Wednesday 28 February 2018

Recovering the Creed of Chalcedon (451)

The Creed of Chalcedon (451)

Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the fathers has handed down to us.

This creed is basically summarised in the eight chapter of The Westminster Confession of Faith called "Of Christ the Mediator". This creed and the statement in this Confession (8 heading are given) are in urgent need of being revisited. There is nothing new under the sun and current winds of doctrine, not least regarding teachings on the eternal subordination of the Son of God need to be refuted.

If people return to the Creeds, such as The Apostles', Nicene, Athanasian, and Chalcedon, it would save the church much harm and perhaps wasted energy answered new teachings. May you be blessed as you study these Creeds alongside the Bible.

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