church. It answers the question, “Why do you believe what
you believe?” The historical creeds of orthodox Christianity have been a
major aid to the church’s pursuit of doctrinal purity. 2. The various creeds of
Christendom have aided the Christian church in the formulation of their faith
through the centuries. They are not the Bible. They are systematic
commentaries on Biblical Doctrines contained in the Bible. They are not
authoritative unless they truly represent the teachings of sacred Scripture.
Any teaching which is orthodox concerning the Sacred
Scriptures should be heeded by all for all time. (Dr. C. Matthew
McMahon, Are Confessions and Creeds Necessary) B. To Let Others Know What You Believe 1. A church’s Doctrinal Statement also
explains their faith and teaches doctrine to others. 2. In other words, it is impossible to
explain your faith without saying something about what you believe. The
moment someone says, “I love Jesus”, and then
someone asks, “Jesus who?” you have to explain what you mean. That
explanation is a creed or confession of sorts. It says something about what
you believe the Bible to say. When someone says, “I hold to such and such a
creed or confession,” all that means is the confession or creed they hold to
explains what they believe in a better way than they could explain it. But it is impossible to be a Christian and not have a
creed or confession of some kind. Everyone has a creed whether they like it or not. (ibid.) C. To Defend Against False Teaching 1. A church’s Doctrinal Statement not only
teaches doctrine, but plays its part in refuting
false teaching which is always attempting to compromise the church’s message. 2. Most of the creeds were born out of a
time of turmoil fighting against heresies prevalent in the day. They helped
define what was orthodox and true, and condemned what was heretical and
false. Even many of the early church hymns were written
to teach Christians true doctrine; and I know of very few people who would
throw away the hymns of worship, as they would a creed of the church. The
Christian church has been, through church history, a creedal church. We
continue to define what the Bible says in order to combat heresy and teach
one another the truth set forth by God in the Bible. (ibid.) D. To Certify Belief and Membership 1. A church’s Doctrinal Statement allows
those of like beliefs to gather together in
likeminded worship and service. 2. Agreement to a church’s Doctrinal
Statement assures the continuance of doctrinal purity and growth in the body. |
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