The Apostles’ Creed — foundational to our Apostolic Christian faith
I BELIEVE or WE BELIEVE IN:
The Apostles’ Creed
We believe JESUS will JUDGE the living and the dead.
The Quick and the Dead
Death becomes a more serious matter IF WE consider an inevitable after-life of our lifeless flesh and blood and in a prepared place of our created soul.
This failing flesh, weakening sinews, crumbling of bones, flow through our heart and quickness of brain will not endure…
nor will the very breath of our brief mortal life.
And yet.. this created soul will remain…
What then?
Redemption OR Judgment?
Structure of Christian CREEDS
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
He ascended to heaven
Siteth at the right hand of the Father (ye olde English)
Whence He cometh to judge the living and the dead
more…
source: apostles-creed.org
We believe Jesus will judge the living and the dead
During His incarnation as the Son of Man and prior to His crucifixion Jesus had confessed:
The Apostle Paul helps us with this look at the judgment of the quick and the dead:
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you,
he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
We know it and recognize the the Apostles borrow this from the Gospel of what Christ has taught during His incarnation.
from the Greek [ζωοποιέω] it more specifically means:
to produce alive, begat or bear living young
to cause to live, make alive, give life
and as Jesus used it in a parable pointing to death:
of seeds quickened into life, i.e. germinating, springing up, growing
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
Gospel of John 5:21 KJV
Think of the implication of this to a mortal like us as we look toward the dust.
An the Lord Jesus assures the faithful:
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:
and you believers with ears to hear, listen to this:
the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Gospel of John 6:63 KJV – the word of Jesus, the son of Man and Son of God
from Christ to the Apostles to Christian Creeds
The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Ephesus — a worldly cosmopolitan city with the temple of the Greek goddess Artemis (the goddess Diana of the Romans) — in about AD 60, quoting the Prophets:
“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Ephesisans 5:14b-16 NKJV
And the risen Christ speaks a warning against turning back from sins and heresies leading to hell, which had seduced many of the Ephesian ‘christians‘:
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 2:5 NKJV
Their great falling from grace in Ephesus having taken place in the AD 90’s, a mere three decades after the Apostle Paul had pastored their church.
The historical record of the Church beyond the first century AD points to both firm doctrine and similar falling away from Christ.
Augustine of Hippo on the Apostles’ Creed
Born: AD 354, Augustine lived an early 'willfully, decadent, pagan life' in Carthage, even taking a mistress who bore him a bastard son.
Source: The Confessions of St. Augustine, Rosalie DeRosset – intro
In Carthage, Augustine’s knowledge.. he admits, made him, “swollen up with vanity” (Bk 3, chap. 6). — probably made him prey for the Manichean religion. The chief characteristic of this sect was Gnosticism, an extreme dualism that claimed evil and good as equal.
ibid. pp 13-14
In just four centuries heresies had encompassed and seeped into the churches. Later after after St. Augustine and the fall of Rome, considerable idolatry and various heresies would invade the Catholic Church and later after Luther, the Protestant Church.
READ what Augustine later taught about THE APOSTLES’ CREED:
“Thence He shall come to judge the quick and dead.”
The quick, who shall be alive and remain;
the dead, who shall have gone before.
It may also be understood thus: The living, the just; the dead, the unjust.
For He judges both, rendering unto each his own.
To the just He will say in the judgment, “Come, ye blessed of My Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world.” For this prepare yourselves, for these things hope, for this live, and so live, for this believe, for this be baptized, that it may be said to you, “Come ye blessed of My Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
To them on the left hand, what?
“Go into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Thus will they be judged by Christ, the quick and the dead.
We have spoken of Christ’s first nativity, which is without time;
spoken of the other in the fullness of time,
Christ’s nativity of the Virgin; spoken of the passion of Christ; spoken of the coming of Christ to judgment.
The whole is spoken, that was to be spoken of Christ, God’s Only Son, our Lord. But not yet is the Trinity perfect.
The baby Jesus, born of the virgin Mary, remains a fond and distant memory in our annual celebrations of theChrist-MassHoly-days.
