As professing believers we must try as much as possible to always be consistent with scripture. It is rather a blessing to the church if we realise a part of the doctrines of the church is inconsistent with scripture and then we accept it and correct it. I believe confessing Christ is rightly dividing the word of truth, affirming our faith in him and publicly declaring so regarding his redemptive work and trust in him.
Apostles creed on the other hand is an extract from various parts of scripture declaring our faith in Him.
I have no problem with the creed except that a part of it is inconsistent with scripture. Example is the part that reads "He descended into hell ".
Let me post here the Apostle's Creed.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His 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 into hell;
on the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Catholic Church,
the communion of Saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
It cannot be true and is inconsistent with scripture that He descended into hell but rather Hades. . Even till date hell is empty.
I therefore wish that portion of the creed is corrected to be in line with scripture.
On February 7,2000 a document cited on "Christian Today(CT) " posted a research by 12 theological professors who disagreed on the statement "He descended into Hell". It said " Yet a few years back at one Christian college, a series of chapel messages on the Apostles' Creed had to omit this item, because none of the 12 professors of Bible and theology believed it. Actually the statement is not found in the earliest form of the Apostles' Creed. It echoes Acts 2:31, and seems to be there simply to make the point that Jesus' death was real and complete. Jesus went to hades, which in the Greek signifies the world of the departed—paradise for some, pain for others".
We must also note that you cannot find anywhere in scripture in full, all the creed in one chapter named "the apostles creed ". They are from various parts of scripture put together to summarise the faith of the followers of Christ.
The most commonly cited biblical passages are Acts 2:31; Ephesians 4:8-10; 1 Peter 4:6; and, most importantly, 1 Peter 3:18-20.
Let me state here that Jesus Christ is the only saviour of the world and non beside him. No man can be saved by any person except Jesus Christ by putting your trust in him believing in his redemptive work on the cross for all. Just believe.
Jesus however desires to save all and take us to the place of peace and joy where there is no pain, weeping but joy.
Those who do not however believe in him and put their trust in him are going to spend eternity in a place prepared for the devil, his demons and angels called Hell. Hell is the final destination for unbelievers including the devil and his demons, fallen angels, Hades and death.
When an unbeliever dies his soul goes to hades a place called the place of torment where the rich man in the story of Lazarus went.
The bossom of Abraham is also empty hence believers of Christ who die go to be with Jesus Christ till the end of time when they shall be taken to the final place prepared by Jesus for his children.
We must understand that, Hades is different from Hell though most of the versions mix the two words.
Hell in the root word is Gehenna which is equal to the lake of fire.
Let's check these scriptures
Matthew 25:41 "Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.' " (NLT)
Revelation 19:20 And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. (NLT)
Revelation 20:10 ... and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (ESV)
From these scriptures, it is clear no one is in hell. Unbelievers who have died are in Hades, a place called the place of torment. Once a person dies, that marks the end of the opportunity to repent. Scripture says it is appointed unto man once to die and after that judgement.
There is nothing called indulgence, purgatory etc. where a second chance can be given to another person by offering or prayers offered for people to make things right with God if they didn't do that before their death.
Christians or believers of Christ however go to be with Christ in heaven awaiting the end of time to be taken to the final destination called the new heaven and new earth forever. Let's check these scriptures concerning the final destination of Christians ;
Isaiah 65:17
"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.
Hebrews 12:26-27
And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN." This expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
2 Peter 3:12-13
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
Revelation 21:1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
Isaiah 66:22
"For just as the new heavens and the new earth Which I make will endure before Me," declares the LORD, "So your offspring and your name will endure.
Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;
Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
Revelation 21:4
and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."
In conclusion, I will want to encourage today Christians to cultivate the habit of the Berean Christians in Acts 17:10-11. Scripture says "
"Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." (Acts 17:10-11)
We must not just accept what we came to meet but must find and search through the scriptures to gain personal understanding. We will then be growing in faith and full knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless you and shalom.
Written by Apostle Elikem Joshua Avotri
Overseer of Lovefields Christian Chapel Int. Ahinsan-Kumasi, Ghana
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