Apostle’s Creed
Why Does the Apostle's Creed Profess Faith in Pontius Pilate? — Luke 1:1-4
Reverend Anthony R. Locke June 27th, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church of Tucker Luke 1:1-4 Apostle’s Creed Series 10 English Standard Version 1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of…
Read MoreIf Jesus Worked Miracles by His Divine Power, then He Cheated and I Can't Follow His Example
There was only one time that Jesus stopped acting as a man. There was only one time that Jesus stopped being found in fashion as a man. On the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus opened up the windows of His flesh to show His divine attributes independent of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. In that one brief event we see the Son of God in His own glory.
Every other moment in the life of Jesus manifests a glory of the Father which we see in Jesus’ life by the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was fully God yet lived as a common man. Jesus lived every day dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit. He is our example.
It would be unfair to set Jesus up as our role model for Christian living if He lived by His own divine power. Jesus did not overcome sin or work miracles by His own power. Jesus always worked by the power of the Spirit.
Jesus didn’t live righteous by a power unavailable to us mere mortals. Jesus lived by the Spirit and showed us how to do the same.
Read Moreand the Life Everlasting — John 17:1-3
People join the church for lots of good reasons, but if people come to church and do not embrace Jesus, then they still miss out on eternal life.
If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. If we are not abiding in a relationship with Jesus by living according to this book, then the promise of eternal life is not directed toward us. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. Who has eternal life? Those who hear and abide in Jesus.
It’s as simple as the verse in John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. If we place faith in Jesus then we have life everlasting. If we do not have saving faith in Jesus, then we do not have eternal life.
Read MoreA Dwelling Place for God — Ephesians 2:11-22 Apostle's Creed
The Apostle’s Creed defines a Christian as someone who believes in God the Father Almighty, in Jesus Christ the Son, in the Holy Spirit and in the holy catholic Church. If we wish to claim the Christian label then we must believe in the Holy catholic Church. To not believe in this essential doctrine is to morph the Biblical faith into a new religious group undeserving the name Christian.
The word catholic is Old Elizabethan English and it means universal. We are not claiming to believe in the Holy Roman Catholic Empire, led by the Pope and headquartered inside the Vatican. We believe in one holy universal church. One catholic church.
All believers are members in this one global people of God that Jesus leads and outside of this Church there is no salvation. Gentiles, Jews, Armenians, Turks, Arabs and all others are brought near by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross. We are made equal brothers and sisters in the family of God. The Jewish laws are abolished. The Spirit has brought all humanity together in Christ.
So why do so many self proclaimed Christians never practically join the local church?
Read MorePower from On High — Isaiah 63:7-14
Do we know when the Spirit of God is missing?
Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The prophet Zechariah assures Zerubbabel that the kingdom of God and His church would be built. No mountain would stand in the way. Zechariah 4:6 Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
The pouring out of God’s Spirit is the only way to build the Lord’s eternal Kingdom. Isaiah 44:4-5 I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground. I will pour My Spirit upon your children, and My blessing upon your offspring.
It is the outpouring of the Spirit that brings us to repentance and renewed obedience and fellowship with the Father. How can only 25% of American Christians believe in the reality of the Holy Spirit? I will try to answer that in a minute. Let me continue with the doctrine from the Old Testament . . .
Read MoreA Voice of Authority — John 5:18-30
A Voice of Authority Reverend Anthony R. Locke July 18th, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church of Tucker John 5:18-30 Apostle’s Creed Series 12 English Standard Version 18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God…
Read MoreFather and Son Together Again — Hebrews 1:1-12
Father and Son Together Again Reverend Anthony R. Locke June 20th, 2010 (Father’s Day) at the First Presbyterian Church of Tucker Hebrews 1:1-12 Apostle’s Creed Series 09 English Standard Version 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he…
Read Moreby the Holy Spirit — from the Apostle's Creed & John 3:34
Reverend Anthony R. Locke at the First Presbyterian Church of Tucker John 3:34 Apostle’s Creed Series 07 English Standard Version 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.[1] Jesus was sent from the Father to utter eternal words of life. The Father anointed the…
Read MoreIs FAITH the Good Works Necessary for Heaven? — John 6:22-40
Everyone has an inner desire to draw near to God, but not everyone is drawn by faith. The people in our passage were drawing near to Jesus to get food for their stomachs. Like Simon the magician in Acts 8, they wanted to be a part of the spectacle. John 6:26 Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
Why do we draw near to God? Is it because we think church attendance will magically make our life better? Many people who used to go to church can tell you that isn’t true.
Do we seek God so He will bless our business, our family, our marriage, and our life? Are we seeking the blessing or are we seeking to draw near to Jesus?
Going to church to seek a better life for yourself will leave you empty and cynical. I know this from personal experience while in college. John 6:27 Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.
Jesus is stamped with the Father’s own divine seal of approval. “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Believing and living for Jesus constitutes doing the work of God.
This is a broad definition and very liberating. Everyone can do God’s work wherever they find themselves. We seek Jesus first, and then in faith we do our labors in this world as unto the Lord and not unto men. Our own talents and interests lead us into our hobbies and employment, but our faith in Jesus enables us to do these things for God’s glory and not our own.
My dad used to tell his three sons, “find what you love and learn to make a living at it.”
Jesus would say, “find what you love and by faith glorify and enjoy God with it.”
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