Creator or Created

 July 30, 2021

Sometimes what is said can mask what is implied, causing us to miss the most important fact. The Apostles’ Creed begins, “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.” This opening statement identifies which God we believe in—Father Almighty, the Creator. Then is identified the second subject of our faith: “Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.” The statement about God the Father and that about Jesus Christ are separated from each other by the words “Maker of heaven and earth,”  which serves to inform us that Jesus Christ, though human, is not part of creation, but separate and distinct from it.

The early Church struggled to describe what the apostles had experienced in Jesus Christ. They knew he was a man, but also more than a man. One of the early heresies is called Arianism, named after Arius, a priest who taught that Jesus was created, that is, part of creation and therefore not eternally one with the Father. In other words, he may have been the first and best of creation, but he was less than God. This, the Creed denies by declaring faith in Jesus Christ alongside faith in the Father.

We owe much to the heretics. They weren’t necessarily deliberately distorting Christian faith, but in their attempt to explain what the Bible teaches, helped the Church sharpen the precision of our language as others reflected on what they said. The result was that through the teaching of what would eventually be declared heresy, the Church would sharpen its language and understanding, discarding teaching that was deemed close, but not quite there. 

A lot is at stake. What we believe about Jesus determines how we understand salvation. It isn’t mere academics; scholars arguing about inane and arcane but pointless fine points of doctrine. If for example, Jesus is created, he is at most, the best human being that ever lived. But if that’s all, his death on the cross is insufficient to save anyone, and we are ultimately left to our own devices. Grace is gutted; we are pretty much on our own. 

The Creed stands as a beacon, declaring Christ’s distinction from creation and therefore, his divinity, and ultimately, his ability to save us from our sins. For this, I am grateful tonight.