APOSTLES’
CREED
I
believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
I
believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by
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 rose again from the dead. He ascended into 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 Christian Church, the communion
of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and
the life everlasting. Amen.
B1
Apostle’s Creed
C1
First article: I
believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
D1
I believe
E1
Believe= “What you are saying is true, the truth.” It is similar
to faith. Faith is believing God.
E2
Christian belief is what is most reasonable. It is not blind faith.
E3
Explain the difference between blind faith and reasonable faith.
D2
In God
E1
Essentially, all Christians have a good definition of God.
Calvinists, Arminians, Roman Catholics, or Orthodox groups have the
same definition.
E2
Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, etc. have a different definition.
E3
From the Literal Bible Blog site Statement of Faith: We
believe in one God, co-equal, co-eternal, and of the same essence,
who is infinitely perfect and eternally existent in three persons -
Father, Son and Holy Spirit - and that He created everything out of
nothing for His own pleasure and purpose in 6 literal, 24 hours days.
D3
The Father
E1
The “names” or designations of God as Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit are names chosen and revealed by God. These are the roles God
chose for Himself. It does not mean the Father is a superior God to
the Son or Holy Spirit.
E2
He is Father because He is creator and the Father of the Son of God,
Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary.
E3
He is Father as the Scriptures reveal Him, not necessarily as human
fathers act.
E4
Some characteristics of God the Father that human fathers must have:
F1
Love and compassion: Psalms 103:13 NRSV As
a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion
for those who fear him.
F2
Providence and care: Matthew 6:26 NRSV Look
at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into
barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more
value than they?
F3
Teaches and corrects: Proverbs 3:11-12 WEB My
son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline, neither be weary of his
reproof: 12 for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves; even as a
father reproves the son in whom he delights.
F4
And
these characteristics: Psalms
86:15 NKJV But
You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
D4
Almighty
E1
Here we think of the omni’s of God.
F1
Omnipotent
G1
Testified in God’s presence: Job 42:2 NRSV "I know
that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be
thwarted.
G2
Jesus proclaims: Mark 10:26-27 WEL 26 And they were extremely
amazed saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" 27
Jesus looking at them said, "With people [this is] impossible
but not with God, for with God all things are possible."
G3
God is able to make us able: Philippians 4:13 NKJV I can do
all things through Christ who strengthens me.
F2
Omnipresent
G1
Psalms 139:7-8 NRSV Where can I go from your spirit? Or
where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to
heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
G2
Jeremiah 23:23-24 NRSV Am I a God near by, says the LORD,
and not a God far off? 24 Who can hide in secret places
so that I cannot see them? says the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and
earth? says the LORD.
G3
Proverbs 15:3 NRSV The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
F3
Omniscient
G1
His understanding is infinite: Psalms 147:5 WEB Great is our
Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite.
G2
His understanding is beyond our comprehension: Isaiah 40:28 NRSV
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.
G3
He knows everything in the past and the future: Isaiah 46:9-10 NRSV
remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no
other; I am God, and there is no one like me, 10
declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things
not yet done, saying, "My purpose shall stand, and I will
fulfill my intention.
F4
Omnisapient (Perfect and complete wisdom)
G1
Beyond our understanding: Romans 11:33-34 NRSV O the depth
of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are
his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 "For
who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?
G2
Wisdom to make a perfect creation (before Adam’s sin): Proverbs
3:19-20 NRSV The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by
understanding he established the heavens; 20 by his
knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.
G3
Jesus has all wisdom: Colossians 2:2-3 NRSV I want their
hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all
the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God's
mystery, that is, Christ himself, 3 in whom are hidden
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
F5
Omnibenevolent
G1
Examples from the life of Messiah Jesus: Acts 10:38 NRSV how
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power;
how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by
the devil, for God was with him.
G2
None good like God: Luke 18:19 NRSV Jesus said to him, "Why
do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.
G3
Good comes from God: James 1:17 WEB Every good gift and
every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of
lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.
E2
Sovereignty
F1
God can do anything He wants at any time.
F2
No one can stop Him in any way.
F3
God occasionally has conditions depending on one’s choice. These
conditions are part of His will.
G1
God’s conditions are based on love.
G2
They are true conditions, if He states the condition.
H1
Good choice: Psalms 119:30 WEB I have chosen the way of
truth. I have set your ordinances before me. (Some translations
use faithfulness for the Hebrew word. It is translated as truth in
other passages. Personally, I think the idea of faithfulness is
inherent in the word chosen).
H2
Bad choice: Proverbs 1:29 NRSV Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the LORD.
