It’s the 2nd week in our study of The Apostles’ Creed. Christians around the world recite this ancient summary of foundational beliefs; it’s rooted in Scripture and was written by Jesus’ earliest disciples, who were eyewitnesses to most of this. In the words of author Albert Mohler, “Christians believe more than is contained in the Apostles’ Creed, but none can believe less.” For that reason, it’s regularly used as a confession of faith in most Christian worship services.
Today we’re focusing on the person and work of Jesus Christ, beginning with his virgin birth. Every Advent we hear the account of Mary and Joseph; their son is born in a stable and they name him Jesus, just as an angel of the Lord told them to do. Here comes the important part: Because he is born of Mary, Jesus is fully human and because he’s conceived by the Holy Spirit, Jesus is fully God. Some people have wondered if Jesus was half-man and half-divine, sort of a 50-50 split. That’s not what the Bible says! Think of it this way: God put on flesh and lived among us. Theologians call that incarnation. Another way to express this is to say that through the virgin birth, God became man without ceasing to be God! Do you know that Matthew and Luke each wrote a gospel that included the account of the Virgin birth? It is undeniably a miracle. These same two gospel writers go on to tell us about another incredible miracle: the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. If we believe the first miracle, we trust the virgin birth is true, wouldn’t we also, by faith, believe the truth of the Easter miracle? On the other hand, if someone denies the virgin birth, scoffing that it’s a made-up tale, how could they have any certainty about Jesus’ resurrection? Simply put, we need to take it all as trustworthy or reject it all as false; there’s no neutrality, no choosing the parts we like and ignoring the rest. Either we believe what’s contained in the Bible, or we don’t. What immediately follows the announcement of the Virgin birth is confusing. Wouldn’t you think Jesus’ teachings, healings or other miracles would be named? They are not, and I think that was intentional. This creed keeps our focus on salvation, it’s concise; but it also helped fight false teachings. After the virgin birth, we’re told Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate. That is very accurate, his punishments were harsh and excessive. What is interesting here is again - what is missing. Why is Pilate, a minor Roman governor in Judea listed? Why not King Herod or Caiaphas, the high priest? Pilate’s reign was recorded in public records, so it gave historians a verifiable date of Jesus’ death. But more importantly, Pilate said he believed Jesus was innocent, yet he condemned him to death. Three times he told the crowd and others he found no fault in Jesus that would merit the death penalty. Including Pilate in this early creed did serve a specific purpose, it countered those who blamed Jews for Christ’s death. That false and provoking claim has long been used to imply Jews were responsible for the Messiah’s death. Something else that counters that sort of harassment is Jesus’ own words. He said: “No one takes my life from me; I lay it down of my own accord.” Jesus chose the cross. He who was without sin, paid the penalty for our own. His love for you and me held him there. The next three words in the creed say Jesus “was crucified, dead and buried”. Each is a single word and each is powerful. Someone once said that if you repeated these three words out loud, several times, they would sound like a hammer, nailing the lid of a coffin. Crucified, dead and buried. Crucified, dead and buried. These words are used in all four of the Gospels, that shows us their importance. Especially the word “burial”. There were skeptics back then, just as there are today. In the early church, Christians had to deal with a group called the Gnostics. They believed the Spirit of God entered Jesus at his baptism but left before his crucifixion. That meant Jesus didn’t die on the cross. They could not conceive of that, so they argued with Christians and defended their point of view. Hundreds of years later the prophet Muhammed, founder of the religion of Islam, also said Jesus never really died on the cross. He just appeared to, so what must also logically be true is that Jesus could not have risen from the dead either. If you or someone you know has ever doubted that Jesus died, consider these things: he predicted his death several times to his disciples; after being arrested, he was beaten and scourged; he lost blood and was exhausted. Being nailed to a cross caused tremendous suffering; Jesus hung there for 6 hours. He also died out in public, outside the walls of Jerusalem. He was surrounded by soldiers whose job it was to kill criminals; they knew the difference between a dead man and an unconscious one. Jesus’ mother was nearby with John, Jewish leaders were watching, plus a crowd of onlookers had come. No one could have faked their death with all those witnesses nearby. The evidence that Jesus truly died is overwhelming. That matters: it is the crux of the Good News. It’s what gives us