What the Church Believes: The Apostles’ Creed (Part 3)
Ephesians 4:1-6
This is the third and final week on the Apostles’ Creed. It begins with “I believe” and touches on all the major doctrines of the Christian faith. Most churches around the world and across denominations have solemnly recited this for over 2,000 years. Yet not once, in the 24 years I’ve pastored, have I ever offered Sunday messages on the meaning and the larger purpose of the Apostles’ Creed. Anyone a bit curious about, “why now?”
I’m offering “back to the basics” sermons this fall because I’m convinced, more than ever before in my ministry, that every Christian needs to know the fundamentals of their faith. Our church attendance is declining across much of America; millions have no idea what’s contained in the Bible. Meanwhile so many people are seeking truth - they want real answers for the unmet needs in life. People are lonely, without hope… they see nothing good in their future. We, my brothers and sisters in Christ, possess the life-changing, joy-filled message they seek; it is packaged up in this amazing, powerful creed.
Do you know that in the early church, new believers learned this creed so they could recite it with others in worship - but it was also used as a teaching tool for sharing their faith with seekers! It was an ancient way of sharing the message of salvation. Can you see how possible it might be for us to do the same thing? If a grandchild in middle school asked you if you believed in God, or someone at work, can you see how this creed could help you explain? You could say, I believe…
I believe in the Holy Spirit
This a good lead-in to this week’s portion of the creed. We pick up with “I believe in the Holy Spirit”. That is the in-dwelling presence of God that fully enters us when we become Christians. I think of it as our holy power source, always available, helping us do what we never could on our own. Do you know that the Holy Spirit helps open our eyes to see and understand Scripture’s full, deep truths? It helps convict us when we sin, giving us the choice to stop. It empowers us to use our spiritual gifts to build up God’s church. The Holy Spirit also gives us wisdom about God’s will for our lives - may we always listen well. It empowers us to witness about our faith, knowing God will give us the right words when we need them. The Holy Spirit also helps us as we pray for others. It can carry our needs to God as well, when we may not have any words in us because of pain or loss. There is far more I would love to share about the Holy Spirit, but for today let’s praise God for this great gift, given by God to empower us to live holy and faithful lives as Christians.
I believe in the holy catholic Church
The next phrase in the creed, “I believe in the holy catholic Church”, made me feel vaguely uncomfortable for years. As a youth I wondered why grown-ups hadn’t noticed this obvious misprint in their worship book. I was not a Catholic. My solution, to be on the safe side, was to skip over the word. I thought saying “catholic”, capitalized or not, meant I was confessing I was Roman Catholic. Have you, or others you know, had some similar, anxious thoughts? Now I know that catholic, with a lower case “c” means universal. I can happily affirm that; I do believe Christ’s churches are universal, all around the world.
There are two other important words to look at here. We say the church is holy; that means something is “set apart for God”. We say “the Holy Bible” because we believe it comes from God and belongs to God. If someone has a holy calling, it means it comes from God. So when we say the church is holy, we’re saying it comes from and belongs to God.
We also say we believe in the church. That can sneak right past our awareness. I bet you know people who boast they don’t need “the church”; they can commune with God out in nature. Or they toss out how the church is full of hypocrites. What they mean is, “I don’t want to go in that building, among those Christians; I know they are sinners just like I am, so why should I go in and mix with them?” Jesus knows how outsiders can judge the church. But we on the inside are grateful Jesus established the church. He in His wisdom knew we need to regularly gather each week so we can learn, pray, worship and grow in holiness, and wholeness, together. If you know Christians who haven’t been in church lately, or in a long time, I urge you to invite them. Say it with love and let God work on their hearts. You could tell them what a difference it makes in your week or life. They may just say yes and discover again, or maybe for the first time, the goodness of this imperfect fellowship of faith that we call church.
I believe in the communion of saints
Next in the creed is the communion of saints. The word "saint" was used in the Bible for Christians who are alive, not dead. Knowing that, what we’re affirming is the common bond we can have with other Christians, no matter where they may live. If you’ve ever gone to a Christian concert, a weekend retreat, or a conference, you’ll get a chance to meet plenty of fellow Christians. Some close connections can form, enriching us in our faith and life. Let’s intentionally cultivate that; meeting up with other Christians has been valued and valuable for Christians for a long time.
