Creed

What one believes A formal statement of religious belief; a

confession of faith; a system of belief, principles, or opinions

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the 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 arose 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.

Apostles’ Creed - Analysis

Offers some definitive statements, but:

1. Not all agree w. this creed

2. It omits many things

3. Too late! Everyone has a creed Our creed is the New Testament How does our creed differ from others?

2 Tim.3:16-17

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine…that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”

2 Sm.23:2; Mt.21:42; 22:31

I. God Wrote Our Creed

Extent Source

ValueLk.6:40

2 Tim.2:21

2 Pt.1:20-21

We cannot regard OT as the private word of Moses or Isaiah, but as the revelation of God to all time, certain and infallible

“Apostles did not write NT; the church did, years later”

Then why did the church contradict that by writing these things?

Not This:Paul

1 Cor.

This:Lord

Paul

1 Cor.

Whatever God says is true Contrast: “We should not expect to

find in Scripture full scientific accuracy or complete historical precision” –The Gift of Scripture

E.g.: Gn.1-2

II. Our Creed Is Infallibly Correct

God: Science and History

If God speaks of science, it is not exhaustive (not His purpose)

We may learn things from science and history that Bible doesn’t discuss

But when He speaks about science or history, He speaks truth and avoids errors that were commonly believed

Egyptians, Greeks, and Spontaneous Generation

From Aristotle on, people believed that simple living organisms came into being from non-living objects

Worms, beetles, frogs . . . came from dust, mud, meat, etc.

Food / Nile River Gn.1:11, 21, 24-25

When God speaks of history…

Same principle: Bible doesn’t give exhaustive history, but records truth

Is.20:1 1843, palace 1963, in Ashdod, a monument: he

captured the city (= Is.20:1!)

Technical language Technical language of ancient world

would be out of date now Language common now would be out

of date then and in the future Language common in future would be

out of date then and now Pity those who listened to critics Modern Americans face this test

I. God Wrote Our Creed

II. Our Creed Is Infallibly Correct

III. Our Creed Needs No Revision

Other creeds need revisions Revisions are necessary to meet needs

of each generation 1 Pt.1:24-25

More than Bible:Too much

Less than Bible:Too little

Contrary to Bible:Perversion

Same as Bible:Bible!

I. God Wrote Our Creed

II. Our Creed Is Infallibly Correct

IV. Our Creed Is All Sufficient

III. Our Creed Needs No Revision

2 Pt.1

3, all things…life and godliness 4, divine nature

5-7, character like God’s 8, the guarantee 9, the warning 10-11, the promise

Some seek other things

TraditionMt.15:2, 3, 6

Latter dayrevelationGa.1:6-9

ChangeAc.17:21

All sufficient for most important things…

Life and godliness, 1 T.4:7-8 Beautiful / healthy bodies die too Godliness: best of both worlds

Eternal salvation, Hb.5:9

I. God Wrote Our Creed

II. Our Creed Is Infallibly Correct

V. Our Creed Will Judge Us

III. Our Creed Needs No Revision

IV. Our Creed Needs No Revision

We must get it right! 2 Th.1:8

“..Wherefore, that we are justified by faith only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort” – Meth. Discipline, 1914, Art. IX, p. 5)

“We believe the Scriptures teach that such as are truly regenerate, being born of the Spirit, will not utterly fall away and perish, but will endure unto the end” – Standard Manual For Baptist Churches, Hiscox, p. 67

Jn.12:48