Apostle's Creed VII

Sermon:

This is number 7 in our series based on the Apostle’s Creed. Last time we talked about the line that says: on the third day after crucifixion, He rose from the dead. We discussed the evidence both inside and outside of Scripture that would lead us to the absolute conclusion of a living resurrected Christ. Why is Christ’s resurrection any different than Lazarus or the son of the widow of Nam? I think we can assume that Lazarus and the Widow’s son lived for a while longer, then died a natural death. We talked earlier that God had the power to breathe life into a molded lump of earth to create the first man, so the Lord certainly can breathe life into a fully formed body, even one that has been dead for a while. Why then is the resurrection of Jesus any different? The answer is the realization that Jesus didn’t die again; he rose into heaven, and we will talk about rising into heaven next time. For now, let’s focus just on the point that Jesus never died again. He still lives. What is the significance of that?

Do you recall what Thomas said when he recognized the risen Savior? It is in John 20:27-28. “Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it in my side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God.” My Lord and my GOD! Thomas realized the significance; Thomas got it. Jesus the man, the human being, died on the cross. Christ the God, one-third of the Trinity, rose from the grave.

About 300 years after the crucifixion the, Emperor Constantine accepted Christianity as the official religion throughout the Roman Empire. One of his first actions was to call a meeting. If it were Methodist, I’m sure it would have been a potluck with Ad Council to follow. But this was a Roman meeting, and they didn’t have to hurry home to watch the football game. The meeting lasted four months so someone had to provide lunch. Maybe they had it catered. The meeting was in Nicaea, Turkey about 50 miles or so south of Istanbul. About 300 bishops from throughout the Christian world attended, and Constantine himself presided. It was a very big deal, and the purpose of the meeting was to determine just exactly who Christ was. Notice I didn’t say “who Jesus was”. Jesus was the son of God, but they had to determine who Christ, the Risen Savior was. They debated and published their findings in the Nicaean Creed. It is similar to the Apostle’s Creed but has some embellishments and amplifications. I will read it for you and point out the major differences.

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Let’s look at the difference in the creeds. Christ and God were of the same substance. In the words of John 1:1-2. “In the beginning, there was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” John, of course, is referring to Jesus as the Word. Jesus was with God at creation. Jesus and God are of the same substance. Jesus was God incarnated as a man.

Jesus was God who walked with us. Jesus was a living breathing human being who came to earth and was crucified dead and buried. The Risen Savior was the immortal Christ, our Savior, who came to earth for two purposes. The least was to authorize and establish a connection between you and your God. You have a direct line and can call on the Lord any time you need. The second mission of the incarnate Savior was to reveal what it means to be created in the image of God. In Genesis 1:27 it says; “God Created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female.” Genesis 2:7 goes on to say:” Then the Lord formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.” The breath of life gave man an immortal soul. You are in the image of God because you are also a trinity. You have an earthly body that will eventually die. You have a spirit that impacts all those around you and may continue to have an impact long after your body is gone. You also have an immortal soul with the opportunity to pass through the gates of paradise. You also have free-will just as Jesus the man had free will. He could have denied God when He was tested in the desert. He could have denied God when he was hung on a cross, but he didn’t. He obeyed His Father and did what he was sent to do and ascended into heaven.

I once tutored a fifteen-year-old boy who had been badly injured when he was swept over a water fall. He broke some ribs, both legs and an arm but was able to hang onto a rock at the base of the falls for several hours until help arrived. When I asked how he was able to hang on, he told me he wasn’t ready to justify his life up to that point to the Creator of the Universe. I still hear from him. He is now a pastor in Alberta. Jesus himself said it is not for us to know when we will be called to judgement. It will come in when we least expect it, like a thief in the night. I wonder if I will be ready when the Lord passes judgement.

Pray with me. Dear Lord. We honor the Father, we glorify the Son, and are filled with the Holy Spirit. You don’t really ask much of us. All you ask is for us to believe in you, and to love one another as you have loved us. You told us Lord that we could turn to you when we are in need. You said we could ask for protection from evil. This pandemic Lord is pure evil, and we implore you to make it go away. We know you have the power to make it so. Amen.