Not surprisingly (as I recall that this year is the two-thousand twenty-fifth year of our Lord , as Christians used to call it in the days of Advent Calendars) I discovered my first CHRISTMAS EVE post from AD 2013,
It’s overall place in our current SERIES on The Apostles’ Creed is most fitting.
His timeline of three years of teaching during a mere 30 years in the world as the Son of Man places relevance on the brevity of both His and our mortal lives.
Roger Harned – author, administrator and founder of TalkofJesus.com
Just a few introductory Scriptures here, followed by my original Christmas Eve post of AD 2013. - RH
He is both Shepherd & a sheep for the Sacrifice
Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
Psalm 44:11 KJV
Is that not the lot of 2025 CE Christians as well?
Many Christians know this next one from the Gospel:
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned every one to his own way;
and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”
Before John the messenger of the Messiah, prior to Isaiah and the Prophets calling us to repentance and announcing the coming of the Lord;
Before David and the Kingdom of Israel, before Moses and the exodus of God’s chosen from captivity;
Thus, God IS and did send unto mankind Himself His only Son, a babe in a humble manger, born of a humble woman betrothed of a humble man, for the work of our redemption, a sheep of sacrifice on the Cross for our salvation. He IS the resurrection and the life.
Are we not prisoners of our many sins? Do our hearts not suffer in the dungeons of our darkness. Is God not distant from our difficulties and silent in our sufferings?
It was no different 2013 years ago. Yet the beginning of the story of the babe in the manger begins before the beginning.
In the beginning, the Holy Spirit was with God. The Holy Spirit descended on Christ Jesus, Son of God and He, a man with us, taught us once more the surpassing love and grace of God our Father in heaven.
Before Jesus’ ministry and teaching in the Holy Spirit, before the Son of Man was born in a manger in Bethlehem, He IS God in creation. Now a savior is come. He IS God with man: like every man, a babe, a child, a youth, a young man, and finally a mature man teaching the very word of God. He IS the very word of God! Jesus’ teaching IS the only truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Yet by His own love and the great grace of God our Father, He IS the Lamb of sacrifice for our sins.
Think of Jesus descended into the womb of Mary and born to be worshiped in a lowly manger in this way:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.
Jesus, Son of Man, born of Mary, the Incarnate spoken Word of God the Father. He was with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit in the beginning.
3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Genesis 1:
And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jesus speaks to creation as the Word taught us.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Genesis 1: 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
In the image and likeness of Jesus we were made. In the beginning, adam (man) was without sin, as Jesus, as God: Holy and separated from sin, like the darkness is divided from the light.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Here is revealed the identity of the babe in the manger: Jesus, heralded by angels and worshiped by shepherds and wise kings; Jesus, the babe smuggled into Egypt by Joseph to escape the sword of Herod; Jesus who would return to Nazareth of Galilee announced by John the Baptist, greatest of all Prophets.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
By His Light and the cloud of His glory He led His own people from the slavery of Egypt to His land of promise. By His own Word He proclaimed His Law of holiness and light for the people of His promise.
God’s own rejected God as a people of God; therefore God came unto His own and also to those who were not His own as a light to the gentiles, to all nations and all peoples.
All who will believe in the only Son of God and truly follow the will of God have become sons and daughters of God, adopted into the household and heart of His eternal life and overflowing love.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Unto us a child is born, a son of man, the Son of God. His glory was again witnessed by His Apostles and His righteousness seen by all.
15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)
16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths andlaid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
Thirty-three years later near Golgotha, then departed from Jerusalem:
Luke 24:
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen.
12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.
Acts 1: 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Christ Jesus, from the beginning to the manger, to the cross, to the tomb, to the resurrection, to walking and witness with men fifty more days, to His ascension, to the heavens above, to return on the clouds.
Do you have a relationship with the greatest love of all, that of God our Father in Heaven, Christ Jesus the Lamb of sacrifice for our sins, and the Holy Spirit counselor of the Most High?
The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Bow down and worship the Lord our God, Who IS and was and will be: God With Us; Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.
