"I Believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth" — The Apostles' Creed, Article of Faith 1
BY CAMPBELL MARKHAM | Certain core Christian beliefs are encapsulated in the Apostles’ Creed, an ancient statement of Christian faith. What is the meaning of the first words of the Apostles’ Creed?
Editor’s note: This is the first installment of a series on the Apostles’ Creed. Rev. Campbell Markham is a Presbyterian minister in Perth, Australia.
Most people know that different Christian churches believe different things.
Sometimes this is given as a reason to reject the Christian faith: “Christianity can’t be very believable if not even Christians agree on what they should believe!”
True, Christians disagree about non-core beliefs, such as whether a person should be baptized by immersing them in water or pouring water on them, or whether churches should be governed by local elders or a regional bishop. Other disputes are much more serious: “What is the role of Mary in our worship?” “Does purgatory exist?”
There are, though, certain core beliefs that all Christians have believed for the church’s entire two-thousand-year existence. These beliefs are encapsulated in the Apostles’ Creed, an ancient statement of Christian faith that extends back to at least the second century.
Over the coming months we will examine the Creed one sentence at a time. If you are not a Christian, this will make clear what you must believe to become a Christian, and to enjoy the wonderful blessings of knowing Jesus Christ. If you are already a Christian, then you know that it is always good to go back to the basics…