The Apostle’s Creed
[with commentary by Pastor Doug Sukhia]
[Although not written by the apostles, this is the oldest Christian creed in church history. It is based on the apostolic teaching found in the New Testament]
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
The Christian understanding of the nature of God is that He is one in essence and three in persons. The term for this is “trinity”. This phrase declares that you believe that the first person of the trinity is the Father and he is almighty. A father is a loving, caring, protecting and providing person deeply committed the welfare of his children. “Almighty” signifies His majesty, power and authority. All three persons of the trinity have the same attributes but they have different names and roles in the creation and redemption of man. Do you believe this?
Maker of heaven and earth,
The Son and the Holy Spirit also participated in creation.1 This statement is a declaration that the triune God has always existed beyond time, space and matter. At a certain point (“the beginning”) He chose to create the universe out of nothing. This rules out the idea that the universe has always existed and that what we observe of it is the result of totally natural, unguided forces (laws of physics, evolution etc.). Do you believe this?
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
Jesus Christ is the incarnation of the second person of the trinity. Before his taking on of human nature he is referred to as the Word (“logos”) 2 . He has eternally existed in the position of a son to a father. We call him Lord because he shares all the attributes of deity and we claim him as our master and king. Do you believe this?
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary,
The word “ghost” is synonymous with spirit. This is a statement affirming that you believe that the Holy Spirit came upon the virgin Mary in a supernatural way thus causing her to conceive and carry to birth the Lord Jesus Christ.3 Do you believe this?
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
There was a level of suffering throughout Jesus’ life. He lived in a world full of the effects of sin and full of sinful people. Yet He endured all in complete obedience to the Father and without ever sinning. This statement focuses on the culmination of his suffering, his unjust trial before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Do you believe this?
Was crucified, dead and buried.
This statement emphasizes that Jesus really physically died an agonizing death and his dead body was buried. Do you believe this?
He descended into hell;
This refers to the fact that on the cross He was experiencing the ultimate punishment for sin (hell) in behalf of those He died for.4 Do you believe this?
The third day He rose again from the dead;
This refers to the literal, bodily, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from death three days after he was crucified. He was really dead (he did not just appear to be dead) and he really bodily rose again. After the resurrection he had a real physical body, the same one that suffered on the cross, but now changed. 5 Do you believe this?
He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
The physical, bodily ascension of Christ puts Him in the position of Lord over all things. His reign and authority is primarily in behalf of those that belong to Him by virtue of their trust in Him as their Savior. 6 Do you believe this?
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
The word “quick” is old English for living. This states that Jesus will eventually return in power and judge all humans. Perfect justice will be meted out by Jesus Christ the exalted human, presently on the throne of the universe but coming back to rule and reign.7 Do you believe this?
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
This refers to the third person of the Trinity (not an impersonal energy force) known as the Holy Spirit. 8 Do you believe this?
The Holy catholic Church,
The word “catholic” means “universal” or worldwide. It does not refer to the Roman Catholic Church. By stating this you are affirming that there are true believers in Christ across the span of history and in all cultures and denominations. Do you believe this?
the Communion of Saints;
This refers to the fact that all true believers are united in one family also called the church or the body of Christ 9. The word “saint” refers to anyone who has trusted in Christ, not to someone super holy that you can pray to.10 Do you believe this?
The forgiveness of sins;
This affirms the fact that those who trust in Christ have all their sins forgiven (past, present and future).11 Do you believe this?
The resurrection of the body,
This is an affirmation that believers will eventually receive new bodies like Christ’s resurrection body. We will not be disembodied spirits but will be reunited with our reconstituted bodies and live on a renewed earth with our God and all believers. 12 Do you believe this?
And the Life everlasting. Amen
This refers to the new heaven and earth in which believers shall live forever with the Lord in complete joy and bliss throughout eternity. 13 Do you believe this?
1 Colossians 1:16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
2 John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Matthew 1:20 "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
4 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Rom 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins...
1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree...
5 Luke 24:39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
6 Ephesians 1:19 That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
7 2 Thessalonians 1:7 This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed.
8 John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
9 Ephesians 1:22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
10 Romans 1:7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
11 Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace...
Rom 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
12 1 Corinthians 15:52 For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality.
2 Corinthians 4:14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.
13 Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."