The Apostle’s Creed

“He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 16:15-17

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord … The Apostles’ Creed

 All true Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. As with Simon Peter, this reality is revealed to each Christian as a work of the Lord in their heart. To this revelation of the true nature of Jesus, we respond in faith. We don’t believe in an empty name. We don’t believe in one who can merely help us live better and more fulfilled lives. We don’t follow a wise teacher named Jesus. We believe that Jesus Christ is the long-awaited Savior (“the Christ”) and “the Son of the living God.” During His ministry on earth Jesus claimed to be the “only begotten” (John 3:16) Son of God, to be one with God the Father (John 10:30), and the only way of salvation from judgement to come (John 14:6). Those who crucified Jesus long ago understood that He made these claims, and they hated Him for it. They rejected Jesus’ teaching, prophetic fulfillment, and miracles. They did not believe.

 Today, many would say that they believe in Jesus Christ, but cannot define what is behind that wonderful name. Also, there are those who know what the Bible teaches about the person and work of Jesus Christ, but choose to reject and redefine Jesus. They want a Jesus that affirms them, not the biblical Jesus who preached a gospel of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. If we are to believe in Jesus, we must believe at least three basic things.

 First, Jesus is the second person of the Trinity. The Bible teaches that God exists eternally as one God in three persons – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Three divine persons – one God. Jesus is God the Son. He is eternally existing as God. Jesus participated in the creation of the world and will one day judge the world in holiness. In the midst of these things, He was born of virgin. God with us – Emanuel.

 Second, Jesus was born to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Jesus was not born into the world to inspire us. Jesus was not born into the world to be a political leader. Jesus was born to live a sinless life and to be the atoning sacrifice for sin, that His elect people might be saved. Jesus was born to be the Savior of the world! He was born at the proper time to fulfill all prophecy spoken of Him from ages past.

 Third, Jesus is Lord. For many ages this is what Christians have proclaimed at baptism. Jesus is our Savior and our Lord. When we believe in Jesus Christ and follow after Him in discipleship, we submit to His Lordship. This means that we submit to His authority in all things. The ways of Jesus are not suggestions and are not meant to be therapeutic. Jesus’ teaching and commands are not open for cultural re-interpretation. Those who believe in Jesus and submit to His Lordship are radically changed to walk in a way that is counter to this world. By a changed heart and a renewed mind, we are not conformed to this world (Romans 12:1-2). There always has been, and always will be, a significant difference between the words, actions, and ways of those who follow Jesus Christ and those who follow after this world.

On a final note, please take very seriously the beautiful and precious name of Jesus. It is the intentional name given by the angel Gabriel (Matthew 1:21). Always speak highly of our Lord Jesus. Sing His precious name in worship. Use His precious name in prayer, but hear the will of the Lord in Exodus 20:7. Never use the precious name of Jesus as a curse word. Never use the Lord’s name in vain.

I believe in Jesus Christ our Lord,

Pastor Vic

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth …
The Apostles’ Creed

All Christians believe that God created the world. The Bible begins with God
creating the world ex nihilo (out of noting) by the word of His power. The Old Testament
refers to God countless times and in many ways, as the Creator of heaven and earth
(the spiritual and the physical). Jesus affirms this reality, and it is further clarified in the
later New Testament. In the final book of Revelation, Jesus refers to Himself as the
“first and the last” (Revelation 1:17). He began all things and He will end all things. It is
impossible to be a Christian and reject the reality that God is our Creator. To reject this
constant foundation of revelation in the Bible, is to reject an essential belief of
Christianity.

We live in a non-Christian society that openly advocates that the origin of the
world was an accident. Secular professors and philosophers alike will argue adamantly
that the world has come to pass through random time and chance, and that there is no
God. These same secular scientists will spend their careers attempting to explain how
such shocking symmetry, ecological balance, artistic beauty, and mathematical
precision could possibly result from chaos and chance. These same secular
philosophers will spend their careers attempting to explain how there can possibly be
meaning and ethical imperatives in a world that resulted from non-directed material
chance. However, both of these secular professions have in common one starting
presupposition. No matter what evidence they encounter, or what their inner
conscience tells them, they reject the notion of a Creator God. They refuse to believe in
Creation. They will not submit themselves to the authority of a Creator.

