I Believe In... (Matthew 28:16-20, Isaiah 49:1-6)
Rev. William L. Barron, February 11, 2024Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
We have a trinitarian God. What does it mean that “I believe in…” in the Apostles’ Creed? The creed doesn’t cover everything; it gives us a baseline upon which we stand together. It is a good resource when we confront error. The Apostles’ Creed was adopted and circulated in the early Christian centuries. The Nicene (Chalcedon) Creed expands upon the Apostles’ Creed; both creeds are a message to the world. Compromising upon them is an error; the early Apostles’ Creed summarizes the teaching of the apostles. Affirming it brings unity. Believe in… also can be translated as believe into… We must consider whether or not holding to the creeds makes a difference in how we live. The truth they affirm brings unity to our carrying forth the Great Commission as a light to the nations. The Commission is the same as the Abraham Covenant, extending to every people, tribe and nation. When the Commission is expressed throughout the whole world, then Jesus will come. Witnessing is a responsibility, a blessing and a privilege. By “as you go” Jesus means to witness as we are living our lives, telling others what Jesus is doing. The “rule of faith” is our guideline, reflected in the Apostles’ Creed. As we are going, we are commanded to make disciples; salvation is a step in this and then living and serving. Then we baptize them, by which they identify with the Church and unite with the body of believers by God’s grace. We grow together as a sign of God’s faithfulness. Jesus is all to all. We teach all to obey and live for Him. He is with us always; we are His Emmanuel people.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « More Than The Call! | None | 'I Believe In God The Father Almighty' » |
Matthew 28:16–20 (Listen)
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(ESV)
Isaiah 49:1–6 (Listen)
49:1 Listen to me, O coastlands,
and give attention, you peoples from afar.
The LORD called me from the womb,
from the body of my mother he named my name.
2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword;
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow;
in his quiver he hid me away.
3 And he said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”
4 But I said, “I have labored in vain;
I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my right is with the LORD,
and my recompense with my God.”
5 And now the LORD says,
he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him;
and that Israel might be gathered to him—
for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD,
and my God has become my strength—
6 he says:
“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to bring back the preserved of Israel;
I will make you as a light for the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
(ESV)