G3
1 Kings 18:21 NRSV Elijah then came near to all the people,
and said, "How long will you go limping with two different
opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow
him." The people did not answer him a word.
G4
After God sovereignly opens our eyes and heart, we must make a
choice: Matthew 7:13-14 NRSV "Enter through the narrow
gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to
destruction, and there are many who take it. 14 For the
gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are
few who find it.
F4
God sovereignly decrees a measure of liberation free will, for love
is a choice.
F5
God cannot do what is against His nature or illogical things.
G1
God cannot lie: Hebrews 6:18 WEB that by two immutable
things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a
strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the
hope set before us.
G2
God cannot make something that is too big to carry.
D5
Maker of heaven and earth
E1
The universe did not come from nothing; it was created from nothing.
F1
Genesis 1:1-2 WEB In the beginning, God created the heavens
and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty.
Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was
hovering over the surface of the waters.
F2
Hebrews 1:10 WEB And, “You, Lord, in the beginning, laid
the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.
F3
Psalms 33:6-9 GNB The LORD created the heavens by his
command, the sun, moon, and stars by his spoken word. 7
He gathered all the seas into one place; he shut up the ocean depths
in storerooms. 8 Worship the LORD, all the earth! Honor
him, all peoples of the world! 9 When he spoke, the world
was created; at his command everything appeared.
E2
Design has shown everything to be very complex.
F1
Psalms 19:1 NRSV To the leader. A Psalm of David. The
heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his
handiwork.
F2
Romans 1:19-20 NRSV For what can be known about God is plain
to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 Ever since
the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature,
invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the
things he has made. So they are without excuse.
F3
When something is made, it assumes a designer as well as a craftsman:
Hebrews 3:4 NRSV (For every house is built by someone, but
the builder of all things is God.)
E3
A master genius is the only source of the universe.
F1
Isaiah 44:24 NRSV Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who
formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone
stretched out the heavens, who by myself spread out the earth.
F2
Psalms 8:3 GNB When I look at the sky, which you have made,
at the moon and the stars, which you set in their places
F3
Psalms 19:1 NRSV To the leader. A Psalm of David. The
heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his
handiwork.
E4
God created all things in 6, 24 hour days.
F1
Exodus 20:11 NRSV For in six days the LORD made heaven and
earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day;
therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.
F2
Exodus 31:17 NKJV ‘It [is] a sign between Me and the children of
Israel forever; for [in] six days the LORD made the heavens and the
earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.
F3
The literal gives the best sense: Genesis 1:5 LITV And God
called the light, Day. And He called the darkness, Night. And there
was evening, and there was morning the first day.
C2
Second article: I
believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by
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 rose again from the dead. He ascended into 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.
D1
I believe The same as above. It is an affirmation of our
Christianity.
D2
Jesus Christ
E1
This is the man Jesus. He is fully man—body, soul, and spirit.
F1
John 1:14 NRSV And the Word became flesh and lived among us,
and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full
of grace and truth.
F2
1 John 4:2 NRSV By this you know the Spirit of God: every
spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from
God.
F3
Philippians 2:7 NRSV but emptied himself, taking the form of
a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form.
F4
Matthew 27:50 NKJV And Jesus cried out again with a loud
voice, and yielded up His spirit.
F5
John 12:27 NRSV Now my soul is troubled. And what should I
say—'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it is for this reason
that I have come to this hour.
E2
This is the God Jesus. He is fully God.
F1
John 20:28 NRSV Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my
God!"
F2
John 5:18 GNB92 This saying made the Jewish authorities all the
more determined to kill him; not only had he broken the Sabbath law,
but he had said that God was his own Father and in this way had made
himself equal with God.
F3
Colossians 2:9 NRSV For in him the whole fullness of deity
dwells bodily.
E3
He is one person with 2 natures.
E4
He is not a mixture.
D3
His only Son
E1
God has only one begotten Son.
F1
Prophesied: Psalms 2:7 NRSV I will tell of the decree of the
LORD: He said to me, "You are my son; today I have begotten you.
F2
Born: Matthew 1:23 NRSV "Look, the virgin shall
conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,"
which means, "God is with us."
F3
Revealed: Matthew 3:17 NRSV And a voice from heaven said,
"This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."
F4
Is exalted: Hebrews 1:5 NRSV For to which of the angels did
God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you"?
Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"?
F4
Is Son and THE High Priest: Hebrews 5:5 NRSV So also Christ
did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed
by the one who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have
begotten you
E2
Believers are sons and daughters by adoption.
F1
John 1:12 NRSV But to all who received him, who believed in
his name, he gave power to become children of God.
