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Tag: Matthew

  • The Apostles Creed 10 the Remission (forgiveness) of Sins

    The Apostles Creed 10 the Remission (forgiveness) of Sins

    We believe in ..the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins…

    The Apostles’ Creed — foundational to our Apostolic Christian faith

    Today we have reached the second to last points of our brief look at the Apostles’ creed, the forgiveness or remission of sins.

    (We’ll also take a brief glance at ‘the communion of saints,’ mentioned in part in our previous look at the Church.)

    For an overview and more instructive view of the outline of our SERIES, take a look at the Roman Creed below:

    Followers of Christ must always expect an attack against Scripture. Church doctrine is a line in the sand. - How will a leader or council of leaders choose what the Church will teach?
    I BELIEVE or WE BELIEVE IN:

    Structure of Christian CREEDS

    Here’s a brief outline found originally in The Roman Creed:

    1. I BELIEVE IN God almighty (or the Father almighty)
    2. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord
    3. Who was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
    4. Who was crucified under Pontius Pilate and was buried
    5. And on the third day rose from the dead
    6. Who ascended into heaven
    7. Siteth at the right hand of the Father
    8. Whence He cometh to judge the living and the dead
    9. (I or WE believe in:) The Holy Ghost
    10. The Holy Church
    11. The remission of Sins
    12. The resurrection of the flesh
    • (and life everlasting).

    source: apostles-creed.org

    The early church taught what is basically in the Apostles creed…

    It was not till heresies and divisions in the church that any creeds were established.

    source:

    The Apostles’ Creed

    The Apostles Creed

    I believe in

    the communion of the Saints,

    If you haven't read our previous post about the Church you may find helpful definitions not repeated here.
    The Apostles Creed 9 We Believe in The Holy Church

    Last time we addressed one of the two definitions included in this section of the Apostles Creed:

    • hagios
      • most holy thing, a saint

    Today let’s also take a brief look at what the Creed means by communion.

    (In a sense, it’s not what you think of first.)

    Then they that gladly received his word were baptized..

    Acts of the Apostles 2:41a KJV 

    (Now they are the saints or Holy ones of Christ, because of the remission of their sins.)

    And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine

    and fellowship, G2842

    and in breaking of bread,

    and in prayers.

    Acts of the Apostles 2:42 KJV

    Note that communion here is the fellowship of the saints whick follows learning the teaching or doctrine of the Apostles.

    AND that Communion (as we call it) is a corporate breaking of the bread [klasis artos], a symbolic remembrance of Christ’s broken body.

    They devoted themselves to

    (from the CSB) (and in addition to;)

    • the apostles’ teaching,
    • to the fellowship (communion of the saints),
    • to the breaking of bread,
    • and to prayer.

    ALL these together, as Christ’s local church, to keep them holy and separate from the sin and surrounding sinners of whom they once embraced.

    κοινωνία koinōnía, koy-nohn-ee’-ah; from G2844; partnership, i.e. (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction (giving to the benefit of the church):—(to) communicate(-ation), communion, (contri-)distribution, fellowship.

    Source: BlueLetterBible.org

    I believe in

    the forgiveness of sins

    Nehemiah 9:

    After the Hebrews had abandoned the Law of Moses and their priest Ezra reads it to the people.

    .. the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.

    repentant prayer

    .. And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, 

    sanctification or holiness apart from the sin of their former life

    and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

    Confession to God precedes asking for forgiveness.

    But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

    And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage:

    but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

    Nehamiah 9:16-17 KJV

    the remission of sins,

    Admittedly 'remission from the Creed is a little 'King James' in its sound. But recognize the New Testament application with which you may be able to relate from a familiar prayer and Scripture.

    Forgive us our debts 

    (Which comes from this OT application of the Law)

    “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts.

    מִקֵּץ שֶׁבַע־שָׁנִים תַּעֲשֶׂה שְׁמִטָּה׃

    Deuteronomy 18:1 LSB

    ‘And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

    Gospel of Matthew 6:12 LSB

    “For if you forgive others for their transgressions,

    your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

    “But if you do not forgive others,

    then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

    Matthew 6:14-15 LSB – the teaching of Jesus, the Son of Man, to followers

    paraptōma – transgressions

    • to fall beside or near something
    • a lapse or deviation from truth and uprightness
      • a sin, misdeed

    Do you imagine that God, in His Holiness and perfect justice, can allow any of these sins or transgressions — without Someone paying your debt?

