The Nicene Creed – Changes #2 – …consubstantial with the Father
This Week’s Focus on the Change by Fr. James Chelich
“…consubstantial with the Father…”
A question we need to be cleared up if our faith is to become truly transforming is this: WHO was incarnate of the Virgin Mary? WHO became man? The Bible asserts:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
…And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.
…No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him. (John 1:1, 14, 18)
The WORD became flesh. The WORD that is GOD became flesh. The WORD that is THE ONLY SON, GOD WHO IS AT THE FATHER’S SIDE became flesh.
The WORD THAT IS GOD revealed God to women and men by becoming human. He did not come to tell us about God. He is God. He came to show us God. Drawing us close in a way that we could embrace physically and comprehend mentally, He disclosed Himself to us. He came to give us God (Himself). This he did on Calvary. This he does in worship.
“Consubstantial with the Father” means what the Father is, all of what the Father is, the Son is. All of what God is was present in Jesus when he was on earth, all of What God is, is present in Jesus as he is present to us in the Written Word (the Bible), the Sacraments and each moment of every day. Jesus said:
If you knew me, you would know my Father too. (John 8:19)
The Father is in me and I in Him. (John 10:38)
All that the Father has belongs to me. (John 16:15)
The Father and I are one. (John 10:30)
The New Roman Missal
The Nicene Creed
Part 1 – The Creed and “I believe…”
Part 2 – …consubstantial with the Father
Part 3 – Was incarnate of the Virgin Mary
Part 4 – of all things visible and invisible
Part 5 – the only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages
Part 6 – he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day, in accordance with the Scriptures.
Part 7 – who has spoken through the Prophets.
Part 8 – I confess; I look forward to