I KNOW WHAT I BELIEVE – WHY WE NEED A CREED
2 Timothy 1:12-14
¹² For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; FOR I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED AND I AM CONVINCED THAT HE IS ABLE TO GUARD WHAT I HAVE ENTRUSTED TO HIM UNTIL THAT DAY. ¹³ Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.

Introduction

THE APOSTLE’S CREED

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker 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, dead, and buried;

the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth 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 Spirit, the holy catholic** church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Introducing The Creed

· A Basic Statement of Belief

· Needed due to false teachings from outside

· Needed due to false doctrine rising within

Acts 20:28-30
²⁸ “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. ²⁹ “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; ³⁰ and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

The Word Creed—Latin Credo—“I Believe”

Why We Need a Creed

· Every Church requires some form of faith confession.

o Consider the Constitution of our Church

§ “Having been lead as we believe by the Holy Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.

o Each of us have a creed that declares what we believe

§ Sometimes this creed is spoken

§ More often this is a creed that is displayed in actions

· The Churches that do not have a creed are in Danger

o They do not have a foundation for their faith.

o They do not have a theological filter against error

The Purpose of the Creeds of Faith

Creeds Are Designed to Define the Faith
Church historian Philip Schaff wrote in his book The Creeds of Christendom that “the first object of creeds was to distinguish the Church from the world, from Jews and heathen, afterwards orthodoxy from heresy, and finally denomination from denomination.”

· Has anyone ever asked why you are a Baptist?

· Have you ever stopped to consider why you are a Baptist?

I tell people that I am a Christian by birth (being born again) and a Baptist by Choice, discovering a church that believed and practiced what I believe.

· Consider for a moment that question. Why are you a Baptist?

Creeds Are Designed to Defend the Faithful

· As already mentioned, Creeds defend believers from

o False Teaching

o Doctrinal Deviation

· This Leads to Some Disturbing Questions”

o How can a Christian convert to a cultic religion?

o How can a Church with a strong heritage turn from truth?

o How can a pastor or church neglect teaching/preaching Bible?

§ The people have requested that their ears be tickled.

· This Also Provides an Encouraging Truth

o A Creed (i.e. The Apostle’s Creed) can defend the truth.

§ This simple statement addresses false/cultic claims

§ This simple statement addresses objections

§ This simple statement addresses our own doubts

Creeds Are Designed to Declare to the World

· How many of you are preachers?

o How many of you are called to preach the Gospel?

o How many of you are called to declare Christ to others?

o So…how many of you are preachers?

· The Creed Becomes a Simple Sermon

o As you will see through this series, it is a systematic message.

o As you will learn through this series, it is a simple message.

o As you will learn through this series it is a salvation message.

· Next time you’re Asked what you Believe…Remember the Creed

Conclusion

What is your creed? Could you write it down?

You will be able to before this summer is over.