hope, because when Jesus was laid in a tomb, he took our sins in with him. When he was resurrected and walked out, our sins were gone forever. There’s a praise song called “Glorious Day” that says this so well: “Living, he loved me; Dying, he saved me; Buried, he carried my sins away; Rising he justified, freely forever; One day He’s coming, O glorious day!” That is God’s one plan of salvation, it’s the one way to heaven. It all depends on our One God, who put on flesh and made one sacrifice for all. Next up is the most controversial part of the creed: “Jesus descended into hell”. This exact phrase is not found in Scripture, and it wasn’t added to the creed until 250-300 years after Jesus’ resurrection. But it has remained there for close to 1,700 years for a specific purpose. The original authors wanted to be perfectly clear: Jesus went to the grave, that’s what “hades” means in Greek and what “Sheol” means in Hebrew. This matters because skeptics have said and still believe to this day that Jesus didn’t die, he wasn’t truly and completely dead. Here’s what has led to confusion. In the Middle Ages it was broadly believed that “descending into hell” meant Jesus went down to a place of flames and darkness, with eternal suffering. That was taught and preached, and depicted in many pieces of religious art. But here’s how we know that wasn’t what the authors of the creed meant. They used the word “hades” meaning grave, they didn’t use the other lesser-used Greek word “Gehenna”. That is a word that refers to a fiery place of suffering. Can you see how these two words and their meaning could get mixed up? To proclaim that Jesus descended into hell means we believe he was in a grave, dead. Next week we’ll focus on the resurrection, but today we’ll end with Jesus ascending into heaven and sitting at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. Every one of us will stand before Jesus and give an account of our life. Nothing will be hidden; it is already known to Him. You may feel prepared, as much as one can be, to be in that place. But if this thought makes your heart beat too fast, or your hands sweat, those are signs you’re probably not yet, or not fully, living an obedient, Christ-centered life. If you’ve avoided thinking about this, now is the time to change that – ignoring it just won’t work. Do you know that there are over 300 verses in the Bible that say Jesus is coming to earth again? If you believe the virgin birth and the resurrection from the dead, then the Second Coming and our time of accountability before Jesus must also be trusted. This is what we believe as Christians. Amen. Genesis 48:8-11,14-16,20 and Psalm 92 September 12, 2021
Psalm 28 says “May you live to see your children’s children.” That’s a prayer that someone will one day become a grandparent. These days, thanks in large part to modern medicine, many people can expect to live to an old, old age. It’s possible to even see three generations be born in your lifetime. Plenty of people who are in church today are grandparents, but not everyone. But it’s likely we all have had a grandparent(s) as we were growing up. Today we’ll consider some of the important ways grandparents (and other elders) can influence and bless our lives. Grandparents can teach grandkids to be of service to others. Who here went along with a grandparent to “drop off” something to a neighbor? Maybe it was a casserole because someone was sick, or a friend needed to borrow some tools. A grandpa might mow the lawn of an elderly neighbor or shovel their driveway in the winter but refuse to take any money. They’d just say, “It’s the right thing to do.” Grandmothers might quietly serve others by mending clothes and hemming pants for widowers. They might bring friends who can’t drive anymore to their doctor’s appointment, or to the grocery store. Grandparents can also be generous in the ways they serve their community. Some help as a volunteer at a hospital, a school or a fire station. Other might be part of a community band or gardening club. May we be like them and make the time to serve others. Grandparents can teach grandkids some special life skills. Who was taught to sew, knit, crochet or do crafts with a grandmother? Did a grandfather show you how to change a flat tire or your oil? Did they show you how to plant, care for and harvest fresh produce from a garden? Did you learn to hunt, fish or farm with a grandparent? What recipes did a grandparent use as they taught you to cook in a kitchen or over a campfire in the woods? There are lots of things grandparents teach their grandkids. May we be like them and teach others the life skills we know. Grandparents can show us how to wisely spend our money. Many had a simpler life growing up; probably only one person earned a paycheck. That made them spend their money carefully, and if they had to, they could usually make do. Life for grandparents was mostly about needs, not wants. That shaped the ways they spent and saved their money. Did your grandparents have the same living room or dining room furniture for as long as you can remember? Did they drive a car or truck until it was pretty worn out, or buy a nice new one off the lot every