It is important for people to have an understanding of what they believe in. Whether it is science, religion, or political ideals, knowledge is key to growth. Some people call these worldviews, others call them statements of faith, and still others call them creeds. A way to live by. For Christians, the Apostles’ Creed is a good beginning to describing what you believe. While there are other Christian creeds, this is the simplest, in my opinion, to describe your faith. Let’s break it down.
What is The Apostles’ Creed
Statement of Belief
“I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit; Born of the Virgin Mary.”
The very start of the creed is our belief in who God and Jesus are. God, the creator of all things, and Jesus, His only son born of the virgin and conceived by the Holy Spirit. Without this, the rest of our belief does not stand. If Jesus was not born of the virgin, He would have been born with sin and would not be from God or the Spirit.
Jesus’ Death
“Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into Hell.”
The next part of the creed is Christ’s suffering and death. This is pretty straight forward. The Jews sent Jesus to the Romans where He was tortured before being crucified. He died on the cross and was buried in a tomb. The key phrase here is that He descended into Hell. It may seem a trivial statement, but it is the most important part of this section. Sinners go to Hell. Jesus was sinless. When Christ died, He took on the sins of the world, sending Him to Hell.
The Resurrection
“The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven; and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.”
After Jesus death, He rose from the dead. This is the fulcrum of Christianity. If Christ did not rise from the dead, then none of it matters. But, Christ returning from the grave proves His power over death, and the promise of eternal life.
Concluding Statement
“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.”
The concluding statement adds in the rest of the Christian’s belief system. The Holy Spirit completes the triune nature of God. The holy catholic Church refers to the church as a whole, not the Roman Catholic church. The communion of Saints is the whole body of Christ, past, present, and future, using their talents and gifts to spread the gospel. It is not referring to the Lord’s Supper. And finally the forgiveness of sins which leads to the resurrection of the body, meaning the believers in Christ, and eternal life.
The Apostles’ Creed is a good beginning point to express your belief in Christianity. It is easy enough to remember, it hits all the points necessary, and it is fairly short. So the next time someone asks you what you believe, just recite the Apostles’ Creed and explain further from there if there are more questions.