May the peace of God’s love dwell in your hearts through the grace of our Lord Christ Jesus, who came to a lowly manger that we might bow even lower to worship His Holy Name in this Holy time: Christ Mass, 2013
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
Isaiah 9:2 BSB
Paul Convicted by the Light of Christ
I had thought to skip past this story of Paul's too-familiar retelling of the Apostle's conversion by Christ (since Luke has already repeated it with frequency in Acts).
But just as Paul now witnesses with intensensity to a new audience, so shall I point to the Light of Christ JESUS that changed his life.
Who are you, Lord?
ănî yᵊhôšûaʿ
egō eimi iēsous
Acts of the Apostles 26:
Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds worthy of their repentance.
Acts of the Apostles 26:19-20 RSV
The Apostle witnesses the Gospel in his own defence before Agrippa the King and his Herodian sister, as well as the Roman Governor Porcius Festus for a second time.
šā’ûl apangellō [kept declaring]
the heavenly vision,
to those at Damascus,
then at Jerusalem
and throughout Judea,
and also to the Gentiles
For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
To this day I have had the help that comes from God,
and so I stand here testifying both to small and great,
saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:
Acts 26:22 RSV
Paul then quotes Scripture - the Old Testment Scriptures
that the Christ must suffer
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Zechariah 12:10 KJV
the first to rise from the dead,
my flesh also shall rest in hope.
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell;
neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Psalm 16:9b-10 KJV
Light to the People (of God – the Jews)
The Greeks have no Messiah — nor the Romans — nor did the Persians, the Babylonians or the Egyptians.
ONLY the JEWS. — Only the Jews are the PEOPLE of YHWH — the chosen PEOPLE of God.
When Paul points to the ‘people,’ the Apostle means the Jewish people, like Agrippa, Bernice and many other Herodian guests and officials hearing his argument.
The Christian Standard Version makes this point clearly:
“that the Messiah [christos] would suffer, and that, as the first to rise from the dead,
he would proclaim light to our people
and to the Gentiles [ethnos].”
Acts 26:23
JESUS is the MESSIAH or Christ of the JEWS!
Yet the Apostle to the ethnos, Saul (from the Hebrew) or Paul makes clear what the risen CHRIST has done ALSO for the gentiles.
and to the Gentiles.”
To THIS the Gentile Governor reacts!
Now remember that in addition to what the Governor knows from his predecessor Felix, Festus had already heard Paul's witness at length.
Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice,
“Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”
“I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.
Now Paul's appeal is to Herod Agrippa, Bernice and the Jews in his hearing.
For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things;
for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.
Acts 24:26
The Jewish King responds
The Apostle defending the appearance of the risen Messiah of the Jews most certainly turns his own focus to the Herodian king claiming leadership of God’s chosenpeople.
“King Agrippa,
do you believe the prophets?
I know that you do believe.”
Again, certainly Paul turns to Herod Agrippa II while the entire room also looks to the Jewish king for his answer.
The NIV perhaps catches the tone of Agrippa's meaning more clearly than the NKJV
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
Acts 26:28 NIV
Herod Agrippa is on the spot. Some of the Jews hearing Paul may be convinced that Jesus appeared to the Apostle. But most of Agrippa’s subjects will not have ears to hear even the Prophets.
The Light of Christ
Why has Luke recorded this third trial of Paul in Caesarea reiterating the Apostle’s same witness of the risen Christ Jesus?
This is Paul’s last appeal to the Jews.
The Apostle witnesses not only his own conversion and the evidence of the risen Messiah Jesus, but supports his new Gospel with the evidence of Scripture.
and God divided the light from the darkness.
the Prophesy of Isaiah [NKJV]
Prophet to Judah 740-681 BC
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Isaiah 5:20a
The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.
Isaiah 9:2
“I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles,
Isaiah 42:6
Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;
I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,
That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
Isaiah 49:6
A light shines in the darkness
And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”
Acts of the Apostles 26:29 NKJV
Agrippa’s hearing of Paul adjourned.
When he had said these things, the king stood up,
as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them;
and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves saying,
“This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”
Then Agrippa said to Festus,
“This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
Luke records:
And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment.
Acts of the Apostles 27:1
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