I Believe
The Faith of the Church • Sermon • Submitted
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ANNOUNCEMENTS:
*CHURCH UPDATES: Digital and paper connect Card
DECLARATION:
Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
SVCC is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.
We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, and we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit.
Prayer for...
INTRODUCTION:
Review:
Karl Barth was once asked to sum up in a few words all he had written in the field of theology. This was his summary: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
WHY?… Knowledge of God? Source?
VIDEO: Bono from U2 singing the 1987 song “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”
TODAY: The first two words of the Church’s long standing belief: “I believe”
Opening Scripture:
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
Historic Creeds and Confessions Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth
And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell
The third day he rose again from the dead
He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead
I believe in the Holy Ghost
I believe a holy catholic church; the communion of saints
The forgiveness of sins
The resurrection of the body
And the life everlasting. Amen.
“I believe”
“I believe”
Faith as Trust
Faith as Trust
Christian faith is a meeting (i.e. “I believe" is consummated by meeting God)
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
Faith believes in the Word of God, Jesus Christ (Logos)
God is known only through God Himself
Holy Scriptures are the witness to the one Word of God (i.e. Jesus)
Faith means trust; trust is the act in which a man may rely on the faithfulness of Another, that His promise holds.
“I believe” means “I trust”
I do not believe in myself, I believe in the Father, Son and Holy Ghost (Eph. 2:8-9)
Faith is a gift of freedom to meet God (He comes to us , He calls to us, He reveals Himself to us)
9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
The greatest hindrances to faith are pride and anxiety of our human hearts. (i.e. Ge 3:1 > Has God really said…? Is God’s Word true?)
Faith as Knowledge
Faith as Knowledge
Knowledge of God takes place where there is actual experience that God speaks.
Knowledge of God takes place where divine revelation takes place.
23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”
Knowledge of God is a light upon our path (Ps. 119:105).
28 for
“ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’;
as even some of your own poets have said,
“ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
Christian Knowledge is living in the truth of Jesus Christ
Faith as Confession
Faith as Confession
Faith is a decision (“if”)
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Faith is obedience (adds to the freedom responsibility)
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
Faith is allowing the fruit of the Spirit to be produced in your life (Gal. 5:22-26)
Conclusion/Reflection:
The Faith of the Church: A Commentary on the Apostle’s Creed according to Calvin’s Catechism General Introduction to the Catechism (Questions 1–7)
God gives Himself to us as the object of trust and obedience, of request and praise. Then he demands these responses from us and enables us to present him with them, for our glory and happiness.
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
Sources:
Barth, Karl. The Faith of the Church: A Commentary on the Apostle’s Creed according to Calvin’s Catechism. Edited by Jean-Louis Leuba. Translated by Gabriel Vahanian. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2006.
Ensminger, Sven. Karl Barth’s Theology as a Resource for a Christian Theology of Religions. Edited by John Webster, Ian A. McFarland, and Ivor Davidson. Vol. 28. T&T Clark Studies in Systematic Theology. London; New Delhi; New York; Sydney: Bloomsbury, 2014.
Green, Michael P., ed. Illustrations for Biblical Preaching: Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor’s illustration file. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1989.
Grenz, Stanley, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999.
Grudem, Wayne A. Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know. Edited by Elliot Grudem. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005.
Historic Creeds and Confessions. Electronic ed. Oak Harbor: Lexham Press, 1997.
OTHER:
OTHER:
God’s Revelation
God’s Revelation
General Revelation
General Revelation
1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
Special Revelation
Special Revelation
3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
NT Prophetic for the Church is for comfort, encouragement, & edification
Scripture
Scripture
“If God claims that the words of Scripture are his own (2 Tim 3:16, 2 Pet 3:16), then there is ultimately no higher authority one can appeal to for proof (i.e. evidence) of this claim than Scripture itself”
20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
Holy Scripture and Church History are not on the same level.
The history of the church should be listened to and respected.