The Historic Ecumenical Creeds Today
St. Paul Lutheran Church in Clarence Center, NY gives thanks for the historic ecumenical creeds of the Christian Church: the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. These creeds are not dusty religious artifacts or merely formal words from the past. They are faithful summaries of what Holy Scripture teaches about the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and they help Christians confess the faith clearly in every generation.
In the Book of Concord, Lutherans gladly receive these creeds because they bear witness to the faith once delivered to the saints. The creeds teach us that Christianity is not invented by each new age, congregation, pastor, or individual believer. Rather, the Church confesses the same Lord Jesus Christ who was crucified, died, buried, raised, ascended, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
The Apostles’ Creed and Daily Christian Faith
The Apostles’ Creed is especially helpful for daily use because it is brief, clear, and deeply rooted in the biblical story of salvation. Luther’s Small Catechism teaches the Creed in three articles: creation, redemption, and sanctification. In the First Article, Christians confess, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,” and learn to receive daily life as a gift from the Father’s goodness and mercy.
In the Second Article, the Catechism teaches us to confess Christ personally and joyfully. Luther writes that Jesus Christ “has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature,” not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood. This is why the Creed is not only doctrine for the mind, but comfort for the conscience. It teaches sinners to look away from themselves and to trust in Christ alone.
The Creed Guards the Gospel
The historic creeds protect the Church from confusion by keeping the central truths of the Christian faith before us. They confess who God is, who Christ is, what He has done, and what the Holy Spirit continues to give through the Church. In an age of spiritual uncertainty, the Creed gives Christians sturdy words for prayer, worship, teaching, and witness. Here are the words of the Apostle’s Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And 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 into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
For families in Clarence, East Amherst, Williamsville, Amherst, Lancaster, Lockport, and the Buffalo area, the Apostles’ Creed is a simple and powerful tool for household devotion. Parents can teach it to children, students can pray it before the day begins, and Christians of every age can return to it when faith feels weak. To confess the Creed daily is to remember that we belong to the Triune God who creates, redeems, sanctifies, and keeps us.
Confessing the Faith in Clarence Center, NY
At St. Paul Lutheran Church, the creeds are part of our lively liturgical life because they keep our worship centered on Christ and His gifts. When the congregation speaks the Creed together, we confess that our faith is not private opinion, but the shared confession of the whole Christian Church. If you are looking for a Lutheran church in Clarence, NY or a traditional church near Buffalo, we invite you to come and hear, learn, pray, and confess this faith with us.
