The Creed.

She knew she wanted the new life in Christ that was being offered.  If what the retreat speaker had said—that all of her past would be forgiven, that there was hope for the future, that the God of the Universe really loved her---if it was even half true . . . well, she wanted it.  When the speaker finished, and she gave the opportunity for people to enter into their own relationship with Jesus, she was on her feet and moving toward the front.  My friend was deliriously happy with her decision to become a Christian—except, what is a Christian?  Sure, being a Christian is supposed to mean a desire to follow Christ, but what does a Christian believe—or what should she believe? 

Right after Paul became a Christ follower, he went up to Jerusalem and was given a statement of faith that the new believers took and recited as their creed within just a few years of Jesus’ resurrection.  It was contained in these few verses of 1 Corinthians 15, which we looked at yesterday~

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

He was buried

He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

He appeared to Peter, and then to the twelve.

After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most who are still alive, though some have died

Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles…..

When I was a child, I used to go to the Christian Reformed church with my friend occasionally.  As a church, they regularly recited the Apostles’ Creed, (which was called that because it summarizes the apostles’ teaching).  Most people seemed to know it by memory; I just thought it was really boring.  But truthfully, the creed is the perfect tool to share with a new believer or someone who isn’t quite sure what Christians believe. 

     Christians must know the rock solid foundation upon which their faith rests.

Let’s take a look:

“I believe in God the Father Almighty.  And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary; crucified under Pontius Pilate and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and dead.  And in the Holy Spirit; the holy Church; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the flesh.”  It is brilliant!

Perhaps you would like to listen and/or watch it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3i-_VWxOAc

“The Creed” by Third Day and Brandon Heath

It is interesting, and it is also sad, to see how many people know so little about the church—about the Bible.  In teaching the Word for the past 15-plus years, I have learned that I cannot take it for granted that those listening know about either of these, or about who Jesus is, and why he matters.  The Apostles’ Creed is great for explanation, and is backed up by 16 centuries of believers standing on these same principles of truth.  Honestly, there is something within my heart that yearns for the ancient of days to penetrate what has become an all too casual worship format.

The creed takes us back to the beginning – to Creation.  Clearly, God’s revelation to mankind was in the form of Jesus Christ.  To the Mormons, the Muslims, Hindus and others who say Jesus was just a good moral teacher; this cannot be.  For “a man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.  He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be a Devil of Hell.  You must make your choice.  Either he was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse.”*  No, the creed was based on the truth of who Jesus was and is, and what he came to do.

Did you listen to it?  If not...Here it is again—it’s beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3i-_VWxOAc

I believe, I believe . . . do you?

Christine