Here’s a brief outline of the fundamental objects of our faith found in The Creed:
- God
- Jesus Christ
- the Holy Spirit
- and the Virgin Mary
- Jesus was crucified
- and was buried
- He rose from the dead
- more..
source: apostles-creed.org
The Apostles’ Creed
Our outline above used for this SERIES taken from the Old Roman Creed (vide ante) from which the Apostles’ Creed was adapted and possibly in use before the mid-2nd century.
The Apostles’ Creed and other affirmations of faith were adopted corporately by the Church to refute permeating heresies plaguing believers since the time of the Apostles.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com
We believe He descended to hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He rose! Is there Life after Death?
Jesus frequently had asked, “Have you never read the Scriptures?”
One of the great Jewish divisions in doctrine had been that many did not believe in life after death. But some of the Pharisees, like Nicodemus, believed that the body and soul rose from death at the Last Day.
In fact, recent evidence had been overwhelming, since Lazarus rose from his grave in nearby Bethany.
Temporary Resurrections until a later death.
“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.”
.. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died,
Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.
Jesus said to her [Martha], “Your brother will rise again.”
Now listen carefully to Martha's response:
Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
Gospel of John 11:11-24 excerpts ESV
Jesus said to her,
“I am the resurrection
Gospel of John 11:25-26 ESV
and the life.
Whoever believes in me, though he die,
yet shall he live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.
Do you believe this?”
She said to him,
“Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
John 11:27 ESV
Lazarus rose.. and then Jesus would rise that all might live.
Martha and Mary could not have known what was about to take place at the command of Christ calling her brother from his tomb.
Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
.. he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”
The man who had died came out…
John 11:38-44 excerpt ESV
Lazarus, Mary and Martha could not have known that their friend Jesus, the Son of God, would soon enter Jerusalem, followed by adoring crowds. Or that He would be crucified, dead and buried.
But then He too rose from the grave, as all had just witnessed of Lazarus at the command of Christ.
Yet neither that of Lazarus or of Christ is the resurrection of the Last Day.
Hell, the dead and waiting…
What happens after we die?
Some versions of the Creeds omit, “He descended into Hell” or “He descended to the dead.”
Even the Catholic Church later minimized the punishment and depth of the pit of purchased sins.
While there are many that deny Heaven, Hell, or both, the Bible teaches that the righteous go to eternal life and the unrighteous to eternal destruction. Jesus said,
“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matt 25:46 NAS)
Jesus has returned from the grave! What Next?
Mary and John had witnessed the death of her Son and his Master, Lord and friend. Lazarus has risen to witness his friend — the all-powerful Son of God who had called him out of the grave.
Once again, JESUS — in His resurrected body — would touch, teach and influence hundreds of disciples who would follow Him to the death.. and eternal life.
But what about you? — Do you embrace an Apostolic faith confirmed in the Apostles’ Creed?
He rose from death!
He descended into hell;
- The Scriptures teach Christ went to Sheol or Hades.
- The word “Hell” is the specific location where sinners go for punishment.
- “Gehenna” in Greek.. was an actual valley outside of old Jerusalem that was a smoldering garbage dump at the time of Jesus.
- Hell is also the Greek word “Tartaros.” It is the name of the subterranean region, doleful and dark, regarded by the ancient Greeks as the abode of the wicked dead, where they suffer punishment for their evil deeds.
- The penalty for our sin is not only dying, its remaining dead and suffering the eternal punishment of God.
Christ could only do this because He is fully God and Man.
More from source Apostles-Creed.org
to life
the third day He rose again from the dead.
“I am the resurrection
Gospel of John 11:25-26 ESV
and the life.
Whoever believes in me, though he die,
yet shall he live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.
Do you believe this?”
Do you?
Talk of JESUS . com
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