In Glory

Eighth Thursday after Pentecost

Lectionary texts:

Thursday:

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Mark 6:53-56

Friday:

2 Samuel 7:18-29

2 Samuel 8

Today we continue our study of things in the Nicene Creed that are not in the Apostles' Creed. Remember that the Nicene Creed was written first. The things in the Nicene Creed that are not in Apostles' Creed are not additions. Rather, the Apostles' Creed has subtracted (edited out)  these things. We could have a lengthy discussion on why these particular things were left out, but that lies beyond our purpose here.

 

I learned the Apostles' Creed before I can remember and before I knew what a lot of it meant. The phrase, "From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead," was the hardest puzzle. My older brother Gerald was on the track team, so I had been to track meets.  In those days the track judge had a starter's gun (no bullets) which he shot to start a race. Somehow I equated this in my mind with God. God, the celestial track judge would judge the quick. When the race was over, he would shoot the losers, who would then be judged dead. My theology did develop further over the years.

The modern version of the creed changes the archaic use of "quick." It reads, "He will come again to judge the living and the dead." The Nicene Creed has two additional words in this phrase, "He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead." (Italics mine). 

All the ancient creeds (there are more than just these two) have the Last Judgment. Modern creeds, like the Canadian Creed, leave the Last Judgment out. Here in brief is what this doctrine is about:

At the end of the age (we might say "at the end of time") Christ will come again. The bodies of all people will be resurrected. Christ will judge who will go on to eternal life and who will be condemned to eternal death (and perhaps the punishments of hell). 

How is judgment day going to go? In the middle ages through the early modern period Christians for the most part thought that it was going to go badly for most folks. It was a day of doom and gloom. One can see this in Medieval art, in which the Last Judgment was a frequent subject. Particularly famous is the gory Last Judgment scene in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel.

With two words the Nicene Creed paints a better picture of the Last Judgment. Christ will come in glory. It will not be Christ the avenger but Christ the Redeemer. Christ will judge, but his judgment will be merciful. We will enter his glory, a glory beyond anything our earthly minds can imagine. 

 

Will some be condemned? I don't want to rule out the possibility of hell altogether, but unlike John Calvin and other harsh reformers, I think the population of hell will be quite small. Fortunately, Christ, not I, will be the judge of that. 

My Presbyterian brother, the formerly mentioned track runner and Duke dean, is both predestinarian and universal salvationist. He believes that God has predestined all people for salvation and heaven. I won't rule out the universal salvation part. 

One thing I do clearly believe in is that I will be saved. "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved," says the Book of Acts more than once. I do. I will. 

Lord Jesus Christ,

For bringing to us a wonderful faith to believe in, we are grateful. For bringing us salvation and eternal life, we are eternally grateful.

Amen.

Faithfully,

Christian