I believe in the forgiveness of sins
The next phrase in the creed is “the forgiveness of sins”. Have you ever heard it said that “If our sins are forgiven, everything else in life is details. But if sins are not forgiven, nothing else in life really matters”? That’s a pretty simple way to look at sin, but we get the point. Every one of us has a “sin problem” to deal with, don’t we? We recognize that and so does God. What amazes me is that while we were still busy sinning, Jesus died to pardon all of your sins. What kind of amazing love is that? It says in Exodus 34:6-7, “We have a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, One who forgives sin.”
This is expressed in Scripture in many ways:
I believe in the resurrection of the body
Our next affirmation in the creed is “I believe in the resurrection of the body.” In the early, early years of the church it was worded as “I believe in the resurrection of the flesh!” That’s pretty visual. Yet each of these is exactly what we’re told will happen when Christians die. I want to squeeze in another reason it may have been put in the creed: it might have helped counter the popular beliefs of early Greeks. They believed human bodies are just containers, a sort of outside covering. When people die their soul slips out and is free, hovering about. The Hindus have a similar belief.
But the apostles - they absolutely disagreed! They were eyewitnesses who saw Jesus Christ resurrected; they talked and laughed with him, ate meals and shared several weeks in his presence, along with more than 500 other people. That’s a lot of witnesses, each one saying Jesus had his normal, recognizable body. The Apostle Paul describes our resurrection this way: “This mortal body must put on immortality, this perishable body put on imperishability.” We cannot imagine what that will be like, no more than a baby in its mother’s womb can know the reality of entering the world.
I believe in the life everlasting
The final line in the creed says we believe in life everlasting. Imagine your body resurrected - you’re with Jesus in the realm of beauty and perfection we call heaven. Jesus called it paradise. Time, as we keep track of it, will be no more. Once we’re with God, we’ll truly understand that this earthly world was ours for a while; we knew happiness and found satisfaction. But what awaits us is expansively more. Our finite minds cannot grasp this future. But we believe it will be ours, this new abode, our forever home.
That is almost the end of the Apostles’ Creed. One tiny word remains; it reminds me of a small caboose at the end of a long train. Don’t think it isn’t vitally important to the whole. The last word of the creed is “Amen” - that means, “it is true”. We are saying that the whole creed, every word of it, is true. We believe that. I believe that. I believe. Amen.
I’m offering “back to the basics” sermons this fall because I’m convinced, more than ever before in my ministry, that every Christian needs to know the fundamentals of their faith. Our church attendance is declining across much of America; millions have no idea what’s contained in the Bible. Meanwhile so many people are seeking truth - they want real answers for the unmet needs in life. People are lonely, without hope… they see nothing good in their future. We, my brothers and sisters in Christ, possess the life-changing, joy-filled message they seek; it is packaged up in this amazing, powerful creed.
Do you know that in the early church, new believers learned this creed so they could recite it with others in worship - but it was also used as a teaching tool for sharing their faith with seekers! It was an ancient way of sharing the message of salvation. Can you see how possible it might be for us to do the same thing? If a grandchild in middle school asked you if you believed in God, or someone at work, can you see how this creed could help you explain? You could say, I believe…
I believe in the Holy Spirit
This a good lead-in to this week’s portion of the creed. We pick up with “I believe in the Holy Spirit”. That is the in-dwelling presence of God that fully enters us when we become Christians. I think of it as our holy power source, always available, helping us do what we never could on our own. Do you know that the Holy Spirit helps open our eyes to see and understand Scripture’s full, deep truths? It helps convict us when we sin, giving us the choice to stop. It empowers us to use our spiritual gifts to build up God’s church. The Holy Spirit also gives us wisdom about God’s will for our lives - may we always listen well. It empowers us to witness about our faith, knowing God will give us the right words when we need them. The Holy Spirit also helps us as we pray for others. It can carry our needs to God as well, when we may not have any words in us because of pain or loss. There is far more I would love to share about the Holy Spirit, but for today let’s praise God for this great gift, given by God to empower us to live holy and faithful lives as Christians.
