I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
    born of the Virgin Mary,
    suffered under Pontius Pilate,
    was crucified, died, and was 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 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 life everlasting.

Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed

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INTRODUCTION

The Apostles’ Creed was not written by the Twelve Apostles.

It ‘grew’ between the third and fifth centuries as more clauses were added to it until we have it in its present form.

Converts, apparently, would recite this creed prior to their baptism.

We will examine what it says … why it says it ! … and what it omits !

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I BELIEVE ….. what does this mean? Mere mental assent to the doctrines here mentioned? See James 2:19 !! Does that mean the demons would be able to recite the Apostle’s Creed? See Psalm 116:10. Romans 1:16.

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IN GOD THE FATHER …. What are some of the other ‘gods’ mentioned in the Bible?

What are some of the ‘gods’ worshiped in our society … today !?

Is God the “Father” of all people? (Malachi 2:10; Matthew 13:38; Galatians 4:6.)

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ALMIGHTY … but are there not some things God cannot do? (Titus 1:2 ; James :13)

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MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH … Christians believe in Creation , not evolution. Various species may have ‘evolved’ within themselves (e.g. known as micro-evolution .) Dogs such as alsatians, dingoes and hyenas may all have a common ancestor. Likewise in the world of botany ..varieties of roses would stem from a common rose (I guess!) … even the different races of mankind all stem from Adam and Eve).

But everything was created “after its kind” (Genesis 1:11,12,21,24,25) one species did not evolve into a new species.

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AND IN JESUS CHRIST …Jesus means “Saviour” And there is none other.(Acts 4:10-12)

Christ is the Greek form of the Hebrew word , “Messiah” . Christ is not a name , it is a Title. The word means “anointed”. Just as Prophets & Priests and Kings were anointed for their role in Old Testament days , so the Lord Jesus embraces all three roles in His one person.

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HIS ONLY SON …. Here we have a reference to our Lord’s Deity. ( John 1:1) In His nature, the Lord Jesus equally God as is the Father …. just as my son is equally human as I am. But the Lord Jesus , as a Son , is subordinate in His relationship to the Father …just as my son is subordinate ( or is supposed to be ! ) to me ! (1 Corinthians 15:23-28)

(Hebrews 10:5-7)

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OUR LORD … See the confession of Thomas …John 20:28 ! Is that your confession, too ?

Luke 6:46 … mmm!! What are some of the commands those who call Him “Lord” are expected to obey ?

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WHO WAS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY GHOST …. Here is the miracle of the Incarnation. Jesus was born like any other Judean infant , tho’ not all were born in stables ! But the conception was miraculous. It was foretold by Isaiah 700 years previous. ( Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22-23)

This is not the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception as taught by the Church of Rome. That, they teach ( but not the Bible ) , refers to Mary’s miraculous conception !!

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BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY … Luke 1:34; Matthew 1:18.

Whilst not venerating her ( as do the Roman Catholics) Protestants see her as an outstanding example of faithfulness to her Lord. ( Luke 1:38)

It has been suggested that this and other clauses in the Apostle’s Creed are included to combat Gnosticism, an early heresy that denied the humanity of the Lord Jesus.

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SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE … the Roman procurator who had Him scourged to try and satisfy the Jews who clamored for His death. (Matthew 27: 26-29)

Again , this was contrary to Gnostic teaching …

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WAS CRUCIFIED , DEAD, AND BURIED… Jesus really died. Gnostics may say such was impossible. Some Liberal theologians said He only swooned and then let Himself out of the tomb. Moslems thing His disciples rescued Him from the cross and put another (Judas ?) there in His place. Christians believe the testimony of Scripture …He really died.

And was buried!! It is noteworthy that Paul stresses the burial as part of the Gospel !

(1 Corinthians 15: 1-4). Why does “ and was buried” receive special mention ? ?

HE DESCENDED INTO HELL .

The Greek word is “ Hades” … realm of departed spirits. ( Acts 2: 27,31) This is a quotation from Psalm 16:10 where the Hebrew word “Sheol” is translated “Hell”

It is not the grave … nor is it the final Hell ( Gehenna) into which death and hades are finally cast. ( Revelation 20:14)

The question is … did the Lord Jesus “suffer” in Hades? Or did He only go to the part known by the Jews as “ Abraham’s Bosom”? ( Luke 16: 23)

Did the Lord Jesus atone for sin as He suffered in the torments of Hades ( as some charismatics teach .)?? Or on the Cross ?

What did He do in Hades ? … does Ephesians 4:8 shed any light on the subject ?

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THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD…. Does the Bible teach Jesus died on Good Friday and rose early on Easter Sunday ? How does one fit “ Three days and three nights” into that ? ( Matthew 12:40) How did His resurrection differ with that of Lazarus ? Was His resurrection bodily … or only in the hearts and minds of the disciples?

What was different about His resurrection body to ours ?

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HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN … And the promise to the apostles was that He would come again as they saw Him go ! (Acts 1:11) He is described as our “ mediator , the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5. Does this mean He still has a resurrection body ? That He still has a nature that combines humanity and Deity ?

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AND SITTETH …. Unlike the Old Testament Priests who stood daily …for their work was never done. ( Hebrews 10:11-12)

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AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY … The word “ right hand” in this clause is figurative language. (God the Father is a Spirit.) It symbolizes a place of honour. The Son is exalted. At His feet, one day , every knee shall bow … some because they want to do so ; some because they must acknowledge that He was the Saviour they rejected before they hear the sentence of judgement passed upon them. (Philip. 2: 9-11)

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FROM THENCE HE SHALL COME … The Second Coming of Christ is clearly taught in the Scriptures , the creeds and the hymnology of the Church.

Not until comparatively recent times has the theory been advanced that there are two “comings” seven years apart. First “for His saints …known as the Rapture” and then “ with His saints known as the “revelation” . Then 1000 years later is the “third coming” when Eternity commences. Such is the prophetic scenario known as Dispensationalism.

It was not a part of any creed nor Church teaching for 1900 years.

See John 5:28-29, Matthew 13:41-43; 1 Thess. 4:16-18. etc. etc. etc.

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TO JUDGE THE QUICK ( LIVING ) AND THE DEAD. … His Return will issue in Judgment Day. Acts 17:30-31 .

The sheep will be separated from the goats. (Matthew 25:31-46 ) Note verse 46 !!