Hello Grace Family! It's time for our next Resource of the Month. First, a little background...

Did you know that one of the most important meetings to ever take place in the history of the world was happening exactly 1,700 years ago?

It began in May of AD 325, as over 200 church leaders from around the world gathered in the ancient city of Nicaea (now Iznik, Turkey), to discuss and settle questions about the divine nature of the Son.

Some, led by a man named Arius, believed that the Son was not coeternal with the Father. In their words, they believed there was a time when the Son did not exist.

Others condemned Arius' view as contrary to Scipture and incompatible with the full deity of the Son.

Both views could not coexist. So, church leaders assembled to settle the debate at what we now call the First Council of Nicaea.

From May through late July of AD 325, the leaders considered this and other important doctrinal questions. Their conclusions gave birth to the initial form of a document that we still use today. This document is known as the Nicene Creed.

According to pastor, scholar, and author Dr. Kevin DeYoung, "After the Bible, the Nicene Creed may be the most important Christian text ever written." Now 1,700 years after its first form, the Creed, along with DeYoung's new book introducing it, is our Resource of the Month.

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. 

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made;

who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; 

and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried;

and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, 

and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; 

and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. 

And we beleive in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets; 

and we believe in one catholic (universal) and apostolic church; 

we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; 

and we look for the resurrection of the dead, 

and the life of the world to come. Amen. 

This latest book by Kevin DeYoung commemorates the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea by providing an introduction to the Nicene Creed.

He identifies the most significant doctrinal debates addressed by the creed, including:

- What does it mean that the Son was begotten?

- How are the Father and Son of one substance?

- Why is it significant that the Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son?

- What does it mean that the church is catholic (universal) and apostolic?

- What is the relationship between baptism and the forgiveness of sins?  

DeYoung delves into each of these essential questions with precision and brevity (the entire book is only 85 pages long!). He lays out what was really at stake in the Arian controversy, and why it matters that Arius and his views were condemned as heretical. And perhaps most important of all, he shows us why Christians still need the Nicene Creed today.

Many of the battles which Nicaea and the other Councils fought and won have resurfaced in the modern day. Orthodox (biblical) Christianity is constantly under attack. Pehaps now more than ever, Christians need to know not only what they believe, but why they believe it, and––historically speaking––how we came to believe it. We need to know that our faith is deeply rooted in scripture, time-tested through two millenia, intensely studied and scrutinized, and able to be defended. We need to know that our faith is true. 

The historic Creeds and books like this one can help us!

There is a sample copy of the book available on the Resource Wall in the Foyer at Grace. I encourage you to take a look on Sunday, and consider ordering a copy for yourself. Better yet, order two, and invite a friend to read and discuss it with you. See what the Nicene Creed can teach you about our own history, and most of all, about the biblical truth concerning our glorious Triune God. 

I would love to hear from you! What Christian resources are helping you follow Jesus right now? 

Email me: tom@gracestamford.org

Thank you for reading the Resource of the Month email! If you have any questions about these resources, please reach out. Look for our next recommended resource in a few weeks.

Sincerely, your brother in Christ,

Tom Hansen, Senior Pastor