Robert P. MillsI Believe...
I Believe
The Apostles' Creed for the Third Millennium
By Robert P. Mills, Associate Editor
The Presbyterian Layman
In I Believe … The
Apostles’ Creed for the Third Millennium, Robert P.
Mills underscores the biblical foundation for the Apostles’
Creed and its powerful contemporary relevance.
He writes with unwavering commitment to
the truths of the Apostles’ Creed, evangelical zeal for
faithfulness and a winsome invitation to readers to know more
personally and fully the Trinitarian God – Father, Son
and Holy Spirit – whom the Creed exalts.
Introduction
As Christianity approaches its third millennium, Christians
around the world continue to confess their faith by reciting a
creed that can trace its origins to the first century A.D.
Why?
Why is the Apostles’ Creed still used by God’s
people in their corporate worship and private devotion? What
purposes are served by today’s affirmations of this
ancient statement of faith? Indeed, why should
third-millennium Christians spend valuable time studying a
creed that is almost 2,000 years old?
Root and fruit
One benefit of studying the Apostles’ Creed is
connecting ourselves to what all Christians everywhere have
always believed. In so doing we remind ourselves that despite
ever-changing social circumstances Christian faith is not ours
to redefine. Being deeply rooted in “the faith that was
once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3) is
essential to the life and ministry of God’s people (Psalm
1:1-3).
Studying this historic creed also moves us forward in our
faith. For as we develop a deeper understanding of its
teachings, we thereby grow in our knowledge of Scripture and
ultimately our knowledge of God. Such knowledge helps us keep
in step with the Holy Spirit. It allows our lives to be good
soil from which God can bring forth much fruit (Matt 13:23;
Gal. 5:22-25). Knowing Scripture and knowing God also enable
us to obey Peter’s instruction to “be prepared to
give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for
the hope that you have” (I Peter 3:15).
An invaluable resource
Originally taught to converts preparing for baptism (see
Chapter 2), the Apostles’ Creed remains an invaluable
resource for individuals of any age, or at any stage of faith
development, who want to learn more about what Christians
everywhere have always believed. It provides a compact summary
of many of the most important elements of Christian faith and
life.
These studies begin with an introductory section on the
nature of faith, the purpose of creeds, and the place of
doubt. The remaining sections follow the order of the Creed
and consider what the Creed has to teach about God the Father,
God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each chapter looks at a
single article, or at times a single word, seeking to
understand how the Creed is rooted in Scripture, how it has
been understood throughout church history, and how it remains
relevant.
The chapters conclude with questions for reflection and a
suggested prayer for personal or corporate response. A list of
Scripture passages for further study and additional resources
are also included at the end of each chapter. The questions
and Scripture readings make each chapter a suitable lesson for
a Sunday School class, communicant’s class, or other
group study.
Preparing these studies afforded me a wonderful opportunity
to reimmerse myself in the most basic beliefs of the Christian
faith. I pray that those who read this book will also be
refreshed as they contemplate the foundations of the faith.
Many of these chapters originated as sermons preached at the
Big Creek Presbyterian Church in Rensselaer, Mo. More
recently, they appeared as part of the “Foundations of
the Faith” series in
The Presbyterian Layman. I
am grateful to the members of the Big Creek church and the
staff, members and supporters of the Presbyterian Lay
Committee who have encouraged the development and publication
of these studies.
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