Creed (Week 1): The History & Importance of the Apostles’ Creed
The early Church’s explosive growth and diversity of people and places produced theological controversies, thus a need for doctrinal clarity and unity.
I Corinthians 15:3-8 NLT: 3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter[a] and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers[b] at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.
I Corinthians 1:10 NKJV: 10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Creeds do not mean that we should all see every facet of Christianity exactly the same, but rather that we agree upon what should be orthodox and essential.
Creeds keep us from reinventing the essentials of faith in our own time because we stay connected to the time of Christ and His apostles.
Elements of Creed cited by: Ignatius of Antioch (35 AD - 108 AD), Irenaeus (130 AD- 202 AD), Tertullian (150 AD- 220 AD), Augustine (354 AD – 430 AD) –“committed to memory”
[The Creed] “furnishes us with a full and every way complete summary of faith, containing nothing but what has been derived from the infallible word of God.” – John Calvin (1509-1564 AD, French Theologian
[The Apostles’ Creed] is “the very pith and substance of Christian religion, taught by the Apostles, embraced by the ancient fathers, sealed by the blood of Martyrs.” – William Perkins, Puritan Theologian (1558–1602 AD)
Hebrews 10:23-25 NIV: 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
“I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth…”
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He 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, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, one holy Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
