The Apostles' Creed
The Apostles’ Creed is an ancient statement of faith that summarizes core beliefs about God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. It affirms belief in the Trinity, Christ’s death, resurrection, and the hope of eternal life, remaining a foundational declaration of faith:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to Sheol.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy universal church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Throughout the ages, the church has believed certain things about God that are essential to being a Christian. The following are foundational truths that we hold to, across traditions, times, and languages:
- God eternally exists as One God in Three Persons. Not three gods, but One God eternally in relationship to Himself – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, without beginning or end. He is the Second Person of the Trinity.
- He (Jesus) took upon Himself human flesh, and became like us in every way, but he never sinned. He is truly God and truly Man. This is the truth of the Incarnation.
- He truly died to pay for the sins of mankind, making atonement for us on the Cross of Calvary. This is the truth of atonement.
- He was buried, and on the third day, rose from the dead. This is the truth of the resurrection. He is alive today, and remains truly God and truly Man.
- He will return one day to judge the living and the dead, and to bring His followers into eternal life with Him. His Kingdom will have no end.
- Whoever believes in Him will be given eternal life as a free gift.
The Good News
Every human being that has ever lived, except for Jesus, has broken God’s law. The bible says that the wages (payment) for sin is death (Romans 6:23). Everybody dies because everybody has sinned. God is perfectly just, so He must punish sin perfectly. But God is also perfectly loving. So how can God be perfectly just and perfectly loving?
After all, He has to punish all sin, even what we see as small or insignificant. But because He is perfectly loving and merciful, He entered into our world (John 3:16). Jesus was perfect, and He never did anything wrong. He never sinned. On that cross, Jesus took the punishment you and I deserved. He paid our debt, and God showed Himself to be perfectly just and perfectly loving.
The good news is that if you will simply make the decision to turn from sin, and put your trust in Jesus as your God and your Savior, He will give you His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help you do the things you know you should do, and He will help you stop doing the things you do, and know you shouldn’t do. This is called sanctification, or the process of becoming holy.
Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” – John 3:16.
“When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” – John 19:30.
“But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.” – Matthew 28:5-6.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 8:1.