The Apostles's Creed Part 1 Kathryn Kuhlman I Believe in God the Father

I would like to begin a series of heart -to -heart talks on the great Christian pledge, which is better known as the Apostles' Creed. The most widely accepted statement of Christian doctrine written in the history of the Church is found embodied in the Apostles' Creed. But the strange thing is that no one knows exactly when and with whom it originated. This creed was in use among Christians during the early part of the second century. And to this very day, literally tens of thousands are professing... repeat this great Christian pledge every Lord's Day. Oh, it's thrilling. It's marvelous. And so for just a little while, you and I are going to begin the study of this great pledge that is known. as the Apostles' Creed. The document consists of 110 words, divided into 12 sections, each dealing with a different segment of the New Testament truth. And the remarkable thing is that every cardinal doctrine of historical and evangelical Christianity is herein emphasized. No Christian who sincerely seeks to gear his beliefs according to this pattern will ever go astray. And I mean that with all of my heart. Some hold to the view that the creed originated on the day of Pentecost. Each of the twelve apostles contributing a clause writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I know this is a very pleasant thought, but it cannot be substantiated. I cannot tell you for a fact that it is a truth. The text arranged in its natural divisions is as follows. I give you now this, the great Christian pledge, the Apostles' Creed. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell, and the third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints. the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. This creed must be right. It must be right because it has survived the wear and the tear of the centuries. It has witnessed the rise and the fall of empires. It has stood beside the graves of those who boasted that they were going to wipe Christianity from the face of the earth. It has carried martyrs through flames of persecution into the very presence of the Lord himself. It has anchored the faith and thrilled the hearts of uncounted millions. The statement begins with a positive declaration. I believe. Early Christians harbored no doubts. There were absolutely no doubts in their minds. They knew what and in whom they believed. No question marks hung like ugly specters over the articles of the faith. They believed in the inspiration of the scriptures. They believed in the fact of sin. They believed in the necessity of a redeemer, the deity of Christ. They believed his virgin birth. They believed in the blood atonement. They believed in the actual resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his second coming. These and other fundamentals were accepted. without any doubt whatsoever in their minds. And upon this foundation, the great denominational systems of the world had been built. A preacher once asked an actor how it was that members of the theatrical fraternity were often able to hold the attention of audiences better than even the clergy. The actor replied, We actors present fiction as though it were fact. Sometimes ministers present facts as though it were fiction. Beloved, there is no fiction about our Holy Father. There is no fiction regarding God Almighty. No wonder the early Christians looked up and said, I believe. We believe. We know in whom we have our faith and our trust and our confidence. There is no doubt whatsoever in our minds. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. The text of the creed starts where Genesis begins. In the beginning, God. Now the men who wrote it could almost reach back and touch the hem of the master's garment. And the events associated with our Lord's life in the flesh were vivid, very vivid before their minds. They had recently seen God unveiled in human form. And to them the Heavenly Father was real, very real, believe me. Jesus said, He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. They had seen Jesus. They had been in his presence. They felt his glory. They knew the reality of his majesty. They believed every word that he spoke. And Jesus being real to them, God Almighty was very real to them, for Jesus had clearly told them, He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. Maker of heaven and earth. The writers of the creed possessed an exalted conception of God. They were conscious of his power. They were conscious of his majesty. For just a few minutes, meditate upon the bigness of the universe. Contemplate the movement of heavenly bodies, worlds, suns, systems, planets. Consider the further fact. That a reign of law operates throughout the entire universe, implying the existence of an infinite mind and a marvelous architect. And who will say with men who penned this immortal document, I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. The existence of God cannot be proved. His nature so transcends human standards of comparison that a definition is absolutely impossible. If a demonstration of God's existence were possible, he would be too limited. Too circumscribed to fulfill the office of supreme being and ruler of the universe. Consider something a moment. Electricity remains a riddle to science. Men know how to produce it, but are ignorant regarding its ultimate essence. The word life likewise wanders through science without a definition. The most powerful microscope cannot make it visible to the natural eye. Thought motivates the brain, but having no weight, form, or substance, mental processes defy material demonstrations. It was Sir Isaac Newton who discovered the law of gravitation, but gravity remains a mystery. Astronomy concerns itself with the movement of heavenly bodies. but then it breaks down when it tries to explain what moves the movement. The solution to these and similar questions is found in the faithful creed, I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. My friend, Faith begins where reason and logic ends. The moral image of God is engraved upon every soul. God created man in his own image. In the image of God created he him. Then the human likeness of the infinite became marred by sin. But in his present state, man possesses, to a limited degree, the attributes of the Creator. Like God, he has capacity to think, to feel, and will. And for this reason, humans are religious. Consider with me. in regions where the light of Christian truth has never penetrated. The worshipful instinct finds expression through idol worship in heathen religion. The existence of religious intuition confirms the fact that the spiritual image of the mighty creator was originally stamped in the human soul. Deepest craving of men the world around is for communion with God. And it's just like that. A well -known writer puts the matter like this. Prove your God? We can't. Let us be frank about it. We can approach him, but we cannot prove him. He needs no human proof. Know that. God needs no human proof. Faith can grasp him when proof would merely blink wonderingly in his direction. On the other hand, he cannot be disproved. Think that over, my friend. Just how would a fellow go about it? Just how would you go about disproving God? Careful now. That's a mighty big assignment. And so, we do not rise to defend this creed. It is not necessary. We rise to declare it. God the Father Almighty. Oh, isn't that thrilling to you? As a loving father, he's prepared for us a written message. The supernaturally inspired word, said Peter. Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. And Paul continued, all scripture is given by inspiration of God. Great truths which the mind of man could not invent, unaided by supernatural inspiration, are here recorded. No amount of human reason and research could produce the factual statements contained in these pages regarding the mysteries of life, of death, and of the future state of the soul. The apostles and the prophets were illuminated. Inspired instruments. Of the Holy Ghost. Sure. These things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. This introduction of the Apostles' Creed presents the one true God, the Almighty Creator, and a personal loving Father. No wonder the psalmist said, Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. Amen.