T HE A POSTLES ’ C REED P ART 3

(1) I believe in God, THE F ATHER (2) I believe in J ESUS C HRIST On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. (3) I believe in THE H OLY S PIRIT, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Creed is clearly Trinitarian. One God in three persons “The One True God exists eternally in three, distinct persons.” “one nature, three persons”

I BELIEVE IN J ESUS C HRIST... O N THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN Was his body stolen? Did he merely “swoon”?

What God do you Jews worship? The God who delivered us from Egypt! What God do you Christians worship? The God who raised Jesus from the dead! (= God who delivered Israel from Egypt)

Who is Jesus? The one who was “declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead.” Rom 1:4 Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross matters because he is the Son of God.

Christ is the “firstfruits” of the resurrection – those united to him will also one day experience resurrection. “We share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Rom 8:17

Jesus’ resurrection gives us a living hope “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3

H E ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE F ATHER

Jesus’ ascension took place 40 days after the Easter Sabbath. He was “exalted to the right hand of God” (Acts 2:33) Jesus Christ now lives in believers through the H OLY S PIRIT.

Jesus “seated at the right hand of the Father” means: He has unique favor and status He “has the Father’s ear” That is, he continually pleads our case (intercedes for us).

Jesus’ departure incited the disciples immediately to mission, as he had commanded (e.g., the book of Acts).

H E W ILL C OME A GAIN TO J UDGE THE L IVING AND THE D EAD.

Jesus will return to establish fully his promised kingdom. Jesus will come to judge all persons, whether alive or dead at the time of his coming.

Judgment is (surprisingly) a source of hope for us: by someone who knows us fully by someone passionately committed to us by someone we know and trust based on our response to Jesus

“The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him.“ John 3:35-36

I B ELIEVE IN THE H OLY S PIRIT

The S PIRIT, throughout the Biblical Story, is the person of the Trinity who gives: Life Power

The S PIRIT establishes/applies: the holy catholic Church the communion of saints the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body the life everlasting

THE HOLY CATHOLIC C HURCH

Church comes from the Greek word ekklesia, which means “those called out.” The creed speaks here of the universal (catholic) Church rather than the local church.

“There is one BODY and one S PIRIT - just as you were called to one HOPE when you were CALLED...” Eph 4:4

T HE C OMMUNION OF S AINTS

Here the emphasis is on believers as members of the body of Christ. “communion” = fellowship = koinonia koinonia means “sharing” Through the S PIRIT we share our joys and sorrows, as well as our material means.

Now to each one the manifestation of the S PIRIT is given for the common good. 1 Cor 12:7

Believers are called “saints” (holy ones) because: they responded to the call of a holy God (holiness is their calling, not their nature) they are consecrated, or set apart, for witness/mission

THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

The S PIRIT enacts our remission of debt to God reconciliation with God at God’s initiative restoration to wholeness and deliverance from danger redemption from slavery

THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY, AND THE LIFE EVERLASTING. A MEN.

Our koinonia with J ESUS through the S PIRIT gives us participation in J ESUS ’ resurrection. It also enables us to enter into the fullness of “life everlasting” N OW.

The final “amen” reminds us that the Creed is spoken not just as a statement of faith, but also as a prayer. “Amen, Lord. May these truths we have spoken become more and more a part of who we are.”

Some key themes 1.God’s historical acts in Jesus provide us with an objectively grounded future hope.

2.God through his S PIRIT establishes the Church to be a universal witness to his character and kingdom, and the local church to be the good soil in which our faith can flourish.

3.The H OLY S PIRIT applies the effects and benefits of God’s kingdom to our lives.