The Apostles' Creed (Part 1)

As followers of the Lord, we base our faith on the Word of God in the Scriptures. The Bible is a great library, which a lifetime of learning cannot exhaust. For that reason, the church fathers, who were the disciples of the apostles, selected from the Scriptures the basic doctrines and summarized them into The Apostles' Creed. Following is the content of The Apostles' Creed:

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

General Meanings

Creed is a summary of the beliefs of an organization or a group of people.

Apostles were the disciples of Jesus Christ, taught directly by Him and sent to preach the Good News.

Apostles' Creed is a summary of the basics of the faith, based on the teachings of those who were taught directly by the Lord Jesus Christ.

The word "I” in the Creed shows that faith is a matter of each individual. It is a personal relationship of EACH PERSON with God, no one can believe for someone else and no one can be saved based on the faith of someone else. When we state, "I believe,” we imply that I myself and not someone else. I believe God because I know Him and I need Him, not because of the circumstance or the desire of another person. Faith in Christ must be a personal decision of each person, not being influenced by the circumstance, momentary feeling, or other people.

Specific Meanings

The Apostles' Creed states the beliefs of the Christians concerning:

- God

- Jesus Christ

- The Holy Spirit

- The Church

- Eternal Life

The belief about God

The Apostles' Creed opens with the sentence: "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.” This is a description of God, brief but meaningful. He is "Almighty,” "Father,” and "Maker of heaven and earth,” i.e. the Creator.

I believe in God

God is the greatest being in the universe. He existed before the creation of the universe and He will exist forever. When we state, "I believe in God,” we want to say: although I do not see God, I believe in His existence.

Father

God is a loving Father. He is our Father because:

- He created us (Acts 17:28).

- Trusting in Christ, we became His children (John 1:12).

When we state, "I believe in God the Father,” we want to say: I believe that God is my loving Father. I believe He is caring for and guiding my life with the love of a father.

Almighty

"Almighty” means to be able to do anything. Nothing is impossible with God. The word "almighty” also means God rules over life and death. He decides the existence and the fate of all things because He has the power to give life or to take it back. By stating, "I believe in God the Father Almighty,” we acknowledge the existence of the highest Being who is our loving Father and who has absolute power over us, and we commit our lives willingly to Him.

Maker of heaven and earth

The Scriptures teach that God is the Creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 1&2). When we call God "Maker of heaven and earth,” we acknowledge that He is the Creator, who created the universe, including ourselves. "I believe in God, Maker of heaven and earth” means to believe that God has given me life, both physical and spiritual. All that I am and all that I have are given by God.

God created the universe and so He does not depend on the universe. He is above space and time. He has control over the whole creation. By calling God the Creator of heaven and earth, we acknowledge His reign over the whole creation including ourselves. Therefore, we accept His will in all circumstances.

To summarize, the first part of the Apostle's Creed states the beliefs of a Christian concerning God. By stating, "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,” a Christian acknowledges, "I believe that God is real, that He created the whole universe and He is ruling over the entire creation. He is my loving Father who has created me and cared for each tiny detail in my life. I believe Him and worship Him forever.”

Lesson 3

Study Questions

1. The word "I” in the Creed shows that faith is a matter of each __________________.

2. Three things we believe about God are:

a) ____________________________________

b) ____________________________________

c) ____________________________________

3. According to Acts 17:28, in what sense God is our Father? __________________________________________________________________

4. According to John 1:12, when do we become children of God? __________________________________________________________________

5. "Almighty” means nothing is ____________________________ with God. It also means God has authority over _____________ and death.

6. As maker of heaven and earth, God has __________________ over the whole creation.