F2
Ephesians 1:5 GNB God had already decided that through Jesus
Christ he would make us his children—this was his pleasure and
purpose.
D4
Our Lord
E1
Jesus is Lord of the church.
F1
Ephesians 1:22 NRSV And he has put all things under his feet
and has made him the head over all things for the church.
F2
Colossians 1:18 NRSV He is the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might
come to have first place in everything.
E2
He is Lord of creation.
F1
Zechariah 6:5 NRSV The angel answered me, "These are
the four winds of heaven going out, after presenting themselves
before the Lord of all the earth.
F2
Deuteronomy 10:17 NRSV For the LORD your God is God of gods
and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not
partial and takes no bribe.
F3
Revelation 17:14 NRSV they will make war on the Lamb, and
the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of
kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.
E3
He is Lord of judgment.
F1
John 5:22 NRSV The Father judges no one but has given all
judgment to the Son.
F2
John 5:26-27 NRSV For just as the Father has life in
himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; 27
and he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the
Son of Man.
F3
Acts 10:42 NRSV He commanded us to preach to the people and
to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living
and the dead.
D5
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
E1
Jesus had a supernatural birth.
F1
Isaiah 7:14 WEB Therefore the Lord himself will give you a
sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall
call his name Immanuel.
F2
Luke 2
E2
No human fathered Jesus.
F1
Luke 1:35 NKJV And the angel answered and said to her, "The
Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will
overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will
be called the Son of God.
F2
Matthew 1:20 WPNT But while he pondered these things, wow, an
angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying: “Joseph, son
of David, do not be afraid to receive Mary as your wife, because that
which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
D6
Born of the virgin Mary
E1
Mary was not just a young woman. The Greek word Dr. Luke used is
virgin.
F1
Luke 1:27 NRSV to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was
Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
F2
παρθένος, -ου, ἡ Gloss: virgin (male and female), one
who has never engaged in sexual relations (Source).
E2
Mary was medically a virgin.
D7
Suffered under Pontius Pilate
E1
Jesus was scourged: John 19:1 NKJV So then Pilate took Jesus
and scourged Him.
E2
Jesus was mocked: Luke 22:63 NRSV Now the men who were
holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him.
E3
Jesus was ordered to be killed by Pontius Pilate: Mark 15:15 NRSV
So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for
them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
D8
Was crucified
E1
He was nailed to a cross.
E2
He was crucified Roman style.
D9
Died
E1
He was fully dead. It was confirmed by soldiers: John 19:32-34 NRSV
Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the
other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they
came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break
his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his
side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.
E2
He died voluntarily, not as a result of crucifixion. John 19:30 NRSV
When
Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished."
Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
D10
Was buried
E1
He was not cast out and eaten by dogs.
E2
He did not revive on the way to the tomb.
E3
Matthew 14:12 NRSV His disciples came and took the body and
buried it; then they went and told Jesus.
E4
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NKJV For I delivered to you first of
all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried,
and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
D11
He descended into hell
E1
He went to Hades. Acts 2:31 WPNT he
foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah, that His
soul was not abandoned in Hades, nor did His flesh see decay.
E2
He did not suffer from satan.
E3
He did preach that He was Messiah and His victory over sin.
F1
1 Peter 3:18-20 NKJV For Christ also suffered once for sins,
the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to
death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by
whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20
who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering
waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in
which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
F2
There is considerable disagreement on the interpretation.
G1
First
H1
Spirit in verse 18 refers to Jesus’s spirit.
H2
Jesus’s spirit preached to the spirits in prison.
H3
These were those who died in Noah’s flood.
H4
They were informed of Messiah and His victory over sin.
H5
This interpretation doesn’t lend any support to a second chance for
salvation, which must be done by, not sight. Judgment is after death
(Hebrews 9:27 NKJV And as it is appointed for men to die
once, but after this the judgment).
G2
Second
H1
Spirit in verse 18 refers to the Holy Spirit.
H2
Noah preached the Gospel to people before the flood. God’s Spirit
blessed his preaching. The Holy Spirit was sent by the Lord Jesus.
H3
Jesus didn’t preach in the three days between His death and
resurrection.
H4
This seems more reasonable based on the plain, normal sense of the
passage and the context of the rest of Scripture.
F3
Make alive by the Spirit refers to Jesus’s resurrection.
D12
The third day he rose again from the dead
E1
Probably crucified on Thursday.
E2
Some believe His crucifixion was Wednesday, OR Thursday, OR Friday.
E3
Nevertheless, it was 3 days and nights.
