UPDATE: Please read the article all the way through. I am not saying that I don’t believe the Apostles’ Creed. Far from it. I do! Our church recites it at times. What I am saying is that it cannot be used to define the gospel of Jesus Christ. So please read the article carefully.- Chap
Ok, it is time to come out of the closet.
I don’t believe in The Apostles’ Creed.
The Apostles’ Creed dates from very early times in the church, perhaps a half-century or so from the last book of the New Testament.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty.
Maker of heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord.
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
and was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day He rose again,
and ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of the saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
But I don’t believe in it. And I don’t think you should believe in it either.
Notice, I did not say, I don’t believe it.
I do believe it. I don’t believe IN it.
What do I mean?
I am finding that even in some so-called Christian circles The Apostles’ Creed is replacing the gospel as lines of acceptable fellowship. Since, we are told, The Apostles’ Creed has been a historical confession of Christian faith, it should be ours also. Any, we are told, who can hold to The Apostles’ Creed should be treated as brothers and sisters in Christ.
It all sounds so good and gracious and harmonious.
Until we have the poor manners of looking at …. the Bible. And we find Paul is a little too focused on … the gospel. We find that the true gospel is the subject of a few of the smaller books we have in the Bible – like Romans and Galatians. We find that the gospel is the determinant of whether we are saved (1 Corinthians 15:1ff).
And we find that Paul is so uncouth as to declare that those who do not preach the true gospel should “go to hell” or “castrate themselves” (Galatians 1:8-9, 5:12). Yikes!
The Apostles’ Creed or The Gospel?
Which brings me back to The Apostles’ Creed. There are some who can affirm The Apostles’ Creed who cannot affirm the gospel revealed in Romans and Galatians as salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
That is the gospel on which true Christians throughout the ages have taken their stand. Here too I stand, I can do no other. God help me.
The Apostles’ Creed: Believe it. Don’t believe IN it.
