The Apostles Creed #1
The Apostles Creed • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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6 “You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.
The Apostles Creed begins with “I believe in...” What do you believe? If I asked you, could you tell me? Or better yet, If you guys had to explain what belief is, what would you say?
The Church typically explains belief as knowledge, assent, and faith. Or, to explain it with the gospel. I need to first hear the good news. Well, what is that? That Christ Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and ascension are for my forgiveness and reconciliation to the Father. Okay, that’s information or knowledge. But knowing that does no good if I simply think it’s a cute story. I must assent to it, which means I don’t just know it as though it was an encouraging fictional story, but that I believe it really is true. Lastly, I place my faith in that truth, rest in that truth, live in light of that truth. That is what belief is.
Well, as we look at the Apostles Creed we will take a look at the first affirmation which is, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.” It is here that we find an early Christian statement of faith that was first used as baptismal services where those being baptized would make their statements of faith.
Notice the use of the phrase, “I believe...” As we go through this series, I pray that what we find might be what you truly believe as well and as we study this together, I want us to ask ourselves, “What do I believe?” In today’s lesson, we will consider (1) The Fatherhood of God, (2) The Sovereignty of God, (3) The Creation of God and what it means for us in our daily lives.
God as Father
God as Father
As eternal Father in generating Christ, without beginning or end.
As eternal Father in generating Christ, without beginning or end.
i. What do you think it means that Jesus is the Son of God? Do you think He was created by the Father?
ii. When the Bible speaks of Jesus as the Son and of God the Father, it isn’t meaning that God the Father one day created Jesus. But is referring to the fact that forever and ever, without beginning, the Son of God has been begotten of by the Father. He is equal to in substance and in power to the Father. This is attested to in the Bible by passages such as John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
iii. This phrase, “Begotten” isn’t in reference to Jesus being created as an earthly father and son relationship. But that all that the Father is corresponds and is in Christ.
As adoptive Father of fallen humanity through Christ His Son.
As adoptive Father of fallen humanity through Christ His Son.
i. Since Jesus is the Son of God who came to earth to represent us and to give His life for us. What does it mean then that we are in Him? Well, Ephesians 1:5 says
5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
ii. So, we who were once enemies to God are now adopted as His children because we belong in His Son Jesus Christ. How does this come to be? Well...
We come to know Him as Father through the gospel of His Son by the work of the Spirit in us.
We come to know Him as Father through the gospel of His Son by the work of the Spirit in us.
i. John 6:35-37
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
ii. What does this truth do for us in our daily lives?
D. This draws us to marvel at the work of the triune God in the saving of sinners and, for us as His children, we are to obey Him as our kind and glorious Father.
God as Sovereign
God as Sovereign
He wills according to His own pleasure without external stimulation.
He wills according to His own pleasure without external stimulation.
i. Ephesians 1:11
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
He is able to preform whatsoever He is pleased to do.
He is able to preform whatsoever He is pleased to do.
i. Psalm 115:3
3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
This cultivates peace is the troubled Christian heart knowing that not only is supreme power held, but that it is held by our loving, redeeming God.
This cultivates peace is the troubled Christian heart knowing that not only is supreme power held, but that it is held by our loving, redeeming God.
i. Romans 8:28
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
God as Creator
God as Creator
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
In creating “ex nihilo,” He declares His sovereign ability to do as He so pleases.
In creating “ex nihilo,” He declares His sovereign ability to do as He so pleases.
i. The purpose of Gen. 1
This affirms a spiritual realm and prevents us from being materialists.
This affirms a spiritual realm and prevents us from being materialists.
ii. Ephesians 6:12
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.