Mere Missions

36 • M ere M issions : M oving F orward to M ultiply

The Ecumenical Councils, as written in all four of the major Creeds when the church was one and undivided, confess that Jesus is Lord: • Apostles Creed (120-250 A.D.) – “I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord” • Nicene Creed (325 A.D.) – “We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ . . .” • Chalcedonian Creed (451 A.D.) – “One and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten . . .” • Athanasian Creed (500 A.D.) – “So likewise . . . the Son Lord” The Ancient Rule of Faith, “that which has always been believed, everywhere, and by all,” has faithfully affirmed that Jesus is Lord when heresy has attempted to shake and break this foundational confession of the Church. No matter how far back you go (always); what continent, country or island (everywhere); or what tribe, language or people (by all), the Church confesses that Jesus is Lord. What God Himself declares about Himself becomes the final matter whether one believes it or not for, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Num. 23.19). The Trinity has “made it good” by declaring Jesus is Lord: • God the Father Almighty, “has highly exalted him [Jesus] and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2.8-11).