Creed

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And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am. I did not make it, no it is making me. It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man. ~ Rich Mullins

Without the internet, social media, preachers with large churches, seminaries, and the printing press, the early church wrote creeds, or simple poem-esque statements of doctrine, to help followers learn essential teachings.

We see an early church creed in 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 …

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve (NLT).

Why were creeds important in the early church, and why are they necessary today in an age of false prophets? Let me requote Rich Mullins … 

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am. I did not make it, no it is making me. It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man.

The most important and oldest of the creeds is known as the Apostles’ Creed. There is a legend that the original twelve apostles wrote this creed while they still resided together in Jerusalem as their credal statement in witness to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. 

The first historical document containing this creed goes back to AD 341. Let’s read the Apostle’s Creed … 

I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his 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 into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Amen.

I think that the Apostle Paul quoted (in his own words) a part of the Apostles Creed when he wrote 1 Corinthians 15:4, “He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day.” Though he wasn’t one of the original twelve, he wanted to throw his theological lot in with the other apostles on the essential doctrine of the resurrection.

Let’s remind ourselves again …

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am. I did not make it, no it is making me. It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man.

Why do I keep mentioning this quote from Rich Mullins? Because in 1993 he wrote a song entitled Creed in which he quotes exactly the Apostles Creed, and to this creed he added a chorus which I have already repeated three times.

Many contemporary Christian music groups have recorded this song, but my favorite is by Third Day and Brandon Heath from 2010. Listen to this song. It’s a great way to remember the Apostles Creed, which depicts the resurrection and other important doctrines of the church that would not make sense without Christ’s rising on the third day.

Okay, one more time …

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am. I did not make it, no it is making me. It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man.