The Nicene Creed
On the 1700th anniversary of its original form, we celebrate and proclaim the faithful truths summarized in the Nicene Creed. We affirm its Scriptural foundation, doctrinal fidelity, disciple making, and God glorifying usefulness to Christ's church.
Every week, as part of the Fall Faculty Series, Westminster Seminary California features a special guest to pay tribute and discuss the Nicene Creed.
The Nicene Creed
One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church
In this sermon on the attributes of the church, Dr. Kim Riddlebarger examines the Nicene confession of the "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church."
Dr. Riddlebarger distinguishes the Reformed understanding of these attributes from Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox models, emphasizing that these characteristics are not merely descriptive, but also exhortational and eschatological.
He explores the church’s unity as a spiritual reality rather than a papal institution, its holiness as an objective status in Christ, its catholicity as the universal body of the elect across time, and its apostolicity as a foundation of doctrine rather than a succession of persons. Drawing on Herman Bavinck, Louis Berkhof, and the Reformed confessions, this episode concludes with an exposition of 1 Corinthians 1:1–2, demonstrating how Paul affirms all four attributes as both a present gift and a calling for believers.