Unity in the Church is desperately needed. Charismatics draw dividing lines with the Gifts of the Spirit. Calvinists separate believers through TULIP and double predestination. There are many other lines of division throughout the Church as well.
It’s easier to focus on our differences than our similarities. Yes, vast differences exist between a high-church Anglican from Boston and a tongue-talking Pentecostal worshiper in Appalachia.
Where do we all agree?
I suggest that we all agree on the Creeds.
Here are the three primary creeds for your edification, exhortation, and comfort. Let’s focus on these to promote unity in the Church.
Unity In The Church (The Apostle’s Creed)
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day, he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Unity In The Church (Nicene Creed)
NICENE CREED
We believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
begotten from the Father before all ages,
God from God,
Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made;
of the same essence as the Father.
Through him, all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and was made human.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered and was buried.
On the third day, he rose again, according to the Scriptures.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again with glory
to judge the living and the dead.
His kingdom will never end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life.
He proceeds from the Father and the Son,
and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
He spoke through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
and to life in the world to come. Amen.
Unity In The Church (Athanasian Creed)
Athanasian Creed
Whosoever will be saved , before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith
except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
And the Catholic Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither
confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of
the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost, is all one, the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and
such is the Holy Ghost.
The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the
Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and
the Holy Ghost eternal.
And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal. As also, there are not three incomprehensibles, nor
three uncreated, but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.
So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are
not three Almighties, but one Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods, but
one God. So likewise, the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three
Lords, but one Lord.
Is, Begotten, Proceeding
For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be both
God and Lord, So are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion to say, There be three Gods, or three
Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone, not
made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son, neither made, nor
created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy
Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other; none is greater, or less than another; But the
whole three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity
in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved is must think
thus of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our
Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man
of the substance of his Mother, born in the world; Perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul
and human flesh subsisting.
Unity of Person
Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father, as touching his manhood;
Who, although he be God and Man, yet he is not two, but one Christ; One, not by conversion of the
Godhead into flesh but by taking of the Manhood into God; One altogether; not by confusion of
Substance, but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is
one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead.
He ascended into heaven, he sitteth at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence he will
come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies and
shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and
they that have done evil into everlasting fire.
This is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.
*************************************
I trust that these creeds will help promote unity in your life.
Here are some bible verses about the Name of Jesus. Enjoy!