Category: Theology

“And He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.”

Jesus will return to the earth “to judge the living and the dead.” No other information is given about this event. End time ideas are left open.

I was at once asked if I am pre-tribulation or post-tribulation, I said I believe in the pan theory. It’ll all pan out because God is in charge of it. No need to speculate, just make sure you’re right with God.

“Whose kingdom shall have no end” means that there will not be another rebellion. Once Jesus returns, evil will come to a permanent end.

“And on the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.”

This taken directly from the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:4, “he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures.”

The must important event was the resurrection. It indicated the Jesus was successful. He redeemed humanity and bet the devil. There is some debated about whether his resurrection was a physical one or a spiritual one. The Creed does not answer this.

He “ascended into heaven” means that Jesus was no longer bodily with us. He could still appear, as he did with Paul, but not like before. Jesus is in heaven

And Jesus now “sits at the right hand of the Father.” This means that he is the right-hand man for God. He is administrating the Kingdom of God on earth.

“And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried.”

The Creed is clear that Jesus was crucified, suffered, died, and buried. But by buried they mean put in sepulcher. For burial was not like modern day burial where we put them in a hole in the ground.

When Jesus died is laid out by the phrase “under Pontius Pilate.” This seems very important.

It might be good to mention that the Creed gives us no theory of the atonement, and so none required. They all agreed that Jesus died for our sins, but what that meant was open.

Jesus’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem – Luke 19:28-40

28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 Now as he was approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying,

“Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!”

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

“Who, for us and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man.”

Jesus was in heaven before being born, so he “came down from heaven.” Why? “For us and for our salvation.” Humanity could be saved in no other way, but through the incarnation of Jesus.

He was “was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary.” I am not sure why people have such a problem with the virgin birth (parthenogenesis). To me, this is a small miracle compared to creating the universe.

The metaphorical point of the Virgin birth is that Jesus was special. His birth was special. His mission was special. The metaphorical meaning is essential, the literal meaning is non-essential.

And “was made man.” A fancy word for God becoming man is hyperstatic union. This is a great mystery. And the church has never been dogmatic about it.