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…”
Jesus quoted from of Isaiah 61, when he began his ministry, saying, “Today this scripture is fulfilled.” (Luke 4:21)
After the disciples had been following Jesus for a while, the gospels tell us that Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8:27-29)
Jesus then told his disciples that he must suffer, and then rise from the dead. After he rose and ascended, Peter preached at Pentecost, boldly declaring, “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ (MESSIAH)." (Acts 2:36-38) Jesus was the fulfillment of the greatest hopes of Jews for a Messiah.
What does it mean for us to say that Jesus is the Christ? He is the fulfillment of our deepest hopes!
People hope for many thing, like prosperity, peace, or justice. We might put our trust in our own efforts, in our hard work or retirement account. We might hope the economy will be good, or political leaders will fix the problems of the world. We might wish that we could be rich or powerful, surrounded by people who share our goals, and support our dreams.
Jesus is the Christ, the fulfillment of our best hopes and dreams. He was the anointed prophet, who spoke God’s truth. He was the great high priest, who atoned for sin, once for all, on the cross. He is the King of Kings, who initiated his kingdom on earth, and reign fully and completely in heaven forever.
If he is God’s prophet, do we listen to what he says? Is he is our priest, do we come to God through him? If he is our king, are we seeking first the kingdom of God?
“I believe in Jesus Christ…”
“I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s ONLY SON…
How do we know God? The creed begins, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator…” We see God’s work in creation, and God’s hand in history. We read the Old Testament, and see what God has done, and what he has said through his prophets. Yet we recognize our knowledge of God is.
Then God enters the world, in the person of Jesus. John 1:18 says, “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”
Just before Jesus died, Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing HIS WORK.”
Jesus was a remarkable man, who taught and did miracles. When he did those things, however, we was doing the “works” of God. In John 5, he said that as the Father gives life, he gave life. As the Father will judge, he will judge. The words he spoke, the mighty works he did, and the authority and power he showed demonstrated that he was God.
Hebrews 1:1-3 says it this way: “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being…”
Sometimes people say, “Well, my God is like…” or “I think God would say…” They imagine God as they would like him to be, hating the same people they do, approving of the same behaviors they do, and giving them everything their hearts desire. Their God resembles to themselves more than he resembles Jesus!
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to sit down with Jesus every day, and talk about my life and the world in which we live. Would he agree with me on everything? Would I be uncomfortable with some of my thoughts, words or deeds? After spending time with Jesus, I would better understand the heart of the Father. I would see life differently, and I would see people differently.
Although we can’t share a latte with Jesus, we can sit down with him every day! We have his words in the Bible, and we can pray along with him. Even better, the Holy Spirit takes the place of Jesus, for he said, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth…I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:16-18)
“I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, OUR LORD”
When Peter preached at Pentecost, he boldly declared, “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Declaring that Jesus was the Christ or Messiah was revolutionary; declaring that Jesus was Lord took it up a notch.
For Jews, the Lord was God. In fact, since Jews felt that the name “Jahweh” was too holy to say, they would say “Lord” when they read the Scriptures. (In many translations of the Bible, Jahweh or Jehovah is replaced by LORD in capital letters.)
For people in the Roman Empire, emperor worship was growing. Patriotic people were saying, “Caesar is Lord.” The followers of Jesus said, “No, Jesus is Lord.” That was their first and most basic confession of faith.
Jesus is Lord! What does that mean for us? It is liberating!
Other people are not our Lord. We don’t have to live up to their expectations, to be successful, to give our kids everything, to post cool stuff on Instagram.
Our employer is not Lord. The government is not the ultimate moral authority. We don’t accept the lower standards of society, going along with whatever people feel is OK.
WE are not Lord, for we can be the hardest masters. Jesus is our Lord; he forgives, and he helps us do better.
If Jesus is Lord, we must obey him fully. Jesus said in Luke 6:46, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?”
George Gallup, after a lifetime of surveys and polls, said, “Survey evidence suggests that (faith) does not change people’s lives to the degree one would expect from the professed level of belief.” How can we change that?
Change begins in the heart. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.” Do you trust him enough to want to obey him fully?
If you do trust Jesus as Lord, then do what he says, and do it today. Is there sin that your Lord is telling you to root out, at the core? Are you self-centered, stubborn, or rebellious? Are your values misplaced? Are there habits to be changed? Are you trying to please the wrong people, and giving them control over you?
If Jesus is Lord, he is to be obeyed fully.
I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD.
I believe in Jesus, who came to save me from my sins. I believe he is the Christ, my hope for now and eternity. I believe he is the Son of God, who opens the way to the Father. I trust him as my Lord, and I want to him fully.
I believe.
