The Apostles Creed
“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh.” Romans 8:3
In the Apostles’ Creed we confess simply, “I believe in the Holy Christian Church.” This is a declaration of faith because no one, save God Himself, has seen the entire assembly of believers in heaven and on earth. We know that the assembly of believers exists because God has promised that His Word will accomplish the thing for which He has sent it. The Lutheran Catechism teaches that where the Gospel of Christ is proclaimed in truth and the Sacraments are administered according to Christ’s command there will be believers.
The Bible speaks of this assembly of believers in a number of ways. The fact that it exists is a matter of faith. It’s also a reality because what we could never do – keep God’s Holy Law perfectly – God did by sending His Son into human flesh. He lived without sin, where we can only sin. He died to atone for sin, to free us from what is rightfully ours. He rose again and the resurrection stands as the proof, the receipt that we are forgiven.
God did all of this…not us.
People sometimes like to talk about “good Christians”. We are not good by virtue of our living, but the imputed righteousness of Jesus. We are declared righteous by faith (which is a gift) in Jesus Christ.
Lord, by the stripes which wounded Thee,
From death’s dread sting Thy servants free
That we may live and sing to Thee. Alleluia!
The Lutheran Hymnal 210:5