F1
Predicted: Mark 10:34 WPNT and
they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him.
And on the third day He will rise again.”
F2
Secured by His enemies: Matthew 27:64 WPNT Therefore
command that the grave be made secure until the third day, lest His
disciples come by night and steal Him and say to the people, ‘He
was raised from the dead’, and the last deception will be worse
than the first.”
F3
Witnessed. It even happened while guarded by the Romans soldiers.
Luke 24:21-24 WPNT And
we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel!
Further, besides all this, today is the third day since these things
happened. Moreover certain women of our group astonished
us—arriving early at the tomb, and not finding his body, they
came saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said he
was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the
tomb and found it just as the women had said; but him they didn’t
see.”
D13
He ascended into heaven: Acts 1:9-11 NRSV When
he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a
cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going
and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white
robes stood by them. 11 They said, "Men of Galilee,
why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been
taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw
him go into heaven."
D14
And is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty
E1
Waits in this place of honor: Acts 5:31 WPNT Him
God has exalted to His right hand as Prince and Savior, to give
repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
E2
Intercedes for His people: Romans 8:34 WPNT Who
is he who condemns? Christ is He who died, but even more, was indeed
raised, who indeed is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes
on our behalf.
D15
From there he will come to judge
E1
2 Timothy 4:1 WPNT Now
then, in the presence of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about
to judge both living and dead with a view to His appearing and His
Kingdom, I give you this charge.
E2
Romans 2:16 WPNT in
the day when God, according to my Gospel, will judge people’s
secrets by Jesus Christ.
E3
John 5:22 WPNT In
fact the Father does not judge anyone but has committed all the
judging to the Son.
D16
The living and the dead
E1
The living are those who are alive at His return as in Zechariah 14.
E2
The dead are conscious.
E3
John 5:22 NRSV The Father judges no one but has given all
judgment to the Son.
E4
Acts 10:39-43 NRSV We are witnesses to all that he did both
in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a
tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed
him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who
were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after
he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to
the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge
of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify
about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of
sins through his name.
C3
Third article: I
believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion
of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and
the life everlasting. Amen.
D1
I believe
D2
In the Holy Spirit
E1
He is a person, not just a force. John 16:13 WPNT However,
when He, the Spirit of the Truth, has come, He will guide you into
all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but He will speak
whatever He hears. He will also communicate to you the things that
are coming.
E2
Acts 5:3-4 WPNT So
Peter said: “Ananias, on what basis has Satan filled your heart to
lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the
price of the land? While it remained [unsold] was it not yours,
and once sold was it not in your power? How is it that you have
conceived this thing in your heart? You did not lie to men but to
God.”
D3
The holy Christian Church
E1
The church is not an organization.
F1
Romans 12:5 NRSV so we, who are many, are one body in
Christ, and individually we are members one of another.
F2
Colossians 1:18 NRSV He is the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might
come to have first place in everything.
E2
The church is a family of believers.
F1
1 Peter 2:17 NRSV Honor everyone. Love the family of
believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
F2
Galatians 6:10 NRSV So then, whenever we have an
opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for
those of the family of faith.
D4
The communion of saints
E1
We are a fellowship with each other and with God Himself: 1 John 1:3
WPNT that
which we have seen and heard we declare to you, so that you also may
have fellowship with us; indeed, our fellowship is with the Father
and with His Son, Jesus Christ.
E2
We were created for fellowship. Genesis 3:8 GNB92 That
evening they heard the LORD God walking in the garden, and they hid
from him among the trees.
E3
1 Corinthians 10:17 WPNT Since
the loaf is one, we, the many, are one body, because we all partake
of that single loaf.
D5
The forgiveness of sins
E1
1 John 1:9 GNB92 But
if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what
is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our
wrongdoing.
E2
Ephesians 1:7 NKJV In
Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of His grace.
D6
The resurrection of the body
E1
This refers to our resurrection.
E2
It is promised.
F1
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 NKJV Now
if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do
some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But
if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.
And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching [is] empty and
your faith [is] also empty. Yes, and we are found false
witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up
Christ, whom He did not raise up–if in fact the dead do not rise.
For if [the] dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And
if Christ is not risen, your faith [is] futile; you are still in your
sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have
perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are
of all men the most pitiable.
And more through the whole chapter.
F2
1 Thessalonians 4:16 HCSB For
the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the
archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in
Christ will rise first.
D7
and the life everlasting.
E1
Matthew 25:46 HCSB “And
they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into
eternal life.”
E2
1 John 5:11 HCSB And
this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life
is in His Son.
D8
Amen
