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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 A Study on the Apostles’ Creed
APOSTLES’ CREED
“He ascended into heaven; and
sitteth at the right hand of God
the Father Almighty; from
thence He shall come to judge
the quick and the dead.”
1.2 The religious instinct within us
expresses itself in 3 forms – a
ritual, a creed and a life.
1.2.1 Ritual – an
outward act
to
propitiate
the
Deity/God
1.2.1 Creed – a rationale for worship, a
formula of a confession of faith
1.2.3 Life – not content with a ritual and
creed, people attempt to express their
religion in their life
1.3 FOCUS TODAY: Jesus is not
passive but actively interested
in you and me – to prepare us
for His glorious return.
2. JESUS MAY SEEM TO BE “RESTING
ON HIS LAURELS” NOW
2.1 Jesus has every right to do so
– because He perfectly
finished the work of
salvation.
2.1.1 “It is
finished.”
(John 19: 30)
2.1.2 “But when this priest (Jesus) had
offered for all time one sacrifice for
sins, He sat down at the right hand of
God …” (Hebrews 10: 12)
2.2 He
ascended
to
heaven.
(Acts 1: 9)
2.3 He is exalted at the right
hand of God.
2.3.1 “The Lord
said to my Lord:
Sit at my right
hand until I make
Your enemies a
footstool for Your feet.” (Psalm 110:1)
2.3.2 Peter (Acts 2: 25-36) linked this
prophecy with the death, resurrection
and exaltation of the Son.
2.4 God has sent us the Holy Spirit.
2.4.1 “I will ask the
Father and He will
give you another
Counsellor
(Paraclete) to be
with you forever …”
(John 14: 16)
2.4.2 Peter liked the extraordinary phenomena
of Pentecost as God’s promise (in Joel 2: 28
– 32) fulfilled: Pouring of God’s Spirit that
ushers in end
times. (Acts 2:
14 -21)
3. BUT NO … JESUS IS ACTIVELY
HELPING US TODAY
3.1 Jesus promised His eternal
presence in the Great
Commission.
“And surely, I
am with you
always, to the
very end of the
age.” (Matthew
28: 20)
3.2 Jesus welcomed Stephen (the
first martyr)
Stephen said:
“Look, I see
heaven open
and the Son of
Man standing
at the right
hand of God.”
(Acts 7: 56)
3.3 Jesus called (audible) Saul on
the road to Damascus.
“Saul, Saul why
do you
persecute me?”
“Who are You,
Lord?”
“I am Jesus,
whom you are
persecuting.”
3.4 Jesus is our High Priest and
Intercessor,
forever.
3.4.1 The author of Hebrews is the only one to
show that Jesus belongs to the Order of
Mechizedek. (Hebrews 7: 1 - 22)
3.4.2
Jesus
always lives
to intercede
for us.
(Hebrews 7:
25)
4. FINALLY, JESUS WILL JUDGE ALL &
BRING A GLORIOUS END TO WORLD
HISTORY
4.1 One
erroneous
view:
Ultimately,
God will
forgive and
accept
everyone.
“Flap! Slap! A wipe of the sponge and he washes out al the sins. Away with you …run off to Paradise!” God says to the soul, “Peterkin, let this poor little creature in too!” (Zorba the Greek)
4.2 The judgment day is for sure
and Jesus is the Judge.
4.2.1 “He is the
One God
appointed as
Judge of the
living and the
dead.” (Acts
10: 42)
4.2.2 Man has to
give an
account to
the Judge of
the living
and the
dead.
(1 Peter 4: 5)
4.3 Jesus assures us salvation is
we believe in Him. (John 3:16)
But belief in Christ means choosing
to wholeheartedly follow Him,
which is God’s will.
4.3.1 There can be “pseudo- Christians”
“Not everyone
who says to me
Lord, Lord will
enter the kingdom
of heaven, but only
he who does the
will of my Father,
who is in heaven.”
(Matthew 7: 21)
4.4 Hell is real.
4.4.1 “Depart from me, you who are cursed
into the eternal fire prepared for the
devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25: 41)
4.4.2 “If anyone’s
name was not
found written
in the Book of
Life, he was
thrown into the
lake of fire.”
(Revelation 20: 15)
4.5 The new Jerusalem means God
will dwell with us forever – no
more tears pain, suffering or
death. (Revelation 21: 3 – 4)
4.6 Practical Application
4.6.1 A Rite, A Creed , A Life
4.6.2 The
Journey is as
Important as
the Destination
(maturity in
Christ)
4.6.3 Hence …
A) Break free from
“sensationalism”
B) Focus on
fellowship with
Jesus
C) Following Christ means bringing others
onto the Gospel Train.
5. SUMMARY / CONCLUSION
