Episode 6: We Believe in Jesus | We Believe: A Study of the Apostles Creed
Understanding the Apostles Creed: A Deep Dive into "We Believe in Jesus Christ"
As we continue our study of the Apostles Creed, we’re now diving into episode six, where we explore one of the most significant portions of the creed: "We believe in Jesus Christ." In this episode, we’ll reflect on the weighty implications packed into these words. Though the phrase may seem simple at first glance, it carries profound meaning that shapes our understanding of both Christ's identity and our relationship with Him.
Jesus: The Savior
At the heart of the Apostles Creed is the affirmation of who Jesus is. We begin with His name: "Jesus." The name itself holds deep significance—it originates from the Hebrew name Joshua, meaning “The Lord saves.” This isn’t a random choice of name; it was given intentionally by God to Joseph, as recorded in Matthew 1:21: “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” From this, we immediately learn that Jesus came to address the root problem we face—our sin. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), and it is this brokenness that Jesus came to heal.
Understanding Jesus’ name tells us two crucial things. First, it confirms that we have a sin problem. And second, it assures us that there is a solution. Jesus' coming is not just a moral lesson or a call to do better—it is a declaration that God, through Jesus, has provided the only means of salvation.
Christ: The Messiah
The second part of the phrase, "Jesus Christ," is equally important. Here, "Christ" isn’t a last name as we might think, but a title. The word Christ comes from the Greek Christos, meaning “Anointed One.” This is the equivalent of the Hebrew word Messiah. The title speaks to Jesus’ role in fulfilling the promises God made throughout the Old Testament. From Genesis 3 onward, the people of Israel awaited the coming of the Messiah, the one who would deliver them and establish God's kingdom.
Jesus didn’t just come as a teacher or a prophet; He came as the long-awaited Messiah, the fulfillment of all the prophecies and promises that pointed to Him. His work wasn’t just about teaching moral values—it was about saving humanity, restoring the broken relationship between God and man, and bringing about true justice and righteousness. When we say "Jesus Christ," we affirm that He is the one God promised to send to redeem His people.
The Importance of Jesus’ Name
As we reflect on the name Jesus and the title Christ, it’s clear that this isn't just about knowing who He is but also understanding His purpose. Jesus came to address our greatest need—our sin—and He came as the promised Messiah, the Savior who would set things right. It’s a call to examine who Jesus is for us personally. C.S. Lewis famously said, "You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse." This isn't just an intellectual exercise—it’s a matter of life and death, of salvation or separation from God.
In the Apostles Creed, when we say “We believe in Jesus Christ,” we are not only stating who He is but also affirming what He has done. We believe that Jesus, the Son of God, took on flesh, lived a perfect life, and died to atone for our sins, offering the only path to reconciliation with God. This belief shapes everything else in the creed and, ultimately, our faith.
Our Response to Jesus
The good news of the gospel isn’t just that we have a Savior who addresses our sin problem; it’s that God loves sinners. As we wrestle with our brokenness and our inability to fix ourselves, we are reminded that Jesus came to do what we could not do. The Christian life is not about trying harder or being a better person on our own—it’s about receiving the grace of God through Jesus Christ. As we explore the deeper meaning of the Apostles Creed, we remember that our faith is centered on the person of Jesus Christ, and in Him, we find both our Savior and our hope.
Let’s continue to reflect on these truths as we move through the Apostles Creed, anchoring our faith in the solid foundation of who Jesus is and what He has done for us.
