ARTICLE 1
"I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH"
We begin our profession of faith with God because we believe that He is the first and the last, the beginning and the end of everything. Our Credo begins with God the Father because He is the first divine person of the Holy Trinity. The creed starts with the creation of heaven and earth, because it is the beginning and foundation of all God's works.
The whole creed speaks of God. Every article is dependent on the first one, and these articles help us get to know God better as he progressively revealed himself to men.
Our belief in God's oneness can not be separated from our belief that He does exist. God is unique; therefore there is only one God. We believe that God is one in nature, substance, and essence. God revealed himself as the only one to his chosen people, the Israelites. Through the prophets, God calls Israel to turn to Him, the one and only God. When Jesus was preaching, he said that God is "the one Lord" that we must love with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our might, and with all our strength. He also said that he himself is "the Lord." This doesn't contradict to our belief that there is only one God because we firmly believe that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, though three persons, are one in essence, substance, and nature.
A name expresses one's essence, identity, and the meaning of the person's life. It is that which distinguishes him from other persons. When one reveals his name, he reveals his identity; he wanted to make himself known to others.
God revealed Himself to the Israelites by revealing his name. Though he used different names, there is one that proved to be the fundamental one for both the Old and the New Covenants. It was the revelation of the divine name to Moses on Mount Sinai.
In revealing his mysterious name, YHWH ("I Am Who Is"), God says who he is and by what name he is to be called. Through this name, God revealed his lordship over history in His saving and liberating presence-past, present, and future.
Out of respect for the holiness of God, the people of Israel do not pronounce His name. The revealed name is replaced by the divine title "Lord" (in Hebrew Adonai, in Greek Kyrios). The divinity of Jesus will be acclaimed under this title: "Jesus is Lord."
The divine name "I Am" or "He is" expresses God's faithfulness despite of the faithlessness of men's sins and the punishment it deserves, he keeps "steadfast love for the thousands." By giving up His Son for us, God lets us know that he is rich in mercy. And by giving up his life to free us from our sins, with his own free will, Jesus reveals that he Himself bears the divine name: "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will realize that 'I Am'."
The revelation of the indescribable name "I Am Who Am," contains the truth that God alone IS. God is the fullness of Being and of every perfection, without origin and without end.
God revealed himself to Israel as the one who is abundant in steadfast love and faithfulness. In all his works God does not only show his kindness, goodness, grace, and steadfast love, but also his trustworthiness, constancy, faithfulness, and truth.
God is truth. This is why one can abandon oneself and trust in the truth and faithfulness of his word in all things. The beginning of sin and of man's fall was because of the lie of the tempter who induced doubt of God's word, kindness, and faithfulness.
God's truth is his wisdom. God, who alone made heaven and earth, can alone impart true knowledge of every created thing in relation to himself.
God is love. It was because of God's unconditional love that he revealed himself to the Israelites. It was the sole motive why God chose this group of people as his special possession. It was out of love that God never stopped saving them and pardoning their unfaithfulness and sins.
God's love for Israel is compared to a father's love for his son. His love for his people is stronger than a mother's for her children. God loves his people more than a bridegroom his beloved. God loves his people so much that he gave up his only begotten Son to save his people from sin. God's love is everlasting. God's very being is love.
Believing in God, the only One, and loving him with all our being has enormous consequences for our whole life. It means coming to know God's greatness and majesty. It means living in thanksgiving. It means knowing the unity and true dignity of all men. It means making good use of all created things. It means trusting God in every circumstance.
All Rights Reserved ©2000 by Think Quest Team C005729