In my last sermon, I introduced the Nicene Creed—how it came to be written, what controversies surrounded it, and why it matters today. I also explained how the Creed helps us learn about one of the greatest mysteries of our faith: the mystery of the Trinity.
Today, we will look at the first part of the Nicene Creed, which speaks about the first person in the Trinity—God the Father. It is just one sentence:
“We believe in one God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.”
My message today is about 3 points:
- First, what it means that there is one God;
- Second, what it means that he is Father almighty, and
- Third, what it means that he is maker of heaven and earth.
Let us pray before we continue. [Pray]
Now, as we did last month, let us stand and recite together the Nicene Creed. I’ll ask Atsuko-san to read it in Japanese. For those who prefer English, feel free to recite it in English.
(Creed recited aloud by congregation)
One God
“We believe in one God.” This was a bold and revolutionary statement in the ancient Roman Empire, where people worshiped many gods and goddesses.
To the Romans, saying there is only one God sounded arrogant and even dangerous. Refusing to offer incense to the emperor or to the gods of the city could be seen as treason. As a result, early Christians were sometimes called “atheists” because they rejected all other gods except their own.
Our idea of “one God” comes directly from the Jewish faith. For Jews, one of the most important parts of Scripture is Deuteronomy 6:4, which says, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.”
The earliest Christians—many of whom were Jews—believed that the God of Israel is the same God as the Father of Jesus Christ. So when they became Christians, they affirmed that there is indeed only one God. However, they also worshiped Jesus as divine and claimed to experience the power of the Holy Spirit. So, from the early days of the Church, Christians believed that God was, at all times, one essence (ousia in Greek) and three persons.
How can God be both one essence and three persons? God is one “what” — one divine essence. Within that one divine essence are three “whos” — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. For example, if you ask, “What is Bob?” you would answer, “He is a human being.” If you ask, “Who is Bob?” you would answer, “He is Bob.” In God’s case, there is one “what” (God) but three “whos” (Father, Son, and Spirit) — a mystery unique to God alone. It’s hard to grasp. So it’s understandable that other theories of God’s nature arose during the first few centuries of Christianity and appealed to some Christians. Let me mention two important theories: modalism and Arianism.
Firstly, modalism or Sabellianism. Modalism says God is one person who appears in three different forms—sometimes Father, sometimes Son, sometimes Spirit. It’s like H20 which can change between three forms: water, ice, and vapor.
The problem with modalism—which says God is only one person—is that it doesn’t explain certain Scriptures which show relationships between the Father, Son, and Spirit. For example, the Son praying to the Father, or the Father sending the Holy Spirit to believers.
Secondly, Arianism. Arianism says that only the Father is truly God, while the Son and the Spirit are lesser beings created by the Father.
The problem with Arianism is that it doesn’t explain Scriptures in which the Son claims to be God.
The Nicene Creed rejects both Modalism and Arianism. The Creed expresses an orthodox view of the Trinity, which can be summarized like this:
- There is only one God (not three gods). (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5; 1 Corinthians 8:4–6)
- The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each fully God and equal in glory. (Divinity of the Father: Philippians 1:2; John 1:1; divinity of the Son: John 20:28; Colossians 2:9; divinity of the Spirit: Acts 5:3–4; 2 Corinthians 3:17)
- The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit, and the Spirit is not the Father. (Matthew 3:16–17; John 14:16–17; John 15:26)
- They are three distinct persons, not merely three forms of the same person. (Luke 3:21–22; John 14:26; John 17:1–5)
- Yet they are united in essence. (John 10:30; John 14:9–10; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4–6)
This reflects what the Bible reveals about God. It is not easy to understand. That is why we call it a mystery. But we should try to learn what we can about the Trinity. Next time, when you are reading some part of the New Testament, try noticing if the passage tells you something about God’s nature, about the Father, Son, or Spirit.
The Father Almighty
Now, let’s move on to the phrase “the Father Almighty.”
The Bible often calls God “Father”—about 17 times in the Old Testament and over 250 times in the New Testament. Jesus constantly addressed God as Father. He taught his followers to pray to “Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9).
Calling God “Father” does not mean that God is male. God is spirit and beyond human gender. The Bible sometimes uses motherly images to describe his care, such as Isaiah 66:13: “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” But we call him “Father” mainly because that is how he has revealed himself through Jesus, and partly because the Bible does not address him as “Mother” directly.
Calling God “Father” is not intended to describe his gender but to express that he is the source of all things. The source of creation, even the source of the Son. That does not mean that the Father created the Son. Rather, the relationship between Father and Son is like the light that shines from the sun. Hence the following lines in the creed that says that Jesus is “God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made.” For human beings, we become fathers or mothers through sexual reproduction. But God is not human, and he does not reproduce as we do.
