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Part 3

Belief about the Holy Spirit

I believe in the Holy Ghost

The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity. This does not mean that the Holy Spirit is inferior to the Father and the Son. In fact, the Holy Spirit is God Himself because:

1. The Holy Sprit has the same attributes as God: holy, almighty, all knowing, and everlasting (Zechariah 4:6; I Corinthians 2:10-11).

2. The Holy Spirit is equal to the God and the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19).

3. The Holy Spirit is the Creator who existed before the creation of the universe, and who together with God created everything (Genesis 1:2).

4. When indwelled by the Holy Spirit, the body of a believer becomes the temple of God (I Corinthians 6:19-20; 3:16-17).

5. To lie to the Holy Spirit is to lie to God (Acts 5:3-4).

By stating, "I believe in the Holy Spirit” we imply that we believe the Holy Spirit to be God and trust in His works for us. Those works are:

- Helping us to recognize sins (John 16:8-9).

- Dwelling in the heart of the believers (I Corinthians 3:16; Romans 8:24).

- Illuminating and helping us to understand the Bible (John 16:13).

A believer always has the Holy Spirit ruling in his heart. When a person submits his entire life to God's Lordship, that person is filled with the Holy Spirit. The life that is full of the Holy Spirit will show forth the beautiful characteristics: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22).

"I believe the Holy Ghost” means I believe that the Holy Spirit is God, and I believe He is reigning in my heart to teach and guide me to live a life glorifying to God and beneficial to others.

The Belief About the Church

I believe the holy catholic Church

"Church” is an assembly of those who have the same faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This assembly is "holy” because those who believe in Jesus are separated unto God through the sacrificial death of Christ. "Catholic” is a word translated from the Greek term katholikos meaning common, that is including all people, for all people, with no discrimination.

When a person trusts in Christ, that person joins the common church, i.e. the catholic Church of God, no matter where that person lives, in which century, or from which ethnicity. The common church has the following characteristics:

1. It is the Church of God, built on a firm, unchangeable foundation, which is the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).

2. Everyone in the Church has true faith in God and was born again to be a new person by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17).

3. Though being opposed and persecuted, the Church of God will remain forever (Matthew 16:18).

4. There is only one Church and the head of the Church is the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23).

When stating, "I believe the catholic Church,” we confirm the belief that: Christians everywhere, in any era, are united into one body, separated unto God, and headed by Christ. The catholic Church is the only Church, including all those who truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The communion of saints

"Saints” are those separated unto God. When we believe God, we become the people of God and are dedicated for the service of God, thus we are called saints. The term "communion” is translated from the Greek word koinonia, describing the close relationship between one person with another. "The communion of saints” is the close relationship Christians have with one another. This relationship started from God Himself (I John 1:3).

When stating, "I believe the communion of saints,” we express our belief in the sincere love that Christians have for one another, the unity of Christians, the care for one another of those who believe in Christ, as they endeavor to fulfill the mission of bringing the gospel to the non-Christians.

When stating, "I believe the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,” we not only declare that belief with words but also live in an appropriate way with concrete actions such as:

- Joining the Church to build the relationship with those of the same faith.

- Joining hands with the Christians in the Church to fulfill the great commission.

- Not letting the minor differences between denominations to cause division in the Church.

- Avoiding those denominations which do not teach and practice rightly the teaching of Scriptures.

Beliefs about the Forgiveness of Sins and the Eternal Life

The forgiveness of sins

When we believe Christ, God forgives all our sins. The peace in our heart is the greatest proof of that forgiveness. The Bible teaches, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). After we accepted Christ, if we sin, God will forgive us if we confess our sins and wholeheartedly repent of our sins (I John 1:9). However, the kindness of God is not a license for us to continue in our sins and we should remember that there are consequences to sins. In fact, those who truly believe in God never continue to live in sin (I John 3:6,9).

"I believe the forgiveness of sins,” means I believe that God forgave and forgot all my sins when I repent and acknowledge that Christ died for my sins. I also believe that when I sin, if I confess my sin, God will forgive me. I confess my sins directly to God, not through any human mediator.

The resurrection of the body

The Scriptures teach that in the last day, when the Lord Jesus Christ comes back to earth, those who are dead will be resurrected in a perfect and spiritual body that is not limited by time and space (John 5:28; Revelation 22:13; I Corinthians 15:52-53). Those who are unbelievers will be resurrected to be judged (John 5:29).

The life everlasting

The Lord Jesus declares that those who believe in Him will be saved and have eternal life (John 3:16). Eternal life or everlasting life means to live forever in heaven with God, never to be ill, to suffer, or to die again (Revelation 21:3-4). The Bible also teaches that when a believer dies, his soul is welcomed to be with God right at the moment he breathes his last breath (II Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23). In the last day, when Christ returns, the Christians will be resurrected, in a spiritual, indestructible body, just like the body of the risen Christ (1 John 3:2). With that spiritual body, we will be with God forever, to rule over the world, and to share in His glory (II Timothy 2:11-12; Revelation 5:9-10). The life everlasting is also about a meaningful life here on earth because we believe in Christ (John 10:10).

When stating, "I believe the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting,” we express our faith in the Lord Jesus, believing that Christ died that we might be forgiven, and He rose again that I might rise again and live forever with Him.

Understanding clearly the Apostles' Creed, each time we recite this creed, we affirm our faith in God and live with our heart according to the things that we believe.

Lesson 4

Study Questions

1. Three things the Holy Spirit does for us are:

a) ____________________________________

b) ____________________________________

c) ____________________________________

2. The catholic Church includes all Christians (those who truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ) ________________, in any era, united into one body, separated unto God, and headed by ___________________.

3. The concrete actions to show our faith in the Church and the communion of the saints are:

a) __________________________________________________________________

b) __________________________________________________________________

c) __________________________________________________________________

d) __________________________________________________________________

4. "I believe the forgiveness of sins,” means I believe that God ____________ and _____________ all my ________ when I _____________ and acknowledge that Christ _______________ for my sins.

5. The life everlasting is also about a ___________________ life here on earth because we _______________________________.

6. Each time we recite this creed, we ___________________ our faith in God and live with our heart according the things that we ___________________.