Turn in your hymnals to #881 – as we say the apostles creed together.
The apostle’s creed is the official faith statement of the Christian church. It is what we all agree on, what we believe to be true about the man we call Jesus the Christ. It is our theology – what you have to believe about jesus in order to consider yourself to be a true Christian.
And it is a blocking stone for many who are not able to accept the Christian story as truth.
Why would any of us be willing to believe in things which we know to be impossible in the every day world. We all know that a virgin cannot give birth, we all know that once you are dead that you cant come back to life, and who would be arrogant to consider themselves a blood relative of God?
Yes the apostles creed, the Christian faith statement is a blockage for many to the Christian faith.
Lew Wallace was the governor of New Mexico when he decided that he wanted to write a book disproving the existence of Jesus. He was encouraged by his other agnostic friends to write this book, because the world really needed to now the truth. He set out to find the facts around this ficticius man – and he found that there really was a women Miriyam – which is closer to the name Miriam then to Mary, who gave birth to Yshua – which is closer to Joshua than Jesus. He really did recruit twelve disciples, and he was really crucified in the cross.
In the midst of his fact finding – he found something else – the real Jesus came to him one night and introduced himself. Lew Wallace immediately fell to his knees and started to pray. Surely this man must be the son of God he thought.
Eventually he became a fervent Christian, something that his Methodist wife had been praying for every since he decided to prove that Jesus was not real.
Jesus is indeed a real person, Jesus indeed made a signigificant influence on history. Even the muslims uphold Jesus as an important prophet. They even have scriptures in the Koran supporting the virgin birth.
Carl Sagan was another famous scientist – who did not believe in the existence of God. He did not understand why people clung to their beliefs about God, based on the testimony of people who have been dead for 200 years. He once asked a pastor – why do you believe in a Jesus that you have never seen? The pastor replied – why do you believe in black holes which you have never seen? Carl Sagan went to his death – refusing to believe in Jesus. His wife commented that there was no deathbed conversion, no appeals to be saved, no hope for the afterlife, as he lay dying there was no acknowledgement that this was the last time that he would ever see his loved ones. After he passed away – someone asked his wife – didn’t he want to believe in Christ- didn’t he want to believe that there was more to life. She commented that he didn’t want to believe in Jesus – he wanted to know Jesus.
That is the good news – that in order to believe in Jesus – you have to know Jesus. Belief in Jesus in not just in the facts about his life, it is not just in the stories that you hear in church – but it is in the way Jesus comes to you in your life – and speaks to your heart and soul. In order to believe in Jesus you always have to have a personal story to tell. A story of how Jesus came to you and ministered to just you and just your situation.
Jesus comes to each of us in a special way. The book of acts records the fact that Jesus came to Saul, another agnostic on the road to Damascus. And changed his life forever.
Jesus has come to me at many points in my life. As a matter of fact, there was never a time when Jesus did not come to me. As a child, would ask him why he had to talk to loudly in the thunder – I could hear him clearly. He would explain that I did not have to be afraid of the thunder. As a teenager, I was the victim of a crime – and I told Jesus that if he loved me he would not have allowed that to happen. And he explained that he loved me even though that happen, and that it was his love that would help me heal from the incident. As a young adult I spent 9 months living in a homeless shelter, looking for some grounding to get my life together. Things Got better, but I have never forgot the faith lesson from that experience. And even today, when I am discouraged, he lifts me up. When I think that I am at the end of my rope, he supports me. When I am crying and saying that I am lost and I don’t know what I am doing – he explains that is why he has called me to this situation, because he know that I am the one to make a difference.
Jesus is alive – and at work throughout the world. I don’t have to tell the story of Jesus to others – because in my experience Jesus always speaks for himself. I don’t have to think about what would Jesus do in this situation, because in my experience Jesus has a mind of his own. He acts as he sees fit to show others the will of God. All I have to do is witness to how I see Jesus at work in my own life.
Charles Templeton was a friend of Billy Graham’s in the 40’s. He was a preacher too, until one day he decided that it was all too much. He left the ministry and became a news reporter. At 83, he was interviewed and asked why he left – he commented that he saw suffering in the world and nothing seemed to be helping. If God was real – he would not allow all of these things to happen he said.
He was then asked what he thought of Jesus. He said he was the greatest human who ever lived. He was wise and had a deep moral conscious. He was a genius. He is the most important part of my life. Everything that I know about life, I learned it from Jesus. Everything right, pure, and loving Jesus taught me. And if I had to admit it – I really miss him. His eyes filled with tears, he cried, and he refused to go on with the interview.
I don’t know your story - I don’t know your relationship with Jesus. I don’t know how you know Jesus – But I know that you do. Somehow, someway you know Jesus. And that Jesus knows you and your story well.
I know Jesus. I know Jesus as a friend, I know Jesus as a savior, I know Jesus as my Lord. I believe in Jesus, because Jesus is an intrical part of my life story.
You now all religions acknowledge the importance of moral ethics. All religions strive for us to be a more loving world.
But Christianity is the only religion which offers salvation. Salvation is healing and well being in the midst of the suffering of the world. Salvation is the knowledge that you have been set aside because God has a greater purpose for you.
Do you believe in Jesus? Do you know Jesus to be your Lord and Savior?
The apostle creed is more than just a faith statement, it is more than a creed of what we should believe about Jesus?
It is a reminder, and affirmation of the power of Christ at work in the world today. When Jesus walked the earth – that power was unleashed in the world. When he was resurrected – that power was free to roam the earth – making itself known everywhere, at any time for anyone.
When you believe in Jesus, and know Jesus and live Jesus - then the world become the holy place – that God created for us all.
You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can it saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. You are a light to the world, a city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works, and give glory to your father in heaven.
Be a witness to what God has done for you – wherever you go. Amen.
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