What Christian's Have Always Believed. [Apostle's Creed]

John 6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the Living God.

What is the goal of the message?

To convince the hearers that they must know what they believe and be able to state their beliefs simply.

Why does this audience need this goal today?

Some have never paused to consider what they believe. Everyone believes something.

Some have not grown in their beliefs because of unfortunate, psychological allergies created by past leaders. (Trigger Words)

Some are missing out on the treasure trove of rich, sound doctrine, stated simply.

Illustration: We know what the car looks like but not what’s under the hood; Baby/Bath Water; Romans’ Road and Roman Catholics…etc.

How will we accomplish this goal with the message?

12 Clear Statements of Belief that are Based on the Bible.

Conclusions from those statements.

Prop: We must not only know what we believe but also how to state those beliefs simply.

Christians have always believed more than these truths but not less than these truths:

I believe:

Related to GOD:

God is the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth.

Presumes the existence of God

We believe that God existed before the Creation of the World. The scriptures presume his existence when they say, “In the beginning God...” This statement stands in contrast to atheism which believes God does not exist. This statement stands in contrast to agnosticism which says that we might not know if there is a God. To say, “God is the Father Almighty...” is to begin where the Bible begins with the presumption that God has always existed. (Gen. 1:1)

El Shaddai - Almighty in that He is the Creator

We believe that God is Almighty, especially as He is the Creator. Jesus affirmed that God is the Creator when he said, “…he which made them at the beginning made them male and female...” (Mt. 19:4).

Summary: We believe that God is the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth. Christians have always believed more than this truth, but not less than this truth.

Jesus Christ is God’s only Son, our Lord.

Unique, eternal Son

We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s only Son. Peter declared this when he said to Jesus, “…Thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God...” (Matthew 16:16). The Son has always been the Son and is co-equal with God and co-eternal with God. to say that He is God’s only Son is to identify his uniqueness as the only begotten, eternal God, Who is Himself the distinct Person of the Son.

Lord - Matthew 28:6.

We believe that Jesus is Lord. When the women arrived at the empty tomb of Jesus, the angel said to them, “…Come see the place where the Lord lay...” (Mt. 28:6) Thomas too identified the risen Jesus as, “My Lord and my god”.

Summary: We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s only Son, our Lord. Christians have always believed more than this truth, but not less than this truth.

Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary

Fully Divine - Holy Ghost

We believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost. That is to say that Jesus was not born of any other man nor of the race of Adam, but that He came as the second Adam, apart from human biological fatherhood.

Fully Human - Virgin Mary

We believe that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary. Though the Son had eternally existed as fully God and though the Holy Ghost came upon Mary, Jesus was nonetheless born of Mary at which time the Son added full humanity to His eternal deity. (Mt. 1:18, 20).

Summary: We believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. Christians have always believed more than this truth, but not less than this truth.

Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell.

That he suffered - Matthew 27:24-26.

We believe that Jesus suffered spiritually, emotionally, and physically in an inconceivable manner, though he’d never merited any kind of suffering.

That it is historically credible.

We believe that Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate. In addition, to Pontius Pilate, there are names of other people, places, and historical events which serve the historical credibility and viability of the Christian message. (Mt. 27:24-26).

that he was crucified, dead, and buried - Matthew 28:5, Is. 53:9.

We believe that He was crucified, dead, and buried. That is to say that Jesus did not merely pass out from the pain and then re-awake in the tomb. Neither did Jesus’ replaced by a stunt double just before the crucifixion. Jesus died at the hands of Roman executioners who did not take his life. Rather, Jesus laid down his life. Jesus’ burial was according to 700-year-old arrangements declared in the prophecy of Isaiah. (Mt. 28:5, Isaiah 53:9).

That He descended into Hell - Psalm 16:10, Acts 2:25-27.

We believe that Jesus descended into Hell. According to Psalm 16:10, Hell is the fiery pit, with reference to Jesus but rather Sheol or the Place of the Dead. Peter confirms that Hell is the place of the dead when He quotes this exact Psalm, in reference to Jesus in Acts 2:25-27. Thus, Jesus saw no corruption and was not left in Sheol.

Summary: We believe that Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified and buried and entered the place of the dead for three days. Christians have always believed more than this but not less than this truth.

Jesus arose from the dead on the third day.

That he arose from the dead bodily - Matthew 28:6.

We believe that Jesus arose from the dead on the third day according to his own prediction but also according to the the prophecies of the Old Testament. In rising from the dead, Jesus shows that He alone has the power over death and that He is victorious; which is a feat that no other human has ever completely accomplished.

Summary: We believe Jesus rose from the dead. Christians have always believed more than this but not less that this truth.

