The Apostles Creed
“Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…” (1 Cor. 15:3-4)
In light of our desire to be Timeless & Timely, we’re going to confess the Apostles Creed as a congregation in our worship service this Sunday!
For some of you this will be very familiar, and for others it will be very unfamiliar, but this has been a feature of Christian worship for millennia. Just as the constant drip of water over the years can erode stone, the regular reciting of the Apostles Creed can shape our hearts and minds with the truth of the gospel! As Rich Mullins sang in his musical version of the Creed,
“And I believe what I believe
It's what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no, it is making me
It is the very truth of God, not the invention of any man”
As elders, we’ve talked about doing this for a while (and occasionally did it at ROCC), but I was inspired by our high schoolers and middle schoolers! They begin every youth group gathering by confessing the creed. How awesome is that!
So, what is the Apostle’s Creed?
It’s a short summary of the core beliefs of the Christian faith. It wasn’t written by the Apostles themselves, but functions as an outline of the Apostles’ teaching found in the pages of scripture. Of the four ancient creeds that we hold to at Clover Hill (the Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, and the Definition of Chalcedon), this Creed is the oldest and most foundational. It has served as a sort of “pledge of allegiance” for the Christian church of all denominations, on each continent, in every century!
As Al Mohler says, each section of the Creed reveals rich truths of scripture, including:
the profound mystery of the Trinity
the miracle of the Incarnation
the world-shaking truth of the resurrection
the hope of Christ's return
Here’s the version of the Apostles Creed that we’ll confess together as a church:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by 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 to heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there He will 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 the life everlasting. Amen!
This is timeless and unchanging truth!
As D.A. Carson shows us in this short 3 minute video, the Apostles Creed “very ably summarizes the gospel itself in just a few sentences”.
This timeless truth is timely for the day and age in which we live, as Tim Chester shows clearly when he says:
“By declaring these convictions, we’re disavowing the ideologies of our culture. We’re saying, “The triune God proclaimed in the creed is our God, and we will not worship the gods of this age.”
We say this to the world as an act of defiance. But we also declare this allegiance to our own hearts. That’s one purpose of worship: to call one another not only to the worship of God but also away from the worship of the destructive ideologies of the world and its empty priorities.
So in the Apostles’ Creed, every “I believe in God” implies a corresponding rejection of false gods. And every “I believe in God” is laying a firm foundation for the ups and downs of life.
In the face of materialism, we declare, “I believe in God, the Father almighty”. To those who claim we’re self-made, we declare, “I believe in God . . . creator of heaven and earth.” When pluralists claim all religions are essentially the same, we declare, “I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son.” Amid the moral relativism of our culture, we declare, “I believe . . . he will come to judge the living and the dead.” When the church seems powerless, we declare, “I believe in the Holy Spirit.” When guilt threatens to overwhelm our souls, we declare, “I believe in . . . the forgiveness of sins”. And when death comes knocking at our doors, we declare, “I believe in . . . the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.””
The Gospel is ever ancient, and ever fresh! Timeless and Timely!
And if you want to sing the Creed, here’s a great version put to music:
I’m looking forward to hearing our church confess these words together, words that have been used by our brothers and sisters in Christ across the globe throughout the ages!
I believe in God the Father Almighty…I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son…I believe in the Holy Spirit…Amen!
“…thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed…” (Romans 6:17)
Resources:
The Apostles Creed: I Believe In - Matt Chandler (Sermon)
This sermon is a helpful introduction to the Creed.
We Believe: The Story of the Apostles’ Creed - Brian Hanson (Article)
“As we rehearse the Creed together as a church, however regularly, we pray that God would make Hebrews 10:23 true for us — that we “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,” knowing that “he who promised is faithful.””
The Apostles Creed - Barry Cooper (Podcast - 5 min)
“The Apostles’ Creed isn’t just a statement of Christ’s past, present, and future life—it’s a reminder of our present and future lives too. Today, Barry Cooper walks us through this document that has been confessed by Christians for centuries.”
The Christian’s Pledge of Allegiance - Tony Reinke (Article)
The Apostles’ Creed first appeared around 140 AD.
It’s old — and it’s bold, bolder than we often give it credit for. In fact, the audaciousness of its historic claims easily get obscured by our familiarity with the ancient lines.
The Apostles' Creed: Discovering Authentic Christianity in an Age of Counterfeits - Al Mohler (Book)
“The Apostles' Creed is an often-overlooked treasure that contains the power to shape us for vibrant and steadfast living today, equipping believers to live faithfully in a post-Christian culture.”
9 Things You Should Know About the Apostles’ Creed - Joe Carter (Article)
“Here are nine things you should know about this ancient statement of faith.”