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The Apostles Creed 1 We Believe in God the Father
I believe in

God the Father Almighty,

What is God?

Q2 of the New City Catechism

Kid’s Answer:

God is the creator of everyone and everything.

Of course any simple or complex answer falls short of describing Almighty God. But the Apostles’ Creed adds:

Maker of Heaven and Earth.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth… And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Genesis 1:1-3 excerpt KJV

The Lord God created every thing and all life!

God — ONE God.

There IS no other being — an Existing One — capable of speaking any created being of substance into existence.

Therefore, THE LORD GOD is neither plural, as in, “gods,” nor is ‘god‘ in all creation and creatures, as some falsely claim.

Hear – šāmaʿ -שְׁמַע
- Do you hear what I hear? – a well-known Christmas song
- You with ears to hear, let him hear… – Jesus, the Messiah
- Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. – Hebrews 3:15
- And oft-repeated by sons of a chosen people of all the earth — our spoken truth of monotheism (One God worshiped):
Hear, O Israel: Our God YHWH—YHWH [is] one!

Deuteronomy 6:4 LSV

Hear, H8085 O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

שָׁמַע shâmaʻ, shaw-mah’; a primitive root;
- to hear intelligently
- (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.):
- .. witness
God IS ONE!

There are no other gods (though the world worships them).

Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.

Zechariah 7:12 KJV

The One God

WHY is the One God of monotheism the first key doctrine of the Apostles’ Creed?

To begin, God speaks authoritatively through Scripture. The word ‘God’ occurs more than 20,000 times in the BIBLE.

Jesus, born of a Jewish mother, Mary — through Joseph to whom she was betrothed, a son of the house of David — received His covenantal circumcision on the eighth day

— the incarnate Messiah of Israel would have recited the šāmaʿ and later taught directly from it.

the MANY gods of a polytheistic world

Like the Jews, the early saints lived in a polytheistic world, as do Christians now in the Common Era.
- ROMANS worshiped many gods.
- GREEK gods were created from their ancient myths.
  - (Even Zeus was born from other gods, therefore created and not an eternal being.)
330 million gods, ~20 deities of India,

(where Hinduism remains practically the State religion).

Largest number of Buddhists live in ‘modern‘ China plus Buddhism is the State religion of at least four Asian nations

and practiced in other countries —

yoga, meaning “to yoke” or “union” (from the Sanskrit root yuj), has its genesis in ancient India,

Karma Yoga (the yoga of action),

Bhakti Yoga (the yoga of devotion), and

Jnana Yoga (the yoga of knowledge) – source: yoga.org

The Father Almighty

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him,

I am the Almighty God;

walk before me, and be thou perfect.

Genesis 17:1 KJV

Hear of Israel (Jacob, that is), sons of David, of Moses, of Jacob and Isaac — and ALL sons of our father Abram, who the LORD named, Abraham:

Creator of heaven and earth

Not only is the One God and Father of all fathers, including the Father of Israel, Abraham, the ALMIGHTY, IS Creator of the heavens and the earth.

God is NOT the earth. Nor is the Almighty many gods of the heavens named for suns and planets and meteoric phenomena beyond the reach of man’s understanding.

Have we not all one father?

hath not one God created us?

why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

Malachi 2:10 KJV

Yet THE LORD GOD will bring a Redeemer to Israel and reveal a new covenant to the nations in a Person who was from the beginning.

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
Gospel of John 1:1 KJV

Trinity — Father, Son, Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit)

As Scripture states:

GOD IS ONE IN ESSENCE,

and as the Gospel reveals,

THREE IN PERSON.

More on Trinity from R.C. Sproul

Next: Jesus Christ, Our Lord
December 21, 2025
2 Peter 1 – Last Will and Testament of Simon Peter
For where there is a legal ‘will,’ there must also be a death brought forward in evidence—the death of him who made it.

Hebrews 9:16 Weymouth New Testament

In the year of our Lord, 54

The New and convincing Testament of the Apostle Peter

The Apostle writes his final testimony from Rome, providing convincing truth of Christ which many of us have sought as a new testament of good news.

Hearing now a second Epistle read in our church from Simon Peter, the saints consider assurance of their salvation.

Even the Jews will agree that Jesus had died some thirty years ago now. But among them many also maintained their faithful testimony of the Lord’s resurrection on the third day after Jesus’ crucifixion.

Furthermore hundreds of Jews, Gentiles and Romans alike had reported numerous appearances of the risen Christ Jesus during a time of forty days after the Cross and His burial in Jerusalem.

