The Nicene Creed is the most widely accepted and used brief statements of the Christian Faith. In liturgical churches, it is said every Sunday as part of the Liturgy. It is Common Ground to East Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Calvinists, and many other Christian groups. Many groups that do not have a tradition of using it in their services nevertheless are committed to the doctrines it teaches. It is given below.

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We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Tags: church, god, heaven, holy, jesus christ, mary, Prayers, virgin mary

I Believe…
That just because two people argue,doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue,doesn’t mean they do love each other.

I Believe…
That we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I Believe…
That no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe…
That true friendship continues to grow, even the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I Believe….
That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe…
That it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I Believe…
That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe…
That you can keep going long after you think you can’t.

I Believe…
That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe…
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe…
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe…
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe…
That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe…
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe…
That sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe…
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

I Believe…
That it isn’t always enough,to be forgiven by others.Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe…
That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.

I Believe…
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,but, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe…
That you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe…
Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I Believe…
That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you.

I Believe…
That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you – you will find the strength to help.

I Believe…
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe…
That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I Believe…
The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the most of everything.

Tags: god, love, thoughts

1. A follower of Christ looks for complete satisfaction in heaven. The comfort or peace we have in this life comes from our hope of reward in the next. So if we mourn in this life, if we hunger and thirst, if we are lowly, if we are merciful, if we do not fight, if we endure persecution-in other words, if we do not find complete satisfaction in this life-we have hope for resolution in the hereafter. That’s why faith is an essential part of being a Christian; you are hoping in something that has not yet come. (Matthew 5:1-11)

2. A follower of Christ influences the world around them. Specifically, Jesus said that we are to be salt (a preservative) and light (guidance). Those that expect Christians to bury their heads in the sand or hide their beliefs beneath the floorboards have a fundamental misunderstanding of our calling. (Matthew 5:17-20)

3. A follower of Christ doesn’t indulge in anger, lust, divorce, lying or retaliation. In fact, Jesus specifically says that we are to love those that do wrong to us. He even goes so far as to say that if someone tries to misuse us, we are to offer them more. Remember, Jesus himself was falsely accused and put to death for doing nothing wrong. (Matthew 5:21-48)

4. A follower of Christ is not a hypocrite. We are to give to those in need and pray often, but we should do so without calling attention to ourselves. Anyone giving, praying or fasting in such a way that draws attention to themselves would be like a Pharisee, the group of people that Jesus spoke out against most harshly. (Matthew 6:1-18)

5. A follower of Christ does not serve money. This goes back to the idea that our hope is not found in this life. Whatever holds value for us holds our heart. If that value is in our bank account, our hope is placed in the fragile hands of a bank or an earthly institution. Anyone who values money more than people is not following Christ in that regard. (Matthew 6:19-24)

6. A follower of Christ is not consumed by worry. This is overlooked by many who claim to follow Christ. Jesus rebuked his disciples for being afraid in a boat on the stormy seas. If our hope is found in something beyond this life, we should not be shaken no matter the circumstances. This is referred to in other parts of scripture as peace that passes all understanding. (Matthew 6:25-34)

7. A follower of Christ deals with problems in his own life before trying to deal with other people’s problems. Far too many people try to pass judgement on someone else while being blind to their own sins. Deal with your own demons before trying to cast them out of someone else. (Matthew 7:1-6)

8. A follower of Christ trusts in and depends on him. The theme of future hope resurfaces near the end of the sermon. The promise of good to come helps us endure what may be a not-so-good present. (Matthew 7:7-11)

9. A follower of Christ treats people the way he would want to be treated. Some have called this the Golden Rule. It could best be summarized as the climax of the sermon; in fact, Jesus himself says that this simple rule encapsulates all of the Law and the Prophets. Interestingly enough, he follows up the Golden Rule by reminding us that it is a path that few take; but it does lead to life. (Matthew 7:12-13)

10. A follower of Christ is genuine and discerning. Jesus warned about people who would claim to represent him but didn’t actually live as a follower of Christ; he called them ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing. He makes the chilling statement than not all who wear the Christian name tag are actually on the guest list. Further evidence that one of the things Jesus hated most was hypocrisy. (Matthew 7:15-27)

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Jesus concludes the sermon with a poignant story about two men: one who built his house on a rock, the other who built on sand. When the storm came, the house with no solid foundation was washed away. I couldn’t think of a better illustration to convey the purpose of this sermon. These principles are foundational; they shape who I am and how I live my life. I’d be fine without them, just as the man who built on the sand probably had some really good days showing off his beach front property; but when the storms come-and they will come-it is the solid foundation that keeps me from being swept away.

Some will argue that people have done terrible things in the name of Christ. And while it is true that people wearing the name tag have committed unspeakable acts, they did so in violation of the clear and basic principles he taught. The selfless, sacrificial message of Jesus stands in stark contrast to the dark, violent actions of those do not truly follow him.

Tags: christians, god, heaven, jesus, love, thoughts