The Bible tells us that the world, and all that is in it, was created by God with
beauty, balance, purpose, incredible diversity, and goodness. It should not surprise us,
that even after many thousands of years of decay, the world still bears these marks.
When we get out into nature we see these marks. When we visit natural parks we don’t
see chaos and random things in flux between one state and another. What we see is
shocking, living, artistic beauty that is complex beyond all imagination and scientific
exploration. What we see is a part of the mind of God made, or created, into reality.

In the first few chapters of Genesis we read about important distinctions that
cannot be overlooked. These distinctions define our understanding of the world and
are part of the foundation of our worldview as Christians. First, there is a distinction
between God and humanity. God is the creator and we are the creation. We are NOT
God, but we are beings created by God with purpose and goodness. Second, we see
the distinction between man and woman. God did not create one sex, but two distinct
sexes with a purposeful relationship between each other. Third, is the clear distinction
between humanity (man and woman) and the rest of the animal kingdom. Humanity is a
distinct creation of God, created in God’s image.

The secular evolutionist denies God as Creator and also denies all of the
essential distinctions. With the evolutionist, men and women are put in the place of
God, deciding their own truth and purpose. With the evolutionist, the distinction
between male and female fades away as a thing of lower evolution. More evolved
beings will be able to fully create their own reality according to their own desires. The
evolutionist insists that we have come up from the animal kingdom and have no
standing that is fundamentally different. What you believe concerning these distinctions
will radically reshape your life; educationally, politically, morally, sexually, and every
other aspect of the life you live.

What does it mean that humanity was created in the image of God? This means
that God created men and women, distinct from the animal world and with shared
character with God. We are distinct from God, infinitely lower in the order of our being,
but we also share attributes with God. God has given every human being a soul and a
moral sense, by this we are aware of the existence of God and have the opportunity for
relationship with God. By the gospel of Jesus Christ, we might be forgiven our sins,
and come into a personal relationship with God by faith. We have a moral sense that
the way things are in this sinful world are not the way they should be. Animals do not
possess these wonderful attributes.

The great question is, “How?” How could God create the world? The basic
answer is that creation was the first and greatest miracle of God. Hebrews 11:3 is very
clear, “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so
that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” Being a Christian means
that you believe that God exists and that He acts in the world. God acting into the
world is “super” natural (from outside the natural order). We believe in creation by faith.
You cannot be a Christian apart from faith. There is plenty of evidence, but no amount
of evidence allows a person to by-pass faith. If this is a stumbling block for you, I urge
you to read the many books and articles published defending the idea that that there is
no final conflict between science and Christian faith. There is no conflict whatsoever
between the daily science of researchers and Christianity. The conflict begins to enter
in when scientists attempt to explain origins with the hard presupposition that there is
not, and cannot, be a God.

Lastly, why did God create the world? God created the world that He might be
glorified by His creation. The opportunity for us as human beings to have a relationship
with God, opens the door for us to join the angels in worshipping and glorifying God!
“God ultimately created the cosmos for redemptive purposes. The agent of creation
becomes the agent of redemption.” The worst part of denying God as Creator is
hardening your heart and refusing to worship God as He deserves. When you honor
yourself and put yourself in the place of God, your false narrative for life will come
crashing down.

As Christians we believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and
earth. If you struggle with these things, I urge you to search them out. The truth of God
as Creator can withstand your greatest scrutiny.

May Christ be praised,
Pastor Vic

For more on the Apostles’ Creed see: “The Apostles’ Creed; Discovering Authentic
Christianity in an Age of Counterfeits” by Albert Mohle