few years? Were their clothes comfortable and their shoes practical, unless they dressed up for church on Sundays? Grandparents can teach us the value of a dollar, the wisdom of living within our means and saving for a rainy day. May we be like them in those same ways. Grandparents can spoil grandkids and get away with it! Before a child is even born – isn’t there shopping that is done? Grandparents may also like to find the children’s books and toys they stored from long ago when their kids were babies and let the newest little ones enjoy them. Plus, they find neat gifts in stores, things like a red wagon for a birthday present, a first bicycle, maybe even a swing set. Grandparents also like to bring their grandkids to visit special places nearby, but sometimes they also take them to amusement parks, a zoo, a sporting event, or a visit to the ocean. But of all the place grandkids might go, sometimes their favorite place is to their grandparent’s home. Overnights can be especially fun. You might be given a freshly baked cookie not long before supper! Or you might stay up later than your usual bedtime to catch lightning bugs. All sorts of treats and fun outings can happen because grandparents tend to have more free time than parents. May we remember grandparents who gave us special treats, and occasionally bent the rules, and know that that really is O.K. once in a while! Grandparents can be the family’s story tellers. They are the wonderful bridge between the past few generations and those living today. They know so many interesting details about older relatives because they were there to see them first-hand. They can fill in the family tree and tell stories, sometimes for hours. They can point to black and white photos and talk about where the people lived and worked, who they may have married and what they did in their free time. Some of what is told will be funny, other news can be sad. You might learn you have family members who proudly served in the military. Others might have taken trips to far-away places and there are old postcards that show their travels. As grandparents share their stories, a family sees how many generations came before them. That history, which comes alive in the telling, very much helps younger generations have a sense of belonging. It helps gives them roots but it can also make them dream about what interesting things they might do with their lives. May we be storytellers, when the time comes, and keep alive the amazing, unique history of our family. Grandparents can also be the ones who pass on their faith to their grandkids. They might be brought to church on Sunday mornings. Children are usually greeted with smiles, then when they sit, they will see the adults around them singing songs together. They may hear a children’s story from a Bible and if they feel comfortable, go to Sunday School to learn, do crafts and maybe have a snack. Even though it is called Sunday School, new kids will learn there are never any tests to take. They will also hear a lot of stories about Jesus, and His love for everyone. Grandparents might be the ones who teach grandchildren the words to The Lord’s Prayer. They may also bow their heads at the dinner table and say a prayer of thanks, out loud, to God. As kids get older, grandparents may ask them if they want to help serve at the church. Grandkids catch on pretty quick that there is often really good food and lots of desserts when church people get together. If you like pie at all, you are really going to like church! May we all invite children to come to church, Sunday School and other happenings at the church. And may we always be role models in our homes. I want to end with a sweet and true experience a mom had one day with her young son. She was busy getting dinner started and her 4-year-old son bumped into the back of her legs and fell on his backside. Up he stood, and mom made sure he was OK, but in less than a minute, as she started to turn, she almost tripped again because he was like a little shadow behind her. She took a deep breath and resolved to be patient AND keep her eye on her active son. But, to her exasperation it wasn’t long before he was right behind her again. She got down to his level and said: “Why are you bumping into mommy like this?” With a nervous little smile, he explained that he was just doing what his Sunday School teacher taught him. She said: “Every day, walk in Jesus’ footsteps.” Since I’ve never seen Jesus at our house, I thought I should walk in your footsteps.” That little boy got a very big hug from his mom when he said that. That is my hope and prayer for myself and all of us for the coming week. May we walk – just like Jesus would have if he were here! Amen. Peace, This week begins a fall preaching series I’m calling “Back to the Basics”. For three weeks we’ll focus on The Apostle’s Creed, then two weeks for the 10 Commandments and for The Lord’s Prayer, and we’ll wrap up with the sacraments of baptism and holy communion. Once we cover these foundational Christian beliefs and practices, we’ll be ready for the first week in Advent. That’s the season that marks the beginning of a new church year for us as Christians.
