This I Believe

This I Believe Declaration: ● ● ● ● ● My eyes are on Jesus My heart is tuned to His Spirit My ears are listening to His voice My mind will believe what He says My voice will declare the truth of His word Today, we are continuing our series, “Asking For A Friend”. In this series we will answer your questions regarding the church, God, faith, theology or anything else that comes up! Here are a few questions that we will discuss today: How does God speak to us, Can the scriptures be trusted, and What are creeds? **(Show Graphic) As a reminder, you can write your questions and drop them in the baskets or you can send them to me via email. How Does God Speak to Us? God speaks a number of different ways. It may even be easier to answer the question, “how does God not speak to us?” Romans 10:17 (NASB95) 17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. The word used for “word” here is translated as rhema. **spoken word** Luke 24:32 (NIV) - Two Men on the road to Emmaus 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV) 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. The word used for “word” in this scripture is logos. **written word** “The logos is the general word of God that communicates his ability to do something or his general will on a matter while a rhema is the word the Holy Spirit quickens to a specific person for a specific situation. He used various analogies to describe this relationship and some are – the logos is a well of water while the rhema is a bowl of water from that well, the logos is a piano keys while the rhema is a single key playing, a logos is the entire body while the rhema is one part in operation. The logos & rhema are always in alignment with one another. Of note is this statement that the rhema could be a scripture or a word spoken to you by someone or quickened directly into your heart.” Because God is ALIVE, we read the scriptures and find that He is able to use what we’ve read to speak truth to us at any point in time. So, in these two examples we see that God can speak through written scriptures, He can speak audibly, so that stands to reason that He can also communicate with us through our other senses as well, right? A familiar smell, thought, dreams and visions, even touch(Holy Spirit goosebumps). Each of these examples are ways that He can get our attention and remind us of something or to further communicate a truth that he’s been teaching us. Psalm 119:11 (NIV) 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. John 14:26 (NIV) 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. – I encourage you to pray with me- God would you reveal to me the way you are speaking and show me how I can best tune in to your voice of direction in my life. Can the Scriptures Be Trusted? Another question I hear when we talk about reading our bibles is can it be trusted? You even hear about older texts or how could all these men keep their story straight or which translation is best, etc. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NIV) 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, 17 rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV) 13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. 2 Peter 1:16–21 (NIV) 16For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 19We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. What we have to understand about the scriptures is that much of the culture of the Bible days revolved around an oral tradition over written tradition. It’s not to say writing was out of the question, but we have the stories we have, with the accuracy because stories were TOLD to the up and coming generations. I want to show what I would consider one of the coolest graphics around. This is a timeline of bible events as scripture and other resources show. In this graphic we see the birth, life and death of the men, women & generations as well as dynasties of the world. Who wrote the first 5 books of the Bible, known as the Pentateuch? Moses. Was he present for all of the events that He wrote about? No. So, where did he get his information? We can say God and not be wrong, but to a world who doesn’t know him we have tools like this that can show a creator with a TON of wisdom when it comes to these things. As we look at the timeline images, I want to call out a few key names and facts. – Adam and His grandson Enosh had a 695 year – overlap with each other. (They had long lifespans in those days) – Enosh and Noah had a 16 year overlap, not as much but still significant! – Noah and Shem were alive before, during and after the flood. They’d be able to share all those details, right? – Shem and Abraham had 150 years to discuss these events and Abraham was the one to carry the promises of God. It’s these men who would be telling the stories for Moses to hear and then record. (250yrs) between Abraham and Moses. When I think of the facts in this manner, it’s a lot easier for me to see how God maintained the accuracy of the story and then had men like Moses write it down. – Jesus, I thank you and trust you for the Word that you have sustained for us to read, understand, and teach today. Help us to communicate it with love, grace, and accuracy as we follow after You. Amen. What are Creeds? One of the last things I want to explain today are creeds. What are they and are they valuable? A creed is a brief statement of faith used to list important truths, to clarify doctrinal points and to distinguish truth from error. The word creed comes from the Latin word credo, meaning, “I believe.” There are 3 creeds that most of the universal church accepts. The Apostles’ Creed, The Nicene Creed and the Chalcedonian Creed. As the early church spread, so did heresies, and there was the practical need to have a creed(s) that would help believers focus on the most important doctrines of the faith. One of the early creeds was known as The Apostles Creed, not because its authors were the original apostles, but because it accurately reflects the apostles’ teaching. Church fathers Irenaeus, Tertullian, Augustine and other leaders had slightly different versions of The Apostles Creed, but the text of Pirminius (ca. A.D. 750) was eventually accepted as the standard form in the Western church. The other two creeds mentioned came about as a way to clarify (because there were different interpretations and wordings that some preferred(like today). Other times it was to counter other heresies or confirm/expound on theology(was Jesus fully God and fully man)? I won’t read all, but here are the creeds The Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth; I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The Nicene Creed We believe in one God the Father, the Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again 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. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father (and the Son). With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. The Chalcedonian Creed We then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach men to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man, of a reasonable [rational] soul and body; consubstantial [coessential] with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the Manhood; in all things like unto us, without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, according to the Manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures; inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person and one Subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, and only begotten God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the prophets from the beginning [have declared] concerning him, and the Lord Jesus Christ himself has taught us; and the Creed of the holy Fathers has handed down to us. Closing It’s in these discussions of our faith where we see the value of scripture and good theology in our worship, it doesn’t mean it needs to be all hymns or all contemporary but a healthy balance! It’s vitally important that we know what we believe, that we can explain it in simple words. You don’t have to use churchy language or cite all your sources in a verbal discussion with a friend, just be willing to listen and answer when the Holy Spirit prompts you. – What will you choose to believe, to stand for today? – Do you commit to follow Jesus’ command to make disciples and teach them what He taught?