Apostles' Creed: Jesus, Christ, Son, Lord Series

APOSTLES’ CREED: Jesus, Christ, Son, Lord

***I began with a video of a Jesus dashboard bobblehead. You could use some pictures of Jesus, tattoos, or other cultural images of Jesus****

Who or what is Jesus? For some, he is a figurehead, a good luck charm, a cultural icon. For others, he is a Friend, even a Best Bud. Or a Higher Power. A swear word, or a mantra to repeat in meditation or mindfulness. A source of identity, for a CHRISTian. You can probably think of other ways people think of Jesus.

Who is Jesus for you? What do you believe about him, and what impact does your faith have on how you live?

The Apostle’s Creed begins with, “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.” Then we say, “I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.” Each word or phrase has something important to tell us.

First, “I believe in JESUS…”

The name was not chosen by Joseph or Mary, but by God. In Matthew 1:20-21, we read that an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Mary will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

The name Jesus is based on the Hebrew name, Yeshua (Joshua). Yeshua is formed from the Hebrew “Yah shuv.” Yah is the word for God (Yahweh is God above all, the LORD.) “Shuv” means save. Jesus is, “God saves.” (Note to preacher: Put this on the screen.)

Why the name Jesus? Jesus saves! “He will save his people from their sins.”

Do I want to be saved from my sins? Some people like the idea of Jesus, until they understand that Jesus intends to confront sin!

In Acts 24:24-25, Paul is in prison, under the authority of a Roman governor, Felix. We read, “Several days later Felix…sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you."

Jesus came to confront sin: to forgive sin, and to release us from the power of sin to control us.

When we think of sins, we might think of shocking sins, or other people’s sins. The sins that Jesus talked about are sins we struggle with. Jesus talked about pride, a judgmental spirit, and self-centeredness. He talked about lust, greed, and holding a grudge. He confronted self-righteousness, especially among those who exalted themselves at the expense of others. He pointed out the sin of not caring about others, and he talked a lot about hoarding financial resources instead of investing in God’s kingdom.

Jesus exposed the sinfulness of humanity, and then he fulfilled God’s plan of salvation, by taking those sins to the cross. He set us free from guilt and shame, and opened a new way of living.

Titus 3:3-7 says it this way: “At one time we were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” Salvation is more than forgiveness; it is beginning a life free from sin, and alive to God’s plan and purpose.

I believe in Jesus, my Savior…

“I believe in Jesus CHRIST…”

Christ is not his last name, or a meaningless identifier. The Greek word “christos” translates the Hebrew word “messiach,” or messiah. Literally, messiah is “anointed one.”

In the Old Testament, anointing with oil was a sign of being set apart for a special purpose. People were anointed to be prophets, priests, or kings. In the time leading up to Jesus, Jews were hoping for a Messiah, who would fill all those roles, fulfilling the Old Testament vision of righteousness. Isaiah 61 gives a vision of the Messiah:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has ANOINTED me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God… For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness…”