Jews see a fulfillment of prophetic Scripture and Greeks amazingly now seem included in a New Covenant as elect in the fellowship of the church — chosen and elect to eternal life by God the Father of all creation in the Sacrifice of His Only Son Jesus Christ for our sins.

And Peter has confirmed this!

Witnesses to Jesus Risen! – Simon Peter

The Last Will of Peter – Remember His Teaching

Simon Peter, a prisoner for the Gospel in Rome, has good reason to believe that this second epistle may be the Apostle’s last letter to the church.

Historical context of Peter’s Second Epistle
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Recent AD First Century Historical Events (all dates approximate)
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- ~ AD 30-33 – Resurrection of Jesus Christ witnessed by Simon Peter and the Apostles and more than 500 witnesses (some still living at the time of Peter’s two Epistles).
  - Peter & John jailed in Jerusalem for their testimony of Christ as the risen Messiah of Israel
- ~ AD 37 – Caligua Caesar declares himself a god
- ~ AD 40 Peter proclaims the Gospel to the Gentiles in Joppa and other towns
- ~AD 41-54 – Claudius Caesar rules the Roman Empire
- ~AD 44 – the Apostle James, brother of John also of Jesus’ inner circle, is martyred
- ~ AD 49 – Jews (including followers of “the Way”) expelled from Rome
- ~ AD 54-68 – Nero Caesar rules the Roman Empire
- AD 50’s – John Mark, a scribe to Peter who had previously accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey, writes his GOSPEL which is read in churches as testimony primarily of the Apostle Peter.
- ~ AD 60 – Paul is brought to Rome, placed under house arrest and later released.
- AD 60’s – The Apostle Matthew records his GOSPEL.
- AD 60’s – Luke, an esteemed gentile physician to Paul, records his GOSPEL followed by a second volume detailing the ACTS of the Apostles.
- ~AD 62 – James, leader of the Jerusalem church, author of his own epistle and half-brother of Jesus is martyred.
- AD 64 – Peter and Paul remain diligent in sending several epistles (from Rome)to the church
19 JULY, 64 AD – a great fire burns for six days, consuming many structures in Rome.

2 Peter 1:

Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have received the same kind of faith as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been strengthened in the truth which is present with you.

I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has indicated to me.

And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.

2 Peter 1:12-15 LSB

meta emos exodos

.. ‘after my decease,’ translates the King James.

‘to have these things always in remembrance.’

v.15 KJV

What this Apostle of Christ Jesus is about to tell those chosen for eternal life reminds us of the Apostolic faith we must remember. Peter’s witness stands against those like the Caesar’s — Caligula and Nero — idolatrous men who declare that they have become gods.

Peter’s testament here In his second epistle stands firmly against a false gospel and philosophies seeping into the churches.

One false gospel seeking to undermine the Way and Truth will later claim to be a “Gospel of Peter,” introducing heresies opposed to the true faith of the Apostles.

So Peter reminds of of his unique witness of the Divine Jesus of Nazareth.

Peter’s Testimony of Christ’s Divine Nature

For we did not make known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, following cleverly devised myths,

but being eyewitnesses of His majesty.
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Peter testifies to his EYEWITNESS of the GOOD NEWS previously recorded in THREE GOSPELS.
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For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory:

“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

2 Peyer 1:17 NKJV

and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

v. 18 LSB

Apostolic testimony or idios interpretation?

And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.

2 Peter 1:19 NASB20

Know this first of all,
that no prophecy of Scripture comes by one’s own interpretation [idios epilysis].
2 Peter 1:20 LSB

For no prophecy was ever made by the will of man, but men being moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

The Stage is set for the Debate of False Prophets

As I have pointed out from this current historical context of Peter’s second epistle to the Church, not only do Rome and local communities oppose the true gospel, but in fact, many Christians trained in Jewish culture have an agenda of their own to convert Christ’s church to more palatable heresies desired by many.

The Greeks and Romans did not care whether their gods really existed. They were myths and they knew they were myths.
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(May I interject that the same applies to Hindus, Buddhists, Universalists and many other compromising polytheistic or atheistic religions of this century.)
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[Referring to vs.16-18]

Peter was not ready to put off his mortal tent for a myth but for that which he had witnessed.

RC Sproul 1-2 Peter – An Expositional Commentary, p.203

NEXT: Accepting Apostolic Testimony OR Following False Prophets

Talk of JESUS . com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
November 7, 2025
Sanctification – saints washed in Christ’s Holiness
Sanctification occurs only 5-10 times in the New Testament, while “sanctify” occurs 70 times in 65 verses in the KJV throughout the Bible.