Jesus ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty

That He ascended - Ephesians 1:20.

Having walked on the earth for 40 days, Jesus ascended up to Heaven in the presence of many eyewitnesses. His ascension points to his acceptance with the Father.

That He was Installed

Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. This being a place of authority and status, Jesus has been given all authority in Heaven and on Earth.

Summary: We believe that Jesus ascended to Heaven and has been seated at the right hadn of God where He has received all authority. Christians have always believed more than this but not less than this truth.

Jesus shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

Judge Jesus - Acts 17:30-31.

Jesus shall return in a moment when those upon the earth least expect it. To what end will he return? Jesus shall return to judge. This life is not all that exists. There is the judgment, and judgment has been handed to the Son Jesus Christ. To say that He will judge the living and the dead is to say that He is the Judge of all mankind of all generations for all time. Assurance of this day of reckoning is given by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the judgment of death. In his victory over the pronounced judgment of death, He has now received from the Father the judgment of all.

Summary: We believe that Jesus shall return to judge the living and the dead. Christians have always believed more than this but not less than this truth.

I believe in the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13-14.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, Who is co-equal with the Father and with the Son. He is the third Person of the Godhead, and the One who presently seals, indwells, and empowers those who are children of the Father and brethren of the Son. The Holy Spirit is not hidden and unrecognizable in the lives of God’s children, but He is also NOT to be equated with sheer emotionalism or whimsical feelings. He is One God with the Father and the Son.

Summary: We believe in the Holy Spirit. Christians have always believed more than this but not less than this truth.

Related to God’s People

I believe in the [existence of] holy universal [catholic] Church and the communion of saints.

Ephesians 2:16, 19, 3:9-10.

I believe in the holy universal church. The biblical word is ekklesia and means “called out assembly”.

Hebrews 12:23 says, “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,”.

Though the term is most regularly used for a local, visible, called out assembly the general assembly exists in heaven and the local assemblies are embassies of the general assembly that is presently in heaven.

“...each church is the full manifestation in space and time of the one, true, heavenly, eschatological, new covenant church. Local churches should see themselves as outcroppings of heaven, analogies of "the Jerusalem that is above," indeed colonies of the new Jerusalem, providing on earth a corporate and visible expression of "the glorious freedom of the children of God." - DA Carson

Summary: We believe in the holy universal church and the communion of the saints. Christians have always believed more than this but not less than this truth.

I believe in the forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

We believe that all those who repent and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord may be forgiven of all their sins.

Summary: Christians have always believed in more than the forgiveness of sins by the blood of Christ but not less than this truth.

I believe in the the resurrection of the body.

I Thessalonians 4:14-17.

Did Jesus remain in the grave? Was his Resurrection just a spiritual resurrection? Did people just witness the ghost of Jesus after the resurrection? No. Jesus rose bodily from the grave. Afterward, Jesus walked, ate, talked, fellowshipped, and offered his body to be touched.

Summary: We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians have always believed more than this truth but not less than this truth.

. I believe in life everlasting.

John 6:47.

I believe that if there is such a thing as temporary life, then consideration must be given to the existence of eternal life. Such eternal life is clearly taught in scripture. “Whosoever believeth in Him [Jesus Christ] hath everlasting life...” Those who have Jesus Christ have eternal life. Those who refuse Jesus Christ endure eternal death, a separation and banishment in Hell.

Summary: Christians have always believed in more than the truth of eternal life, but they have not believed in less than this truth.

Since the inception of Christianity, Christians have been a people who commemorate, who memorialize, who recall, who celebrate, who regularly remember. Christians have always been a people of creeds, and if we extend back to the Old Testament, we can say that God’s people have always been a people of rituals and regular practices. From daily sacrifices, to annual festivals, to songs sung on specific occasions.

In the NT, God’s people, the church are to regularly confess and regularly remember and to regularly convene on the Lord’s Day. Thus, what does all of this mean?

Conclusions:

(1) Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.

Evaluate words and traditions carefully so as to not completely dismiss rich, helpful truths and practices.

(2) Don’t be naive enough to believe that you are NOT religious.

Everyone has a religion. It may be the religion of me or the religion of Jesus, but everyone believes something and has regular practices in accordance to those beliefs.

(3) Regular rhythms in your personal and congregational life are helpful.

Learn to appreciate the rich, biblically-rooted rituals of the congregational service.

(4) Allow the long view to help guide your short experience.

What Christianity may appear like now may seem quite confusing, but a glance at what Christians have always believed can be helpful in perspective.

(5) Take a Worship Guide Home and Rehearse these Truths throughout the Week.

The Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, Whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal [catholic] Church, the communion of saints the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.