The 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea – A Foundation for Faith

 Today, we mark a remarkable milestone: the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, convened in 325 AD. This historic gathering of Christian bishops, called by Emperor Constantine, was a defining moment for our faith—a moment when the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, clarified the truth about who Jesus Christ is and what it means to follow Him. As we reflect on this event, let us consider its enduring significance, particularly for those who hold fast to the fundamentals of our Christian faith in a world that often challenges them.

The Council of Nicaea: A Stand for Truth

In 325 AD, the early Church faced a crisis. A priest named Arius taught that Jesus, the Son of God, was a created being—not fully divine, not co-eternal with the Father. This teaching threatened to fracture the Church and obscure the truth of the Gospel. The Council of Nicaea was convened to address this controversy and to affirm the Church’s faith in the face of confusion.

The bishops, drawing from Scripture and the apostolic tradition, produced the Nicene Creed, a statement of faith that boldly declares Jesus as “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.” These words were not mere theology; they were a defense of the heart of Christianity—that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human, the eternal Word through whom all things were made (John 1:3).

Why does this matter to us today? The Council of Nicaea reminds us that truth is worth defending. In a world of competing ideas, where relativism often reigns, the Nicene Creed stands as a beacon of clarity, rooted in Scripture, proclaiming that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

Nicaea and Modern Fundamentalism

For those who identify with Christian fundamentalism today, the Council of Nicaea holds special significance. Fundamentalism, at its core, is a commitment to the essential truths of the Christian faith—truths grounded in the authority of Scripture. The Council of Nicaea was a moment when the Church stood firm on those truths, particularly the divinity of Christ, which is foundational to our salvation.

Consider the scriptural basis for Nicaea’s confession. In Colossians 1:15-17, Paul writes, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created… He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” The Nicene fathers leaned on such passages to affirm that Jesus is not a lesser being but the eternal Son, equal with the Father. This truth underpins our hope: if Christ is not fully God, His sacrifice cannot save us; if He is not fully human, He cannot stand in our place.

Modern Christian fundamentalism, in its best form, echoes Nicaea’s resolve to hold fast to these scriptural truths. It calls us to affirm the inerrancy of God’s Word, the deity of Christ, and the necessity of His atoning work on the cross. In a culture that often dismisses absolute truth, fundamentalism reminds us to stand firm, as the Nicene bishops did, on the unchanging foundation of Scripture.

The Challenge and the Call

Yet, the legacy of Nicaea also challenges us. The Council was not just about defining doctrine; it was about living it. The Nicene Creed was meant to unite believers in worship and mission. For fundamentalists today, this means not only defending the truth but proclaiming it with love and humility. As 1 Peter 3:15 urges, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

”The Council of Nicaea also reminds us of the importance of unity. While the bishops debated fiercely, their goal was to preserve the oneness of the Church under Christ. Fundamentalism today must avoid division over secondary matters and focus on the core truths that unite us: the inspiration of Scripture, the divinity of Christ, and the call to share the Gospel.

A Living Legacy

As we celebrate this 1700th anniversary, let us give thanks for the courage of those early bishops who, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, defended the truth of Christ’s divinity. Let us recommit ourselves to the Scriptures that inspired their work—God’s Word, which remains “living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). And let us, as modern believers, whether fundamentalist or otherwise, live out the faith of Nicaea by proclaiming Christ, fully God and fully man, to a world in need of His grace.

May we stand firm in the truth, love boldly in His name, and walk together as one body, trusting in the One who is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). 

Amen.

The Nicene Creed

"I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and 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 men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost 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 sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of Live, who proceedeth from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spake by the Prophets. And I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church; I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. AMEN."