I believe in Jesus

What is a creed?

A creed is a set of beliefs that guides the words and actions of an individual, and then unites individuals into a shared identity in community together. Many organizations have creeds, not just the church.  

At Ascension we are most familiar with the Apostles' Creed.  We use this creed most services, it is used in baptism rites, we recently shared it as we installed our congregational leaders.  Creeds introduce a way to speak about what we believe for ourselves and in community with each other.  Though some of us use the creed individually in our devotions, I would imagine most of us say the creed in community. The Apostles' Creed begins "I believe, " but as we say it together, we are stating our community together.  If one has a creed memorized, it is likely the Apostles' Creed.

We use the Nicene Creed at times, generally on Festival services.  This creed begins "We believe."  There is a third creed that is used very rarely, some congregations use it on Holy Trinity Sunday.  The old green hymnal printed it, but our new read one did not.  If you wish to read it, click here:  Athanasian Creed.

The Creeds speak to the Trinity--God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  As people who believe and proclaim that Jesus is God with us, we will focus on the second article, I believe in Jesus.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.*

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

          OR

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead. (ELW)

Jesus is Lord!

Martin Luther addressed the creed in the Small Catechism saying:

What is this?  or  What does this mean?

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father in eternity, and also a true human being, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned human being. He has purchased and freed me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death. He has done all this in order that I may belong to him, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in eternal righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he is risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.

What is your reflection as you read and think about this creed?

What aspects of this portion of the creed to you believe with conviction?  What aspects do you question?  

If you were teaching the creed, what would be the most important for students to learn?

How would you rewrite the creed?