Читать книгу Pilgrim Journeys: The Creeds - Steven Croft - Страница 5
ОглавлениеA SHORT GUIDE TO THE APOSTLES’ CREED
The Pilgrim Way: A short guide to the Christian Faith explores what it means to share and live out our faith and identity as followers of Jesus Christ. It is shaped around four core Christian texts, including The Apostles’ Creed.
This extract from The Pilgrim Way summarizes what this ancient statement of Christian belief – handed down through the ages – means for the Church of today.
You might like to read this before you embark on the daily reflections, and perhaps re-visit it each week, or even try learning it by heart.
Pilgrim, what is the faith of the Church?
The faith of the Church is revealed in the Holy Scriptures and set forth in the words of the Apostles’ Creed.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe 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, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand
of the Father,
and he will come to judge
the living 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.
What does it mean to believe in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit? To believe is to trust in the Father’s love for the world, in the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and in the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
How do you become a Christian? By turning to Jesus Christ in faith, by repenting of your sin, and being baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
What is sin? Sin means not living according to the will of God. To sin is to fall short in our thoughts, words and deeds, through what we do and through what we fail to do. Sin separates us from God and neighbour.
What is baptism? Baptism in water is the sacrament of new birth in Christ. We die to sin that we may live his risen life. We are washed by the Holy Spirit and become members of the Church.
What is the Church? The Church is the pilgrim people of God, the body of Christ, and the community of disciples in every age in earth and heaven.
