Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Wrap up on the Creed. Nicene, that is...


So we finally finished up the classes on the formation and doctrine found in the Nicene Creed, it only took 6 months! Here is the last bit of notes. It also has some great notes concerning sacraments:

I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins, I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Sacrament = Sacramentum/Mysterion
• Augustine of Hippo said it is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual truth. The wedding ring is the invisible matrimony made visible.
• St. Leo the Great (5th Century) says all that Christ has done (Life, death, resurrection, teachings, miracles, etc.) is channeled to man through the sacraments.
• The Orthodox emphasize the importance of the physical. The physical is no less spiritual than the invisible world (soul and spirit). Human flesh is considered sacred. Think of the Ascension: there is now, forever, human flesh and bone in the Godhead. The heart of how we are saved is matter.

Baptism is one of the Holy Mysteries
• The outward sign is easy to identify (water and words)
• The inward reality is the entry into Christ’s Body
• Christ was baptized. This is how he fully identified with our humanity. His dissent into the human condition.
• Christ directs us to baptize.
• Romans 6:3
• God is my Father. the Church is my mother. I came forth from the womb of the font (baptismal font)
• For the Orthodox, baptism is the beginning of a life of repentance.

I look for the resurrection of the dead:
• This is what’s in it for me…
• This is not just immortality of the soul, it is immortality of the person: body, soul, spirit.
• Immortality is NOT salvation. Immortality is NOT communion with God. You can live forever and be apart from God. Salvation is being in communion with God; this can start now!

Paul writes of One faith, One God, One Body, One baptism.
• The church from the beginning has said there is one way into the Church-baptism.


In the next day or so, I plan to blog a bit more about sacraments. Stay tuned! For now, I am off to Vespers.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us

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