| The Apostles' Creed, Part 14:“from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.” |
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| Written by David Lawrence |
| Monday, January 16 2012 00:00 |
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In human history, the creed affirms, there remains a final event. As the writer of Hebrews said, “Just as man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people, and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Heb. 9:27). This is the truth encapsulated by the creed in this affirmation. Man must die once; it is so destined, based on the eternal purpose of God and resulting from the sin of Adam. Christ was destined to die once, also based on the eternal purpose of God, and resulting from His perfect obedience to the Father and to the covenant of redemption. His sacrifice took away the sins of many: all of God’s elect. His return is not to bear sins a second time; that shall not happen. He will at that time bring the final consummation of salvation to all those waiting for him; that is, to all believers. One of my earliest memories is that of my mother telling me that Jesus was coming again. I always wanted to live to see that event. Of course, many people in those days of the earliest church when the creed was composed also believed that they would live to see the second coming of Christ. It would be a glorious event to witness…the most glorious! But even if we die in Christ, we shall share equally in His glory. Of course, the old English word quick means living, and so later versions translate it. The early Christians were stating that Jesus will return and judge those living on the earth at that time as well as those who had already died to that point. The passage cited above from Heb. 9:27 says it well. His first coming was as Jesus our Savior and Redeemer, the second coming as the King in all His glory, the final judge of all people. He is the King on the throne before all nations shall appear, and there shall be a final separation as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats (Matt. 25:31-46). All must appear before His judgment seat to receive what is due for things done in the body, whether good or bad (2 Cor. 5:10). He is the one Lawgiver and Judge who is able to save and destroy (James 4:12). He is Christus Victor! |
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