Jean 1:49

Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel

The earliest creed

Remarkable as not being formulated by an ecumenical council, a]earned rabbi, a matured and educated Christian, but by a simple guileless Jew who had only his Old Testament to learn from, and at his first interview with Christ.

Acquaintance with the Bible and communion with Christ the best qualifications for a creed maker. Would that all had learned this--would that all would learn it. Concerning this creed, notice

I. Its BREVITY. Compare it with its successors: the Apostles, the Nicene, the Athanasian, and the more modern Confessions of particular Churches: each adding something to its predecessor, until the mind is burdened and confused by the multiplicity of propositions.

1. This growth is accounted for by the rise of successive heresies against whose denials or affirmations the Church has protected itself by successive negative or positive articles.

2. This growth is only an expansion of and deduction from the primitive statement: an evolution of what has been involved in germ.

3. This growth has not always been a safeguard against the errors condemned. Churches with the most elaborate creeds have widely departed from the truth.

4. This growth adds nothing to the saving power of the simple confession of the text. All who with guileless heart profess Christ in the words of Nathanael will without doubt be saved everlastingly.

II. ITS SUFFICIENCY.

1. Rabbi. Christ is the Supreme Teacher.

(1) Inspiring prophets and apostles.

(2) Imparting instruction personally. His teaching is simple, profound, beautiful, vivifying.

(3) Giving the Spirit of Truth to guide into all truth.

2. Son of God who became the Son of man to redeem.

(1) His Divinity.

(2) His Atonement.

(3) His brotherly sympathy.

3. King of Israel.

(1) To reign.

(2) To rule.

(3) To conquer.

(4) To reward His servants and punish His enemies.

III. ITS DEFINITENESS.

1. Most creeds are made up of a number of abstract propositions, and are a general testimony of the confessor’s theological soundness to the world. Hence their feeble moral effect on the confessor. His mind may be sound, but his heart maybe heretical.

2. This creed was a brief statement of faith in Christ made to Christ Himself. The Te Deum is a better confession than the Athanasian or Nicene symbols. It touches and inspires while it gives expression to the feelings of the heart.

IV. THE METHOD OF ITS DELIVERY.

1. Prompt, without study or reluctance.

2. Positive, without misgiving about it or speculation beyond it.

3. Final; Nathanael never outgrew it, although he doubtless filled up the outline.

V. THE OBLIGATION IT INVOLVES.

1. Discipleship:

(1) Docility.

(2) Study.

(3) Continuous proficiency.

2. Saintship:

(1) Trust.

(2) Affection.

(3) Reverence.

(4) Holiness.

3. Loyalty:

(1) Obedience.

(2) Active service.

(3) Fidelity unto death.

VI. THE REWARD IT SECURES.

1. Instruction from the Rabbi.

2. Salvation from the Son of God.

3. Everlasting blessedness from the King of Israel. (J. W. Burn.)