The Nicene Creed is an important expression and confession of the Christian faith because it deals explicitly with God's nature and how he brings about our salvation. It's accuracy is important because we are saved by faith. Faith isn't an abstract concept. Our faith must be put in the right place. Jesus Christ. If we get Christ wrong we get God wrong and the Gospel wrong. The Nicene Creed is entirely scriptural. God's salvation comes to us in Trinity because God is Trinity. Each person of the Trinity has a special role in our salvation as revealed by Scripture. Everything in this creed is based on the scriptures as necessary for our salvation. It is Christ centered.
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 the 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 Spirit 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 sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the Prophets. And I believe in 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.
If you would like to see what it looks like with scripture references backing everything up (Click on the reference and it will take you to the verse):
[The Father] I believe (John 14:1) in one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), the Father (2 Peter 1:17) Almighty (Revelation 4:8), Maker (Job 4:17) of heaven (Genesis 1:1) and earth (Psalm 104:5), and of all things (Genesis 1:31) visible and invisible (Colossians 1:16). [The Son] And in one Lord (Ephesians 4:5) Jesus Christ (Acts 10:36), the only-begotten Son of God (John 3:16), begotten of the Father (Hebrews 1:5) before all worlds (Colossians 1:17), God of God, Light of Light (2 Corinthians 4:4-6), very God of very God (John 1:1), begotten (John 1:18), not made, (John 17:5) being of one substance with the Father (John 10:30); by whom all things were made (Colossians 1:15-18); who for us men (Matthew 20:28), and for our salvation (Matthew 1:21), came down from heaven (Ephesians 4:10), and was incarnate (Colossians 2:9) by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18) of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:34-35), and was made man (John 1:14), and was crucified (John 19:18) also for us (Romans 5:8) under Pontius Pilate (Matthew 27:2); He suffered (1 Peter 2:21) and was buried and the third day He rose again (1 Corinthians 15:4) according to the Scriptures (Psalm 16:10); and ascended (Luke 24:51) into heaven (Mark 16:19), and sits at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3); and He shall come again (John 14:3) with glory (Matthew 16:27) to judge (Matthew 25:31-46) the living and the dead (Acts 10:42); whose kingdom (John 18:36) shall have no end (Revelation 11:15). [The Holy Spirit]And I believe in the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19), the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:17) and Giver of life (2 Corinthians 3:6), who proceeds from the Father (John 14:16-l7) and the Son (John 15:26) ; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified (John 4:24); who spoke by the Prophets (2 Peter 1:21). And I believe in one (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) holy (Ephesians 5:27) catholic (1 Corinthians 1:2) and apostolic (Ephesians 2:20) Church (Ephesians 1:22-23). I acknowledge one Baptism (Ephesians 4:5) for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38); and I look for the resurrection of the dead (I Thessalonians 4:16), and the life of the world to come (Revelation 22:5). Amen. (2 Corinthians 1:20)
* catholic means the universality of the church and does not reference the Roman Catholic Church
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