| The Apostles' Creed, Part 15, Why So Much about Jesus (I) |
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| Written by David Lawrence |
| Monday, January 23 2012 00:00 |
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You may have noticed that much more of the Apostles’ Creed is devoted to a description about Jesus than about the Father, and it is good to take a break at this point and note the reason that the early Christians conceived the need of a careful definition of the person and work of Christ. I counted the words in the Apostles’ Creed as recorded in the traditional English version, and I suspect the same proportions would exist in the Greek. Thirteen words are used to describe God the Father, six words to describe God the Holy Spirit, four words for each of the following: the church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life, and five words are used to reference the resurrection. However, seventy words are used to describe Christ. Why? Because Jesus Christ is who defines the Christian faith. Unfortunately, many professing Christians do not understand the Savior whom they profess! Many believe Christianity is one religion among many, but Christ moves the faith professed by Christian into an entirely different dimension. Recently, as my grandson and I were discussing his beliefs, he told me what he understood of “religion:” that religion allowed men to control other men by making demands on them and requiring obedience to their interpretation of some law. I let him talk; then I said that everything he said about “religion” was true, but none of it applied to Christianity, for the faith of Christ existed in an entirely different realm. I got his attention. The early Christians wanted to get peoples’ attention and make that distinction and so establish what set Christianity apart from Judaism, Neoplatonism, paganism, the mystery cults, and every other “religion” that competed with Christians for members. One is a Christian when he/she puts his/her trust in Christ. But how can they unless they understand correctly who Jesus is? Thus the importance then and now to take the time and effort to teach Christ: who He is and what He did. We need to continue this discussion in the next devotional. |
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