    And you were dead in your transgressions G3900 and sins..

    Apostle Paul to the Ephesians 2:1

    For the wages of sin is death,
    but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

    Romans 6:23 NIV

    The remission of Sins through Christ

    • the concept of “wages,” which implies a payment or consequence that is earned. In the biblical context,
    • sin refers to any action, thought, or attitude that falls short of God’s holiness and commands.
    • Death here is both physical and spiritual, indicating separation from God.
      • Theologically, this underscores the seriousness of sin and its inevitable outcome without divine intervention.

    Contrasting with the earned wages of sin, the “gift of God” emphasizes grace, which is unmerited favor. Eternal life is not something humans can earn; it is a gift freely given by God.

    It is only through Jesus Christ, His death, and resurrection, that believers receive this gift. Jesus is seen as the fulfillment of Old Testament types and prophecies, such as the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12) and the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53).

    Source: BibleHub.org – commentary on Romans 6:23

    In Him we have redemption through His blood,

    the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

    Ephesians 1:7 NKJV

    NEXT: Resurrection!

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  • The Apostles Creed 8 We Believe in the Holy Spirit

    The Apostles Creed 8 We Believe in the Holy Spirit

    And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him;

    but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit,

    it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.

    Gospel of Matthew 12:32 ASV

    The Apostles’ Creed — foundational to our Apostolic Christian faith

    Followers of Christ must always expect an attack against Scripture. Church doctrine is a line in the sand. - How will a leader or council of leaders choose what the Church will teach?
    I BELIEVE or WE BELIEVE IN:

    We believe in ..

    1. God the Father almighty,
      • Creator of heaven and earth,
    2. Jesus Christ
      • God’s only Son, our Lord,
    3. who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
      • born of the Virgin Mary
    4. Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate,
      • was crucified
        • and was buried
    5. On the third day He rose from the dead
    6. He ascended to heaven
    7. He sits in the favored place of God the Father
      • He will judge the living and the dead.

    Here, the weightiness of what we have just confessed must certainly convict the faithful soul. Then follows a reiteration and underlining of the same fundamental faith:

    (I or WE believe in:)

    • The Holy Ghost
    • more…

    source: apostles-creed.org

    The Apostles’ Creed

    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

    The Apostles Creed

    As Scripture states:

    GOD IS ONE IN ESSENCE,

    and as the Gospel reveals,

    THREE IN PERSON.

    More on Trinity from R.C. Sproul 

    Some translations of τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου - lit. the Ghost the Holy - read: Holy Spirit, while others read: Holy Ghost — hagios- most holy thing, a saint; pneuma.

    I believe in

    the Holy Ghost

    the third Person of the Trinity.

    The Holy Spirit, also referred to as the Holy Ghost, is the third Person of the Holy Trinity, co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit is a central figure in Christian theology and is integral to the believer’s life and the Church’s mission.

    Source: BibleHub.com Topical Encyclopedia

    Separate Roles of the Holy Spirit

    You may have thought that we had already addressed the Holy Spirit in the Apostle’s Creed.

    The Apostles Creed 3- Christ Conceived by the Holy Spirit

    In fact, the Creed first brings up the Spirit in relation to His role in the conception of Jesus, the Only Son of the One God, by Mary through her virgin birth of the Christ or Messiah of Israel.

    Now the Creed reiterates our belief in the Person of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Old Testament as well as the Gospels.

    Once again, let’s look to the Good News of what the Only Son who has seen the Father tells His Disciples about the Holy Spirit. (And note the context of Jesus’ answers about the Spirit.)

    (Possible) Good News of the Holy Spirit 

    Returniing to our opening Scripture from the Gospel of Mark from the King James Version.

    And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

    “Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

    But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:”

    Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

    Gospel of Mark 3:22,28-30 KJV 

    When the Lord Jesus was baptized by John then began His teaching as the Son of Man:

    And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

    depiction of John baptizing a man at the Jordan river

    And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened,

    and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

    And there came a voice from heaven, saying,

    Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

    And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

    Gospel of Mark 1:9-12 KJV

    Gospel of John

    For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

    John 3:34 ESV

    Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.

    And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

    These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.

    Gospel of John 14:24-25 ESV – the words of JESUS Christ

    But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

    Gospel of John `3:26 ESV
    people receiving the Holy Spirit descending like a dove
    Why Is the Holy Spirit Compared to a Dove?

