We Believe: Who Is God?نموونە

THE APOSTLES' CREED

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.

Depending on your faith background, the Apostles Creed might be very familiar, or today might be the first you’ve ever read it. You might have some negative feelings associated with the custom of it. It might be a huge source of comfort to you – a space where you’ve connected with your faith. Wherever you find yourself as you begin this reading plan, pause, and take a deep breath or two. Open your heart and ears to what God wants to teach you through this plan. Over the next 5 days, you'll be reminded of who God is and what it means to be saved by grace and be a follower of His son Jesus. As the passage from Ephesians reminds us, we are to take what is learned out into the world. To do that, we need to know the truth and believe in it. And to know the truth, we need to know who God is. So, let’s dig in with a definition and some history…

A creed is defined as a formal statement of religious belief or a confession of faith. In the context of this reading plan, we’re looking at this as our confession of faith as followers of Jesus. It’s what we believe when we say we follow Jesus.

According to the Britannica Encyclopedia, The Apostles Creed was created from the early versions of interrogations called catechumens. In other words, prior to being baptized, a professing Christ-follower had to affirm their belief in key tenets of the Christian faith. Evidence of the church using a similar creed dates all the way back to the 3rd and 4th-century church in Rome. Over time, versions of this creed made their way from the church in Rome to France and eventually became the official statement of faith to the Catholic church in the West in the late 1100s and early 1200s. Just as the Apostles’ Creed held meaning to the early church, it holds meaning for us today.

Ask Yourself:

-When it comes to God, the Father Almighty - what do I believe?

-How would I describe my relationship with God right now?

Pause to Pray: Father, open my eyes and ears to help me see and hear your words and plans for my life. Help me to discover you in a new way over the next week. Help me to put aside my own junk that keeps me from seeing and experiencing you in the ways you would have me see and experience you… Amen

Weekly Challenge: Our belief isn’t meant to be kept to ourselves. We are called to spread the good news of the gospel to everyone we know. That’s a task that is often easier said than done! Part of the reason that it’s so important for us to know the truth on which we stand is so that we can share it with others. Pause to ask God to show you the people in your life who need to hear His words of love and hope and salvation. Begin to pray for guidance on how to share your faith and for opportunities to do so.