I believe in the holy catholic Church
The next phrase in the creed, “I believe in the holy catholic Church”, made me feel vaguely uncomfortable for years. As a youth I wondered why grown-ups hadn’t noticed this obvious misprint in their worship book. I was not a Catholic. My solution, to be on the safe side, was to skip over the word. I thought saying “catholic”, capitalized or not, meant I was confessing I was Roman Catholic. Have you, or others you know, had some similar, anxious thoughts? Now I know that catholic, with a lower case “c” means universal. I can happily affirm that; I do believe Christ’s churches are universal, all around the world.
There are two other important words to look at here. We say the church is holy; that means something is “set apart for God”. We say “the Holy Bible” because we believe it comes from God and belongs to God. If someone has a holy calling, it means it comes from God. So when we say the church is holy, we’re saying it comes from and belongs to God.
We also say we believe in the church. That can sneak right past our awareness. I bet you know people who boast they don’t need “the church”; they can commune with God out in nature. Or they toss out how the church is full of hypocrites. What they mean is, “I don’t want to go in that building, among those Christians; I know they are sinners just like I am, so why should I go in and mix with them?” Jesus knows how outsiders can judge the church. But we on the inside are grateful Jesus established the church. He in His wisdom knew we need to regularly gather each week so we can learn, pray, worship and grow in holiness, and wholeness, together. If you know Christians who haven’t been in church lately, or in a long time, I urge you to invite them. Say it with love and let God work on their hearts. You could tell them what a difference it makes in your week or life. They may just say yes and discover again, or maybe for the first time, the goodness of this imperfect fellowship of faith that we call church.
I believe in the communion of saints
Next in the creed is the communion of saints. The word "saint" was used in the Bible for Christians who are alive, not dead. Knowing that, what we’re affirming is the common bond we can have with other Christians, no matter where they may live. If you’ve ever gone to a Christian concert, a weekend retreat, or a conference, you’ll get a chance to meet plenty of fellow Christians. Some close connections can form, enriching us in our faith and life. Let’s intentionally cultivate that; meeting up with other Christians has been valued and valuable for Christians for a long time.
I believe in the forgiveness of sins
The next phrase in the creed is “the forgiveness of sins”. Have you ever heard it said that “If our sins are forgiven, everything else in life is details. But if sins are not forgiven, nothing else in life really matters”? That’s a pretty simple way to look at sin, but we get the point. Every one of us has a “sin problem” to deal with, don’t we? We recognize that and so does God. What amazes me is that while we were still busy sinning, Jesus died to pardon all of your sins. What kind of amazing love is that? It says in Exodus 34:6-7, “We have a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, One who forgives sin.”
This is expressed in Scripture in many ways:
- God forgets our sins, choosing to remember them no more;
- God buries our sins in the depths of the ocean;
- God takes our sins, and they are far away from us as the East is from the West.
I believe in the resurrection of the body
Our next affirmation in the creed is “I believe in the resurrection of the body.” In the early, early years of the church it was worded as “I believe in the resurrection of the flesh!” That’s pretty visual. Yet each of these is exactly what we’re told will happen when Christians die. I want to squeeze in another reason it may have been put in the creed: it might have helped counter the popular beliefs of early Greeks. They believed human bodies are just containers, a sort of outside covering. When people die their soul slips out and is free, hovering about. The Hindus have a similar belief.
But the apostles - they absolutely disagreed! They were eyewitnesses who saw Jesus Christ resurrected; they talked and laughed with him, ate meals and shared several weeks in his presence, along with more than 500 other people. That’s a lot of witnesses, each one saying Jesus had his normal, recognizable body. The Apostle Paul describes our resurrection this way: “This mortal body must put on immortality, this perishable body put on imperishability.” We cannot imagine what that will be like, no more than a baby in its mother’s womb can know the reality of entering the world.
I believe in the life everlasting
The final line in the creed says we believe in life everlasting. Imagine your body resurrected - you’re with Jesus in the realm of beauty and perfection we call heaven. Jesus called it paradise. Time, as we keep track of it, will be no more. Once we’re with God, we’ll truly understand that this earthly world was ours for a while; we knew happiness and found satisfaction. But what awaits us is expansively more. Our finite minds cannot grasp this future. But we believe it will be ours, this new abode, our forever home.
That is almost the end of the Apostles’ Creed. One tiny word remains; it reminds me of a small caboose at the end of a long train. Don’t think it isn’t vitally important to the whole. The last word of the creed is “Amen” - that means, “it is true”. We are saying that the whole creed, every word of it, is true. We believe that. I believe that. I believe. Amen.