This Sunday we conclude our journey with the Apostles Creed.  As I shared earlier, I love the Creeds, Confessions, and Statements of Faith found within our Book of Confessions.  I love the history of their writing, knowing what was happening in the world when they were written, and how each statement of faith holds within it such deep meaning and conviction.

The final section of the Apostles Creed is perhaps the hardest to understand.  I feel sometimes we recite the words without the deeper understanding of what they truly mean.  Those statements aren’t as straightforward as the other three I Believe statements about the Trinity.  But each of those five statements holds with it a powerful confession.

I BELIEVE in the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints;

the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.

In a nutshell each of these concluding statements share a common connection: they concern us as individual followers of Jesus. As Christians, we are included and impacted by each of these declarations. The church represents the assembly of individuals called by Jesus to be his people. Each of us as Christians are regarded as a saint, and due to our communion with Christ, we share communion with all saints across different times and places. Every one of us is offered the forgiveness of sins because of Christ’s death on the cross. Because of our forgiveness we anticipate experiencing the fullness of God’s “New Creation” through the resurrection of our bodies. God's ultimate plan is for our redemption and renewal, culminating in life everlasting. 

The Apostles Creed is such an amazing statement of faith!  Every time I recite this creed I am always amazed to think about the generations of Christians who have recited these words, the circumstances they lived through and the hardships they endured because of their faith.  Friends I hope that the next time you say these words it is with a deeper understanding and a passion to truly say…I BELIEVE!

Blessings,
Pastor Jenni

I BELIEVE in the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints;

the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.