Creed ג
The themes of God’s active pursuit of humanity, His grace extended to the lost, and the reversal of roles in Christ’s incarnation and sacrifice align with several historical Christian creeds, though not explicitly in the symbolic framework of Gimel. Here are some creeds that summarize these key ideas:
- The Nicene Creed (325 AD, revised 381 AD)
- God’s pursuit through Christ: "For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven, was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man."
- This affirms that Christ, though rich (divine), became poor (human) to seek and save the lost.
- The Apostles' Creed
- God’s initiation of salvation: "I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord… who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary…"
- This emphasizes that salvation is initiated by God’s pursuit, not by human effort.
- The Athanasian Creed
- The necessity of recognizing Christ as fully God and fully man: "Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith... And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity."
- This reflects the challenge Jesus posed to the rich man regarding the true understanding of goodness, which belongs to God alone.
- The Heidelberg Catechism (1563)
- Question 21: "True faith is not only a sure knowledge whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in His Word, but also a hearty trust, which the Holy Ghost works in me by the Gospel..."
- This aligns with John 6:44—God draws us to Himself.
- The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646)
- Chapter 10, Section 1 (Effectual Calling): "All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, He is pleased, in His appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature..."
- This echoes Luke 19:10 and John 6:44, where Christ actively seeks and saves.
The core idea across these creeds is that salvation is initiated by God—He pursues us through revelation, incarnation, and grace. The Gimel imagery (a rich man pursuing a poor man) beautifully illustrates the biblical theme that Christ, though rich, became poor for our sake (2 Corinthians 8:9), reversing roles to offer salvation.
Creed of Divine Pursuit and Active Grace (Gimel ג)
We believe:
- That God actively pursues humanity, not waiting for us to seek Him, but reaching out to us with His love and grace. (Luke 19:10, John 6:44)
- That just as a rich man might pursue a poor man to offer him help, so God, in His abundance, pursues us in our spiritual poverty to offer us salvation and eternal life. (Matthew 19:16-22, Revelation 3:20)
- That through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, God’s pursuit of humanity is made manifest, as He came to seek and save the lost. (Luke 19:10, Matthew 20:28)
- That God’s pursuit of us is not based on our merit, but on His grace and compassion, calling us to follow Him and enter His kingdom. (Matthew 19:21-22, Romans 5:8)
- That through the Holy Spirit, God continues to draw people to Himself, calling them into relationship with Him, and empowering them to respond to His invitation. (John 6:44, Romans 8:14)
- That the ג (Gimel) signifies this divine pursuit, symbolizing God’s desire to bring us near to Himself, transforming our hearts and lives. (Matthew 11:28-30, Isaiah 55:6)
- That, like the rich man who sought eternal life, humanity often misunderstands what is truly required for salvation—God’s call to lay aside our own efforts and trust in His grace. (Matthew 19:16-22, Ephesians 2:8-9)
- That God, in His pursuit, does not leave us alone but sends His Son and His Spirit to guide us in the way of truth and life. (John 14:6, John 16:13)
- That God’s pursuit of humanity is ultimately fulfilled in Christ, through His death, resurrection, and the offer of eternal life. (Luke 15:4-7, John 3:16)
- That those who respond to God’s pursuit are called to go forth and share His love, offering the same invitation of grace to others. (Matthew 28:19-20, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
Amen.Creed of Divine Pursuit and Active Grace (Gimel ג)
(A Hymn in 70's Style)
Verse 1
God is reaching, seeking us,
In His love, He calls to us.
Not waiting for us to come near,
He pursues us, always here.
Chorus
We believe, we believe in His grace,
He pursues us, in love’s embrace.
We believe, we believe in His call,
He seeks the lost, He seeks us all.
Verse 2
Like a rich man seeking the poor,
God, in His mercy, opens the door.
He offers life, eternal and true,
In His abundance, we’re made new.
Chorus
We believe, we believe in His grace,
He pursues us, in love’s embrace.
We believe, we believe in His call,
He seeks the lost, He seeks us all.
Bridge
Through Jesus, the call is clear,
To follow Him, to draw near.
Not by our works, but by His love,
He lifts us to the heavens above.
Verse 3
The Gimel (ג) shows His pursuit,
Drawing us close, making us new.
With the Spirit, He calls us near,
To walk with Him, to live without fear.
Chorus
We believe, we believe in His grace,
He pursues us, in love’s embrace.
We believe, we believe in His call,
He seeks the lost, He seeks us all.
Bridge
We lay down our efforts, trust His way,
In His grace, we’ll find the way.
He leads us in truth, in life anew,
We follow Him, we trust in You.
Verse 4
His pursuit is in His Son,
Through His death, the victory’s won.
In the resurrection, life is given,
A call to all, to be forgiven.
Chorus
We believe, we believe in His grace,
He pursues us, in love’s embrace.
We believe, we believe in His call,
He seeks the lost, He seeks us all.
Outro
Amen, amen, we stand in His light,
He pursues us, with love so bright.
Amen, amen, we go to share,
The love of Christ, with all who care!