This morning we all recited the Apostle’s Creed. How many of you know this by heart? I hope that a month from now we’ll all recite, from memory, this ancient faith statement. It’s one of the oldest and most-widely accepted creeds and is recognized by all branches of Christianity: Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox. It’s often used in Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Episcopal worship services. And from now onward, the Apostle’s Creed will always be part of our worship services, with only occasional exceptions. So, let’s get started! The word creed comes from the Latin word credo, which means “I believe”. It doesn’t say “we believe”, did you ever notice that? That’s because this is meant to be personal, each one of us gets to decide if these are things we believe in, or not. It also sets a boundary; these are non-negotiables if you choose to be a Christian. When we said these words out loud in church earlier, we made a public profession of our personal beliefs. In the earliest days of the church, this wasn’t done. Back then this was used only at baptisms; it was the public profession of faith each person had to make. Before that special day, each person wanting to become a member of a Christian church had to spend a full year studying the Scriptures and learning about Jesus Christ. Then, dressed in white robes, they would be taken to a body of water (if possible) and asked 12 questions, each coming from what we now call the Apostle’s Creed. Over time these faith affirmations were written down. They broadly sum up the basics of Christian belief, starting with creation and ending with eternal life. It isn’t everything Christians believe, but it’s a very clear set of statements that describe our core beliefs. One other important thing to know about this creed is its authorship. The 12 apostles, Jesus’ closest followers, carefully and prayerfully wrote these words. As we dig into this creed in the coming weeks, I think you’ll come to appreciate how deliberately the 114 words were chosen. Take for example, the first four words of the creed: “I believe in God”. It doesn’t say “some gods” or some vague “higher power”. Saying “I believe in God” is radical because it implies exclusivity. We’re stating that we believe there is one, true God and no others. Some historical context can help us better appreciate this word choice. The Hebrews in the Old Testament were usually surrounded by neighboring nations that believed in multiple gods: a god of the sun, another for the moon and the earth. There were fertility gods and gods of seasons. People were afraid of back luck and disasters, so they made up many deities, and often carved wooden idols to represent them, in hopes of being healthy, prosperous, etc. The next two words that describe God in the creed are “Father” and “Almighty”. The first is best translated as daddy or papa. That gives a sense of intimacy, a personal connection. I wish I could have been near enough to hear Jesus say “papa” when he prayed. It’s such a loving word, and it’s what a child who’s dependent on their parent would use. But let’s go a little deeper. The affirmation of God as Father isn’t meant to be a declaration of God’s gender. Unfortunately, some people throughout history have twisted the meaning of Father and used it to wrongly justify harm to or dominance of others. The original reason the first followers used “Father” was likely because it was one of Jesus’ favorite words, and it also helps any one of us imagine having a close relationship with God. The next word to describe God in the creed is Almighty: “I believe in God the Father Almighty”. In Hebrew the word is “El Shaddai”; we sing a praise song with those words in it. Did you know you were singing in Hebrew and saying God is Almighty? That word calls attention to God’s unlimited power. It is good for us to pause and realize that nothing is beyond the all-surpassing power and will of God. God is in complete control of all of history, it is truly His Story. Almighty, Father, God (singular) - can you begin to see how amazing the specific word choices are in the Apostle’s Creed? Next, we say God is the “Maker of heaven and earth”. The word “maker” is capitalized because it’s a title. We tend to use the word Creator. