|
The Apostles' Creed |
| Article I |
Article II |
Article III |
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
|
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son our Lord,
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the
right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
|
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
|
What does this mean?
[Robert E. Smith translation, 1994]
I believe that Jesus Christ is truly God, born of the Father in eternity and also truly human, born of the Virgin Mary. Christ is my Lord! Christ redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, bought and won me from all sins, death, and the authority of the Devil. It did not cost him gold or silver, but his holy, precious blood, his innocent body -- his death! Because of this, I am Christ's very own, will live under Christ in his kingdom and serve Christ righteously, innocently and blessedly forever, just as Christ is risen from death, lives and reigns forever. Yes, this is true!
Prayer
Loving God, we are happy to be included in Christ’s circle of friends, saved and redeemed by your kindness and his sacrificial life. In his name we say both Thank You and Amen.
Commentary by Pastor David G. Mullen
Return to
Calvary's Home Page
Today, let us stick with the faithful “us” and rejoice in the good news of God’s great love for us. We are bought with a price and the price is not money, but blood. This is just the opposite of the Old Testament dictum often ignorantly repeated by Christians as approved “justice”: an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth and life for a life. This is not about divine retribution, but a life for a life given in self-sacrificing love. Not revenge, but redemption. Not punishment but atonement. Not condemnation, but deep and abiding forgiveness. As a mother will give up her life for a child, so God gives up this Life for the human race.
And our privilege that is we are, solely by the grace of God, counted among those who know this. Knowing it in our guts ought to change the way we live. Rejoice in the Lord, always; and again, I say, rejoice! Love is greater than justice! Christ is our Lord!