We will explore the nature of the Son and the meaning of the Father begetting the Son more next month. But for now, let me just say this: the Father eternally loves the Son in the Holy Spirit, who is the bond of their divine love. God’s very being is relational love. When we become children of God through Christ, we receive that same eternal love that has always existed within God.
In the ancient world, Jews did not personally address God as “Father” although they recognized Him as father of their nation. Jesus, however, called God “Abba, Father” and invited His followers to do the same. Calling God “Abba, Father” implies two things: intimacy and obedience.
The phrase “Father Almighty” reminds us that this Father is both intimate and loving as well as a powerful King who deserves our respect. The original word for Almighty is pantokrator, a Greek word that means “one who rules over all.” Pantokrator appears 10 times in the New Testament, mostly in the book of Revelation, and is used to described both the Father and Son.
To summarize, the Father Almighty is rules over all and all things depend on him. He is the ultimate source of life, love, and every good thing.
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
The next part of the Creed says “Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.” As Paul writes in Colossians 1:16: “For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities”.
God made not only physical creation but also the unseen spiritual realm.
Cultures all over the world have long recognized that reality is more than what our physical eyes can perceive. In Japan, even though many people would say they are not religious, there is a deep awareness of spiritual forces. Many still keep omamori or charms for safety, good luck, and success. They know that life is fragile, and that human strength alone is not enough; we want help from beyond ourselves.
The Bible also teaches that there are spiritual beings we call “angels,” who carry out God’s will and protect his people. And, there are “fallen angels”—whom we usually call demons or evil spirits—who rebel against God and use deception to draw people away from their Creator.
But, as the Creed reminds us, the devil and his fallen angels are not equal to God. They are not rivals on the same level. The forces of darkness may be strong, but their power is limited and temporary. For now, God allows them to operate in our world for His mysterious purposes. But one day, God will bring all things under the rule of Christ and destroy every evil power that opposes him.
This is why we can live with peace and confidence: because God watches over his children. He is Father Almighty over all of creation.
Application: Sharing in the Goodness of the Father
It’s not easy for some people to embrace God as a father. Many, including me, don’t have a good relationship with their fathers. My father is often distant, and when we do talk, his words can be unintentionally very hurtful.
When my second child was born, I hoped that my father would finally visit Japan. He looked after my bedridden mother for more than 10 years until she passed away, so it wasn’t possible for him to travel then. But, despite having a lot of free time now, he said he wouldn’t come to Japan because he wasn’t young anymore. After much persuasion he still didn’t want to come but said he would send us money instead.
I was deeply offended because what I wanted was not his financial support but to see him interested in my life and our relationship. I became very unhappy and stopped contacting him for a long time. But recently, I experienced a breakthrough.
I listened to a sermon that said, “If you are trying to find your source of happiness in anything other than God, that is idolatry.” Those words struck me like lightning. It’s like God was gently asking me, “Are you looking for your dad to give you what only I can give you perfectly?”
I started to see that God, in His great love, had already given me His fatherly care through others. I have been blessed with many spiritual fathers in the Church who gave me warmth, advice, and practical help. One of them has been my mentor for many years. When I was a teenager, he taught me how to swim and listened to me on the phone for many hours. Through men and women like him, I have experienced our heavenly Father’s warmth and attention.
Brothers and sisters, to live as children of God the Father, we need to let ourselves be loved by him and to trust that his love is sufficient for us. He can heal our wounds from human relationships. We will still get upset at others, but with God’s help our hearts can find freedom and peace. Whenever I see my friends having babies and their parents travel overseas to help with the newborn, I still feel deeply sad that my father never came. But the pain is less than before, and I know that my heavenly Father is with me.
Saint Augustine in the 4th century wrote, “You made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” All creatures have a place of rest: birds have nests, foxes have dens, and sea creatures have the deep. But where is the resting place for the human soul? Physically, our home is the earth; but spiritually, we belong with God. When we rest in the Father’s love, our hearts find peace.
Conclusion
What we read today about God the Father today in the Nicene Creed may seem very short: “We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.”
But this one sentence holds a universe of truth. Before we discuss Jesus Christ the Son or the Holy Spirit (which I will in my next 2 sermons), we must first know who the Father is. Every act of creation, redemption, and sanctification begins in the overflowing love of the Father.
To conclude, the Creed reminds us that God is a king but not distant. His nature is love, and there can only be love if there is relationship. He is the eternal Father who has always loved the Son in the Spirit.
He did not create the universe out of loneliness or boredom but out of abundance—the overflowing goodness of His own life and love. He created us to share in His joy, to rest in His love, and to find our true home in Him. Let’s pray.
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