Jesus Christ, His Only Son

I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell

and the third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of the Father almighty, from whence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting, Amen.

Co-existent and co-eternal with the Father, who, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary took upon Himself the form of man, bore our sins, carried our sorrows, and by the shedding of His precious blood upon the cross of Calvary, purchased redemption for all that would believe upon Him. Then, bursting the bonds of death and hell rose from the grave and ascended on high leading captivity captive, that as the great mediator between God and man, He might stand at the right hand of the Father making intercession for those whom He laid down His life.

Jesus our Savior

Isaiah 53:5 ESV

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Titus 2:14 ESV

who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

John 6:47 ESV

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.

Ephesians 2:13 ESV

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

A man fell into a pit and he couldn’t get out.

BUDDHA said: "Your pit is only a state of mind."

A HINDU said: "This pit is for purging you and making you more perfect.”

CONFUCIUS said: "If you would have listened to me, you would never have fallen into that pit."

A NEW AGE PERSON said: "Maybe you should network with some other pit dwellers."

A SELF-PITYING PERSON said: "You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen my pit."

A REALIST said: "That’s a pit."

An IDEALIST said: "The world shouldn’t have pits."

An OPTIMIST said: "Things could be worse."

A PESSIMIST said: "Things will get worse."

BUT JESUS, SEEING THE MAN, GOT DOWN IN THE PIT AND LIFTED THE MAN OUT OF THE PIT!

Jesus our Baptizer in Holy Spirit

John 14:16–17 ESV

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Acts 1:5 ESV

for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Mark 1:8 ESV

I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 10:44–46 ESV

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,

Acts 19:6 ESV

And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

Jesus our Healer

Matthew 8:17 ESV

This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

Acts 4:29–30 ESV

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

James 5:14–16 ESV

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Jesus, our Soon and Coming King!

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 ESV

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

Titus 2:11–13 ESV

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Hebrews 9:28 ESV

so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Matthew 24:44 ESV

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.