A Common Creed

 

February 4

 

Read Ephesians 4:4-7

There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

 

Reflect

What essential doctrines should all Christians hold as truth?

 

As Christians, there are definite doctrinal statements that we all need to agree with. After all, if you don’t believe what Christians believe, you aren’t a Christian. So what are the core beliefs that all Christians should agree on?

 

Here, Paul lists seven convictions that all Christians should have in common. First, the church is the body of Christ. We all became a member of this church body when we accepted Christ. Second, is that there is one Spirit, the Holy Spirit. We can be unified in the fact that all believers have the same Spirit living in us.

 

Third, we should be united in the hope that we have in common. The hope of Jesus’ return to make all that is wrong in the world right. To wipe away every tear from our eyes. That we will live with Him forever! This is our one great hope!

 

Fourth, we would not be worthy of the name “Christian” if we did not believe in Jesus Christ, who is our one Lord. We believe that He has authority over our lives and we are to obey Him.

 

Fifth, Paul mentions one faith. This faith is that Jesus was sent by the Father to die in our place for our sins, that He was resurrected, that He now lives in us through the Holy Spirit, and that He will one day return for us. Sixth, when we believe and accept this one faith, we are filled or “baptized” by the Holy Spirit at the moment of our conversion. Therefore, we all believe in “one baptism.”

 

Finally, there is one God, our Father. In a family of believers, God is the head and we are His children. But Paul also says that God the Father is over all, through all, and in all. Thus, He isn’t just the Father of the church, He is the Father of everything and everyone!

 

Friends, we may have differences of interpretation and we may put our beliefs into practice in different ways. But the core of what we believe as Christians is the same. There are essential Christian doctrines. If you don’t believe them, you aren’t a Christian. But if you do believe them, you are united with a body of fellow believers who are vastly different in just about everything else. The church is a diverse place but we have the most important thing in common-this confession of faith in Jesus Christ.

 

Pray

Lord, thank You for the unity Your church can find in our common belief in You. Help us to hold unswervingly to these core doctrines, even in face of adversity. Amen.