The Creed – We Believe in One Lord

1. The meaning of “We believe in one Lord”

• The word Lord means God, and it is also used in the sense of authority, such as lord of a household or a high rank among angels.

• Therefore God is called Lord of Lords, and Christ Himself was called both Lord and God, as Thomas said: “My Lord and my God.”

2. The meaning of the name “Jesus Christ”

• Jesus means “Savior,” as the angel said: “He shall be called Jesus because He shall save His people from their sins.”

• Christ means “the Anointed One,” because He was anointed as King, Prophet, and Priest. He is the Messiah whom the Jews awaited for salvation.

3. The Only-Begotten Son of God

• We are God’s children by love, adoption, and faith, but Christ is the Only Son, from the essence, nature, and divinity of the Father.

• The phrase “the Only-Begotten Son” is repeatedly mentioned in the Gospel, confirming His unique and eternal sonship.

4. The eternal birth before all ages

• Christ is begotten of the Father before all ages, before time and creation, as He said: “Before Abraham was, I AM.”

• His divine birth is timeless, while His human birth is from the Virgin in the fullness of time.

5. “Light of Light, true God of true God”

• The image of light clarifies that the Son is of the same nature as the Father, like light born of light with no separation or beginning.

• The term “true God” distinguishes Him from the figurative use of “god” in Scripture; Christ is the true, eternal, uncreated God.

6. Scriptural testimonies of Christ’s divinity

• His Holiness mentions many references such as: “The Word was God,” “God was manifested in the flesh,” “Shepherd the Church of God which He purchased with His own blood,” and Peter’s confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of God.”

• Christ also applied to Himself divine titles such as “the First and the Last” and “the Alpha and the Omega.”

7. Distinguishing the meaning of sonship

• The title “the Son” when mentioned without qualification refers to the Only Son, not to the general human sonship.

• Therefore, belief in Christ as the Son of God is always linked with worship, blessing, and clear confession of faith.

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