(2) I Believe in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord…

What Unites Christians iBelieve iConfess iPray iWorship iFellowship iGive iTell

The Apostles Creed The Old Roman Symbol

(1st – 2nd Century): Oral Tradition (c. 300): Hippolytus, Roman Church, Using Greek (c. 340): Marcellus of Ancyra, in Greek (c. 400): Rufinus, in Latin

The Apostles’ Creed (c. 800): Charlemagne's time: Present Form

AC-Traditional Form (1)1. I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of

heaven and earth

AC-Traditional Form (2)2. I believe in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; 3. who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the

Virgin Mary, 4. suffered under Pontus Pilate, was crucified, dead,

and buried. He descended into hell. 5. The third day he rose again from the dead. 6. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right

hand of God the Father Almighty.7. from thence He shall come to judge the quick and

the dead.

AC-Traditional Form (3)8. I believe in the Holy Ghost;9. the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints;10. the forgiveness of sins; 11. the resurrection of the body; 12. and the life everlasting.

Structure and Theology Three passages

Father Son Holy Spirit

Clearly Trinitarian

Suggested Modern Form (1) I believer in God the Father Almighty,

Creator of heavens and the earth

I Believe in Jesus ChristGod is known through Christ

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.“ Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father ‘? (Joh 14:6-9 NAU)

I Believe in Jesus Christ “Jesus” is His Name: “Yahweh Saves”

=Joshua, who finished the work of Moses by conquering Canaan in 7 years.

Jesus is the New Moses, and New Joshua; he will conquer the world in 7 years of Tribulation.

“Christ” is His Office/Function/Title: = Messiah (Anointed): Savior of Men = Son of David, King of Israel

Not Any Savior, but Only “Jesus, the Christ!”

His Only Son, Our Lord “His Only Eternal Son”

Christ = the Eternal Second Person of the Trinity “Begotten” from the Father:

Intimate Relationship Not Physical/Sexual with Mary, as Mormons Teach Voluntary Choice of Different Roles

Believers = New Sons of God Regeneration = Born from Above of the Holy Spirit Adoption = Bride of Christ Has Sonship in the Household of

God

His Only Son, Our Lord “Our Lord”

Lord = God/god in NT Context Baal = Lord Emperors = Lord = a god

Lord Means Allegiance, Loyalty Jesus Christ Is Divine: God’s Self-Revelation to Men Jesus Christ Alone: No Lord but Jesus

Our Lord He Purchased us with His Grace and Love We Owe Him Our Affection and Loyalty

…Conceived of the Holy Ghost “Who Was Conceived of the Holy Spirit” Conception: No Sexuality as a Pagan god with a Woman The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit

will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. (Luk 1:35 NAU)

Nut Simply “By the Power of the Holy Spirit”

…Conceived of the Holy Ghost “Who Was Conceived of the Holy Spirit” Holy Spirit Is: Holy: Pure and Separated Spirit: Transcendent and Immaterial

Creation Narrative: God, Spirit, Word Incarnation Narrative: God, Spirit, Son Church Creation: God, Son, Spirit Holy Spirit: Role of Wife and Mother Change of Order: Resurrection; Mature Sonship

…Born of the Virgin Mary Virgin Birth Prophecy: Isa 7:14

Contemporary Fulfillment: (Hb) Almah = Maiden; (Gk) Parthenos = Virgin Prophesied to a Virgin, Conceived by Marriage to Isaiah Maher-shalal-hash-baz, a.k.a. Emanuel “Judgment Is Near” but “God Is with Us”

Typical Fulfillment: Conceived by a Virgin, w/o Marriage or Man Named Jesus (Yahweh Saves) (= Isaiah) Not CALLED “Emanuel”, but IS “God with Us”

… Born of the Virgin Mary Pagan Similarity

Pagans Got the Idea from Biblical Prophecy (Gen 3:15) “Son of Woman” = All Men, but Adam “Son of Woman Only” = No Men, but Jesus

Demons Corrupted the Idea into Sexuality by Gen 6:1-4 “Sons of God” = Fallen Angels “Daughters of Men” = literal

The Church Could/Would Not Have Invented the Story No Pre-Christian Expectation of Virgin Born Messiah Too Similar to Pagan Ideas: It Must be True!

