We proclaim “The Apostles Creed” every Sunday, and perhaps, some of us wonder why we do that. Isn’t the Bible enough? Sure, the Bible is enough. The word of God is sufficient, and no tradition or opinion can stand on an equal ground with the Scripture. So, why is there a need for a Creed like the Apostles’ Creed?

The Creed is like a map. It speaks about the Triune God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That’s what we should find when we read the Bible. The Creed summarizes it for us.

Many people read the Bible and try to find insight for living, advises, and other lessons. While it’s not wrong to do so, it misses the main point of the Bible, which is God himself. Someone can read the Bible and end up without knowing God. The Creed is a good reminder that the right way of reading the Bible is to know God because the Bible is God’s self-revelation.

Another reason why we use the Creed is because of its history. The content of the Creed has helped the early Christians during persecution. At that time, the Bible hasn’t been made into a complete book. The Apostles would spread far from one another to preach the gospel and they would die for their faith. Who will preserve their teaching? That’s how the Creed came into being.

When we proclaim the Creed weekly, we do it to tell God, others,  and ourselves that we believe in the Triune God as the Bible teaches it. We are not ashamed of our faith. We are not ashamed of our Triune God.

Proclaiming the Creed also unites us with other believers who believe and confess the same thing. It strengthens our true unity in Christ.

Persecution is coming. It is the more reason to hold firm to our confession and not to give it up. With persecution, false teachings and false teachers also attack believers. We must know Whom we believe. May we confess this faith both in words and deeds.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.

Amen.