Doesn’t sanctification require someone or something to be ‘sanctified?’

What is sanctification?

How is it different since Christ Jesus?

Sanctification in the Old Testament

Moses on Sinai

Exodus 19 NKJV excerpt

And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain..

‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant,

… ‘And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’

Exodus 19:3-6 except NKJV

So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes.

קָדַשׁ qâdash,

to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally):—appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy(-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify(-ied one, self),

Exodus 21:5-7

“Also let the priests who come near to Yahweh set H6942 themselves apart H6942 as H6942 holy H6942, lest Yahweh break out against them.”

And Moses said to Yahweh, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You [testified to] warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds about the mountain, and set H6942 it apart H6942 as H6942 holy H6942.’”

Exodus 19:22-23 LSB – noting H6942 meaning Sanctify or Hallow

שְׁמֹות (Exodus) 19 :: Masoretic Text

19:22 וְגַם הַכֹּהֲנִים הַנִּגָּשִׁים אֶל־יְהוָה יִתְקַדָּשׁוּ פֶּן־יִפְרֹץ בָּהֶם יְהוָה׃
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19:23 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־יְהוָה לֹא־יוּכַל הָעָם לַעֲלֹת אֶל־הַר סִינָי כִּי־אַתָּה הַעֵדֹתָה בָּנוּ לֵאמֹר הַגְבֵּל אֶת־הָהָר וְקִדַּשְׁתּוֹ׃
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Does this washing for holiness before God bring any sanctifying fear over you before facing the LORD your Maker?

An Old Testament Word

You may recognize the same word in a couple of important places in the Bible.

Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified H6942 it, because on it He rested from all His work which God had created in making it.

Genesis 2:3 LSB

זָכוֹר אֶת־יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ׃

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep H6942 it holy H6942.

Exodus 20:8 WLC, LSB
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AND perhaps like me, you recall a similar sanctification from the Word of the Gospels. 
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Pray then like this:
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Matthew 6:9 RSV

Sanctification then prepares unholy sinners to face the Most Holy.

Sanctification in the New Testament

The A.D. first century Greek verb Jesus and the Apostles use is hagiazō.
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verb - From ἅγιος (G40) adjective (most holy thing, a saint) 
- From hagos adjective (an awful thing) [cf ἁγνός (G53) adjective, properly, clean, i.e. (figuratively) innocent, modest, perfect:—chaste, clean, pure. 
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- to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow
- to separate from profane things and dedicate to God
- to purify
  - to cleanse externally
  - to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin
  - to purify internally by renewing of the soul
    
    Strong’s G37 – hagiazō
The Apostle Paul, in referring to a long list of sins of the Corinthians writes:

And such were some of you; but you were washed,

but you were sanctified G37,

but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:11 LSB

Therefore, dear chosen of Christ Jesus, do you see yourself as:

a most holy thing, a saint ?

The A.D. first century Greek adjective of the same root is hagios.

Are YOU a HOLY Saint of JESUS Christ, therefore sanctified to Him in your mortal AND eternal life?

Sanctified saints

“For their sake I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

Gospel of John 17:20 LSB

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

For both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

Hebrews 2:10-11 BSB

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

John 17:17 CSB – Jesus’ prayer for disciples

Sanctification of children learning to walk in Christ

To the saints in Galatia:

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

Paul’s letter (epistle) to the Galatians 4:8-9 ESV

To the saint sitting with you in church:

In conclusion, the best way to examine some of the jargon of Scripture like anointed, consecrated, sanctified, justified and holiness is in prayerful time in the Bible itself.

How better to explain sanctification (or any ‘Christian’ jargon) to a new child of the faith with whom you worship than with Biblical text?
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READ any of the links provided in the Scriptures above. 

OR For more on the topic of Sanctification you may search it here on TalkofJESUS.com OR simply read the earlier post below with my closing thought. 
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Sanctification – a refining of our holiness in Christ

For this is the will of God, your sanctification.. For God did not call us to impurity,

but in sanctification.

Consequently, he who sets this aside is not setting aside man

but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

1 Thessalonians 4:3a, (3b-6 short list of our impurity) 7-8 LSB

~A.D. 51 – Paul writes to encourage the Thessalonian Church
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A look back from 2025 CE to an earlier look at Sanctification
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Paul’s unfinished encouragement of the Thessalonians

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
February 8, 2025