Three Gates into God

One of the privileged “gates” into the Trinity is to make an act of faith in each of the three Persons, faith in the unique activities proper to each that are for “us men and for our salvation.” The privileged form of this act of faith is the Baptismal Creed – Nicene or Apostles. These open to us, through each of their Articles, an entry point that may be said to be like the Wardrobe in C.S. Lewis’ Narnia classic.

The Creed is meant to not simply be a vocal or conceptual exercise, but a spiritual itinerant’s way to navigate the vast ocean of the inner life of God. To this point, I do wish the translators rendered the Creed “I believe into one God…” “Into” because the act of faith is not simply a staring contest where we look at or think about God. It is rather a diving competition, as we accept the supreme invitation of God to enter into his infinite life and allow him to enter ours. That’s BIG.

Allow yourself to pray each article, appreciating how we are introduced to each Person, and then led into their limitless labors to love us.

The Article of the Father

I believe in (who he is)
one God,
the Father almighty,
(what he does)
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

The Article of the Son

I believe in (who he is)
one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
(what he does)
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.

The Article of the Holy Spirit.

I believe in (who he is)
the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
(what he does)
who has spoken through the prophets.
[And] in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.

The Father creates, the Son redeems and the Spirit sanctifies us as a community of humanity in the unity of Their Trinity.

In invite you now, enter into each Person of the Trinity by way of a heartfelt act of Creedal faith…