    Receive the Spirit!

    God the Father knew you and chose you long ago,

    and his Spirit has made you holy.

    As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace.

    The Apostle Peter, Greeting from his first epistle

    In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.

    The Apostle Paul’s epistle to the Romans 8:26 BSB

    Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD? 

    The Question is that of God speaking through the Prophet Isaiah, who the Apostle Paul later quotes [64:4] to the saints of the Corinthian church.
    or informed Him as His counselor? 
    Whom did He consult to enlighten Him,
    and who taught Him the paths of justice?
    Who imparted knowledge to Him
    and showed Him the way of understanding?

    Isaiah 40:13-14 BSB

    the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God

    But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit.

    The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him?

    So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

    We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

    And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God…

    Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 10-14a BSB

    NEXT – the controversial CHURCH

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  • The Apostles Creed 2 We Believe in Jesus Christ

    The Apostles Creed 2 We Believe in Jesus Christ

    John 1:10 NASA ISS image of earth
    JESUS

    We believe in…

    1. God
    2. Jesus Christ 
    Our outline for this SERIES is 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

    The Apostles Creed

    I believe in

    Jesus Christ, His Only Son, our Lord,

    What is faith in Jesus Christ?

    Q30 of the New City Catechism

    Kid’s Answer:

    Receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the Gospel.

    Trinity: the PERSON of JESUS

    As Scripture states:

    GOD IS ONE IN ESSENCE,

    and as the Gospel reveals,

    THREE IN PERSON.

    More on Trinity from R.C. Sproul

    What do we believe by true faith?

    Q31 of the New City Catechism

    Q31 ANSWER: (words of the Apostles’ Creed)

    Who IS this JESUS?

    Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham – Matthew 1:1b

    When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying,

    “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

    Gospel of the Apostle Matthew 16:13 NKJV

    This question and self-designation of Jesus Christ — iēsous, meaning  “Jehovah is salvation” from the Hebrew root, yᵊhôšûaʿ or Joshua with the same meaning — reveals a great mystery that in His incarnation JESUS IS also the Son of Man.

    Who is the Son of Man?

    “God is not a man, that He should lie,
    Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
    Has He said, and will He not do?
    Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

    Numbers 23:19 NJKV 

    Yet the Messiah of Israel IS the Word of God and cannot lie.

    ‘Ya`akov became the father of Yosef, the husband of Miryam, from whom was born Yeshua, who is called Messiah.

    Matthew 1:16 Hebrew Names Version

    (Yes, Matthew Levi, Simon Peter, and Miryam the mother of Jesus Christ are all Jews.)

    King David, a thousand years before, asks,

    What is man that You are mindful of him,
    And the son of man that You visit him?

    Psalm 8:4

    His Jewish disciples whom Jesus asks know this self-designation of Yeshua from the Prophet Ezekiel about 600 years before.

    “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.

    Ezekiel 2:3 NKJV

    “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them.

    “Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears.

    And He said to me: “Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel in this city.. “Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man!”

    son of man occurs 93 times in 93 verses in the book of ‘Ezekiel’ in the NKJV.

    ..he asked his talmidim, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

    They said, “Some say Yochanan the immerser, some, Eliyah, and others, Yirmeyahu, or one of the prophets.”

    Matthew 16:13b-14 HNV

    He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

    Simon Peter answered and said,

    “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

    Matthew 16:15-16 NKJV

    The Son of God

    https://talkofjesus.com/a-gift-you-cannot-touch/

    And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. – Gospel of Luke 2:7 RSV

    Hard to imagine — this Son of Man, the Son of God!

    υἱός – huios– a son 

    MORE insight in linked definition above
    1. male issue (one begotten by a father and born of a mother)
    2. son of man
      • Christ seems to have preferred this to the other Messianic titles, because by its lowliness it was least suited to foster the expectation of an earthly Messiah in royal splendour.
    3. son of God
    4. those who revere God as their father,
      • .. governed by the Spirit of God,

    Examine closely every aspect of the life of JESUS from manger to the cross and you will witness both humanity and deity — Christ the Son of Man—Christ the Son of God.

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com 

    NEXT:
    we will see why JESUS is

    His Only Son

    earth rise from Apollo

    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

    In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

    And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

    Gospel of John 1:1-5,14 KJV

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