…Suffered under Pontius Pilate Suffering Is a Major Theme of Christ’s Life

The Problem of Suffering Is a Major Objection of Atheism to Christianity

Moralist Argument (Suffering Caused by Our Sin) Can Be Debunked by the Suffering of the Innocent

One Argument Atheist Cannot Refute Is the Suffering of God with Us

…Suffered under Pontius Pilate Pontius Pilate

Historical Person Prefect of Judea (AD 26-36) A Freedman of Equestrian Rank

Jesus’ Innocence A Cruel Man to the Jews (Killed the Galileans and Mixed Their

Blood in the Sacrifice: Luke 13:1) His Wife Received a Dream about Christ (Matt 27:19) Reluctant to Condemn Jesus (Washed His Hands; Matt 27:24): Surrendered to Political Pressure (John 19:12)

…Was Crucified, Dead and Buried Crucified:

Most Humiliating; Most Suffering (“Excruciating”) Propitiated the Wrath of God; Paid for the Sins of All

Dead: Real Physical Death: Not Fainting Not Spiritual Death: No Severance of Relationship w/

the Father; No Separation w/ the Holy Spirit Buried:

Seal of Death In the Tomb of a Historical Person, Joseph of Arimathea

…He Descended into Hell “He Descended into Hades”

Generalized “Hell” Has Three Components: Hades: Human Souls Wait for Judgment (Luke 16)

Good Side: “Abraham’s Bosom,” “Paradise” Bad Side: “Prison”

Tartarus (Abyss; Bottomless Pit): Prison of Demons Gehenna (Lake of Fire): Eternal Hell, designed for Satan & Co.

"Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." (Luk 23:43 NAU)

Christ … having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, (1Pe 3:18-19 NAU)

The Third Day He Rose Again from the Dead “The Third Day:”

Good Friday, A.D.33 = Passover Jesus = Lamb Sacrificed; Death Angels Passover Homes

Covered by the Blood “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the

world!” (Joh 1:29 NAU)

Easter Sunday, A.D. 33 = First Fruits Jesus = First Fruit of Resurrection “He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the

beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.” (Col 1:18 NAU)

The Third Day He Rose Again from the Dead “He Rose Again”

Greatest Surprise: Enigmatically Prophesied:

10 But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. (Isa 53:10 NAU)

10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. (Psa 16:10 NAU)

Not Believed by Satan, Jews, Apostles

The Third Day He Rose Again from the Dead “He Rose Again”

Historical Fact: Witnessed by Women First: Church Will Not Make up Such

Witnesses Unacceptable to Courts Changed Disciples: From Cowards to Courageous Witnesses,

Many of Whom Died for Telling the Experience No One Will Die for Lies They Know Some May die for Lies They Believe as True Disciples of Jesus Died for Whole Life Experience, Not Faith

Not Refuted by the Romans or Jews They Could Have Produced the Body of Jesus

The Third Day He Rose Again from the Dead “from the Dead”

Physical Death = Separation of Soul from Body Spiritual death = Separation of Soul from God Eternal death = Separation of Body & Soul (& Spirit)

from God Eternally Greek Concept: Soul (=Spirit) > Body; Death Is Good Hebrew Concept: Body & Soul (=Spirit) Is a Whole;

Death Is Silence Christian Concept: Whole Person = Body+Soul+Spirit;

Death Is Judgment

He Ascended into Heaven The Ascension 40 Days after the Resurrection Is the

Prophesied Event (Dan 9:24-27) From the Edit to Rebuild Jerusalem (Nisan, 444 B.C.;

Artaxerxes I, Neh 2:1) 69 Sevens (Heptads of 360-day Prophetic Years): 69 × 7

× 360 = 113,880 days Move the 30-day Month 113,880 Days Later, It Covers

Only the Day of Ascension, Not Glorious Entry, Crucifixion or Resurrection.

It “Cuts off” Israel from Messiah, Its King

And Sitteth at the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty “And Is Seated at the Right Hand of God the Father

Almighty” The “Session” of Christ Means:

He Received Authority (Matt 28:18) He Is the High Priest of All Men: Interceding for Us He Is the King of the Universe He Is the King of Israel, yet to Be Recognized

From Thence He Shall Come to Judge the Quick and the Dead “From Where He Will Come Again to Judge the Living

and the Dead” Second Coming of Christ Means

Rapture : The Blessed Hope for the Church looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of

our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, (Tit 2:13 NAU) Millennium: The Promised Messianic Age for Israel (Isa 65) Eternal State:

New Heaven, New Earth, New Jerusalem Home of Saints of All Times

Apostles Creed (Modern Form) I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of

heavens and the Earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only eternal Son, our

Lord; who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into Hades. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from where He shall come again to judge the living and the dead.