Archive for August, 2006

2. AND IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, OUR LORD

Matthew 3 vs. 17

‘And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”’

Matthew 17 vs. 5

‘A bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”’

Mark 8 vs. 27-30

‘On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” …

Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”

John 1 vs. 1, 14

‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We  have seen his glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’

Notice the statements from God. How the two clauses are linked only in truth?

Try meditate and ponder on Jesus Christ, being the Son of God.

Psalm 18 reads:
‘The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.’

Who is your rock, your stronghold?

Do you believe in God?

Do you believe He is almighty? Omnipotent ?

Do you believe He created heaven and earth?

Do you believe He is your Father?

As the first statement in the Apostles’ Creed, you cannot proceed or believe the rest is true, if you have your doubts about the first clause?

Seek God, and find the truth of the Almighty, who calls himself your Father.

For the next few weeks we’ll be taking a closer look at each of the clauses of the Apostles’ Creed to see how and why they are the foundational truths to our Faith.

1. I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER, ALMIGHTY, MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

Genesis 1 vs. 1

‘In the beginning God …’

Exodus 3 vs. 13-14

“‘What is his name? Then what shall I tell them?’ God said to Moses. ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

Matthew 13 vs.9

‘And do not call anyone on earth ‘father’, for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.’

Genesis 1 vs. 31, 2 vs. 1

‘God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning- the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.’

Notice today the proof of God the Father , Almighty, Maker of heaven and Earth!

Read Psalm 8

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. Thank-you that you have given us your earth and heavens to give us a glimpse of you Almighty God, our father.

I came across a few translations in my study and thought I’d share them with you for interest’s sake!

Latin Text: Symbolum Apostolicum

Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem, Creatorem caeli et terrae. Et in Iesum Christum, Filium Eius unicum, Dominum nostrum, qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus, descendit ad ínferos, tertia die resurrexit a mortuis, ascendit ad caelos, sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis, inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos. Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam, sanctorum communionem, remissionem peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem, vitam aeternam. Amen

French Text: Le Symbole des Apôtres

Je crois en Dieu, le Père tout-puissant, créateur du ciel et de la terre.

Et en Jésus-Christ, son Fils unique, notre Seigneur, qui a été conçu de Saint-Esprit, et qui est né de la Vierge Marie. Il a souffert sous Ponce Pilate, il a été crucifié, il est mort, il a été enseveli, il est descendu aux enfers. Le troisième jour il est ressuscité des morts, il est monté aux cieux, il siège à la droite de Dieu. Il viendra de là pour juger les vivants et les morts.

Je crois en l’Esprit-Saint. Je crois la Sainte Eglise catholique, la communion des saints, la rémission des péchés, la résurrection de la chair, et la vie éternelle. Amen
How does it feel knowing that something you said once in church, is actually said by Christians all the world over!

Jesus said ‘ I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father , just as you are in me and I am in you.’

A legend exists that the Apostle’ Creed came about by each of the 12 apostles adding a clause to form the whole. Great story but not true!

Segments of the creed were found as early as the second century in Christian writings. The main piece being the Old Roman creed which reads:

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 the dead. And in the Holy Spirit; the holy Church; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the flesh.

Another one just reads:

I believe in God the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord. And in the Holy Spirit, the holy Church, the resurrection of the flesh.

The Apostles’ Creed as we have it now dates to 700AD, and is used as part of the official liturgy of the Western Church. It is used as a confession of faith in baptism, as basis for teaching, worship. It became a ‘rule of faith’ to give continuity to Christian teaching in different places and the most important to us as we explore absolute truth, it is used to clearly separate the true faith from heretical deviations.

Notice a few things in the Creed:

1. The Trinitarian nature
2. The ‘heart’ of the creed being about Jesus
3. The other clauses added – why? What would the reason be?
4. Jesus humanity and deity.

Can you remember where, when and the reason for using the Apostles’ Creed in your life?

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again 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.

Read through it again, slowly and out aloud.

If I was to ask you what you believe, what would you say?

Are the points in this Creed Absolute Truth for you?

Is the ‘I’ you?