Apostles' Creed

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 hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
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 (universal) church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Introduction

Today, I would like to examine the foundational doctrines of the Christian faith, as summarized in the Apostles' Creed. This ancient creed, one of the oldest and most widely accepted statements of faith in Christianity, succinctly summarizes the core beliefs that define our faith. The creed serves not only as a declaration of what we believe but also as the foundation upon which we build our lives as followers of Christ.

The Apostles' Creed is not merely a statement of doctrine, but a declaration of the essence of our faith, linking us to the universal Church and to all God's people in past, present, and future ages. In seven points, let us look at the basic doctrines taught by the Apostles' Creed.

1.Faith in God the Father

The Apostles' Creed proclaims faith in God the Father as Creator:

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

Our God is not a distant or indifferent being but our Father who wants to be intimately involved in our lives. God's omnipotent power is revealed in the creation that surrounds us. God's fatherly care for all creation, including human beings, is a source of comfort and security to us. When we remember this, we can recognize that we belong to the Lord and that all of our being and possessions come from His loving hand.

2.Faith in Jesus Christ, His Son

The Apostles' Creed proclaims faith in Jesus Christ:

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 hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
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.

It also describes Jesus' passion, crucifixion, death, and burial under Pontius Pilate, grounding our faith in the historical reality of His life and sacrifice.
Jesus' ascension to heaven and exaltation to the right throne of God the Father signifies His authority over all things. From there Jesus comes to judge the living and the dead.

3.Faith in the Holy Spirit

The Apostles' Creed declares faith in the Holy Spirit:

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is the Spirit of God within us who guides us, comforts us, and empowers us to live out our lives with challenges through faith. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, illuminates the Scriptures, and empowers the Church to fulfill its mission to the world.

4.Faith in the Church and the Communion of Saints

The Apostles' Creed proclaims faith in the Church and in the communion of saints:

I believe in...the holy catholic (universal) church, the communion of saints,

The term “the holy catholic (universal) church, the communion of saints” means “the universal church,” the body of Christ that is universal and transcends time and place, including all God's people, past, present, and future. The communion of saints emphasizes the spiritual unity and fellowship we share with all Christians across time and space. We are part of a larger community of faith, united by Christ, interconnected across time and borders.

5.Faith in the Forgiveness of Sins

The Apostles' Creed proclaims faith in the forgiveness of sins:

I believe in... the forgiveness of sins,

The forgiveness of sins is a central tenet of our faith. Through Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection, we are forgiven and freed from the bondage of sin. This forgiveness is a gift of grace given to all who repent and believe in Jesus. This forgiveness is the foundation of reconciliation with God and with each other.

6.Faith in the Resurrection of the Body

The Apostles' Creed proclaims faith in the resurrection of the body:

I believe in... the resurrection of the body.

The bodily resurrection affirms Christians' hope to be raised to new life in glorified bodies. This promise guarantees that death is not the end, but that we will be fully restored, transformed, and raised to eternal life.

7.Faith in Eternal Life

The Apostles' Creed declares faith in the eternal life:

I believe in... in eternal life.

Eternal life is the ultimate promise guaranteed by the Bible. This eternal life begins now, when we live in relationship with God, and will be fully realized in the age to come.

Conclusion:

The Apostles' Creed sums up the essence of our faith. This creed connects us to the foundational truths that have sustained the Church for centuries. As we recite and meditate on these words, let us remember that these creeds are not mere doctrines but truths to be practiced. These truths proclaimed in the Apostles' Creed shape our understanding of who God is, who we are, and what our purpose is in this world.

When we proclaim our belief in God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, the Holy Spirit, the Church, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and eternal life, we join our voices with countless believers across time and space to affirm the unchanging truths of the gospel.

Referenced Scriptures

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Genesis 1:1)
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, (John 3:16)
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary. (Luke 1:26-38)
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, (Luke 23:23-25)
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead. (I Peter 3:18-20; I Corinthians 15:3-5)
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. (Mark 16:19)
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. (II Timothy 4:1)
I believe in the Holy Spirit, (John 15:26)
the holy catholic (universal) church, (I Corinthians 12:12-13, Revelation 8:3-4)
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, (Matthew 6:14-15)
the resurrection of the body, (John 6:35-40)
and the life everlasting. Amen. (I John 5:11-12)

The word “creed” comes from the Latin “credo,” meaning “I believe, I trust. In other words, a creed is a summary of the content of one's faith. In the early days of Christianity, there was much disagreement within the Church regarding the divinity of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the church created these creedal statements that covered such topics as orientation toward God, the virgin conception, verification of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, his role as judge, the role of the triune God, the role of the church, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life.

Christianity is broadly classified into the Western Church and the Eastern Church. The Western Church includes the Catholic Church and the Protestant Churches (including the Anglican Church), while the Eastern Church includes the Orthodox Church, represented by the Greek Orthodox Church, and the Churches of the East.
The Apostles' Creed is the most commonly accepted confession of faith in the Western Church (Catholic and Protestant). On the other hand, the Nicene Creed is accepted by both the Western and Eastern Churches and is the only common confession of faith accepted by the Christian Churches worldwide.