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, was a frail, 87-year-old, on his deathbed in 1791. Many people may know his final words were “Best of all, God is with us”. But the day before, Wesley was doing his best to sing his favorite hymn. It begins with: “I’ll praise my Maker while I’ve breath”. Toward the end of the song it changes a bit: “I’ll praise my God who lends me breath.” Both of these affirm that the world exists because God created it. Our very breath comes from our Maker. We do not believe in the Big Bang theory. Our belief as Christians, our worldview is that God is the Creator of all that is seen and unseen. Have you ever realized that once we know our origin, where we come from, we will naturally ponder other things like: “Why am I here, what’s my purpose?” and “Where am I going when I die, nowhere or somewhere?” We’re going to learn those things as we continue through the creed. The next section is about Jesus, almost half of the creed is devoted to who Jesus is and why He matters. When Jesus was traveling through Caesarea Philippi early in his ministry, he asked his disciples “Who do you say that I am?” They had to grapple with that question and answer it for themselves. We all have to make up our mind about Jesus. Do you know that the name Jesus in Hebrew means “God saves”? The Greek version of Jesus is “Yeshua” or “Joshua”. Do you remember what the angel Gabriel told Joseph, the fiancé of Mary, long ago? The angel said: “You are to give him the name of Jesus, because He will save his people from their sins.” Historians say that Jesus was a very common name among Jews in the first century. They’ve identified at least ten other men named Jesus who lived in the same area, at the same time as our Lord. And records show that at least 5 Jewish high priests living then were named “Jesus”. Let me clear up something else in case you weren’t too sure. Christ is not Jesus’ last name. He didn’t grow up in the “Christ” family. Christ is one of Jesus’ divinely-appointed titles. It means “anointed one”. In the Old Testament, if you were going to be a King in Israel, or a priest or prophet, you were anointed with oil in a formal ceremony. The oil was a sign that God had called you to serve. So, when we say we believe in “Jesus Christ”, we’re saying we believe he is God’s anointed one who will save us. We recognize him as the King who will usher in His Kingdom; he’s the long-awaited, promised Messiah. The next phrase, which says Jesus is God’s “only Son” seems simple on the surface. It might easily be thought of in a numerical way, suggesting God had one son, not two or three. But we know from Jesus that “the Father and the Son are one”. Theologians put it this way: “they share the same essential nature”. The best translation of “only”, in the phrase “Jesus is God’s only Son” is “one-of-a-kind” or “absolutely unique”. We’ve all heard the expression limited edition, right? That means an artist might only have created 3 original pieces. Or maybe 25 or 50. They are signed and unique. Jesus was and is a limited edition, absolutely unique. The final word used for Jesus here is the title “Lord”. As Christians we say Jesus is Lord, but chances are we don’t fully appreciate the meaning or the risk in doing that in the first century. The Jews had been conquered by the Romans; their vast empire stretched from Europe to the Middle East and northern Africa. Romans would leave locals to worship as they wished, with two exceptions. They had to pay taxes and say, “Caesar is Lord”. The title “Lord” means “absolute ruler, the one who is sovereign”. Christians could not and would not say “Caesar is Lord” out loud, because they believed Jesus is Lord. The interesting thing about this is that Christians could say “Jesus is God” or “Jesus has risen from the dead” and the Romans paid no attention; they didn’t care what deity anyone believed in. But if a Christian said: “Jesus is Lord”, that would start an immediate riot. Soldiers would be called and once verified, the punishment was death. Great numbers of Christians were persecuted and cruelly put to death while Romans ruled. Following Jesus, saying what you believed, was a dangerous thing. Let’s see now, if everyone can begin to master this important creed that others wrote, affirmed, memorized and defended for almost 2,000 years. I’ll say a phrase and ask you to repeat after me. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. Amen. -- Peace, |
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September 2023
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