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Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem

By Harv | August 27, 2008

I believe in God the Father Amighty.” That’s what the Latin text above says. I do believe. Do you? How about the rest of the Apostle’s Creed. Do you believe that also? In case you forgot, here it is.

Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem, Creatorem caeli et terrae,
et in Iesum Christum, Filium Eius unicum, Dominum nostrum,
qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine,
passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus,
descendit ad ínferos, tertia die resurrexit a mortuis,
ascendit ad caelos, sedet ad dexteram Patris omnipotentis,
inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos.
Credo in Spiritum Sanctum,
sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam, sanctorum communionem,
remissionem peccatorum,
carnis resurrectionem,
vitam aeternam.
Amen
OOPS! That’s the Latin version. Forgot to translate into English. Sorry about that. Try again. 
1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
5. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again.
6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
9. the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
10. the forgiveness of sins,
11. the resurrection of the body,
12. and the life everlasting.
Amen.

 By now, if I haven’t lost most of you already, you are wondering where I’m going with all this. Not to fear, stick with me on this and see if any of it resonates in your heart as it has in mine.

I subscribe to several daily devotionals and insightful writings that I use to challenge me in my walk with Jesus and to keep current on the State of the Church here in the U.S.A. [Checking facts is something I tend to do. Don't want to be mis-led or be a party to leading anyone else astray by passing on bad data.] One of my favorites is Breakpoint from Charles Colson of Prison Fellowship. It is online as well as broadcast in many radio markets around the country. This week he is discusssing his latest book, The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, And Why It Matters. I am currently about a third of the way through it and, as always, he cuts to the chase, and the quick, when it comes to the truth. So much for a review of the book and the important role that Colson excels at. Check it out. Now, let ME cut to the chase!

He quotes a February poll by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. In the poll, one of the questions posed to self-described evangelical Christians, was whether or not their religion was the one true faith leading to eternal life. They had the choice to agree with that, OR ”many religions can lead to eternal life.” Almost 6 out of 10 respondents said the latter. Fifty-seven percent!

While in prison, one of the books I read was Faith Founded on Fact by John Warwick Montgomery. The title alone was intriguing to me, but the more I read, the more excited I became. I had an evidential apologetic for what I believed. Let alone the facts of philosophy and reason that provided me with a way to describe what I felt and believed. Starting with the historical facts of the birth, life and teachings, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus of Nazareth. That’s why I believe every word of the Apostle’s Creed. It’s why when Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”, in John 14:6, I believe He meant what He said. 

The Bible isn’t true because I believe it. I believe it because it’s true. AND, if it’s true, then there is only One religion that leads to eternal life. That might mean I’m in the minority of evangelical Christians (what a shame!) and I know I’m in the minority as far as the rest of the world is concerned, but thank God, “one man with God is always in the majority”,  John Knox.

When it comes to the truth test and whether many religions can lead to eternal life, think about this. They may all be false, but they can’t all be true.

I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY…….

5 Responses to “Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem”

  1. Kevin Says:
    August 28th, 2008 at 5:50 am

    I rejoice to see another who upholds the truth of John 14:6. But be prepared to be called names and accused of being “hateful” for holding to the truth.

    Can’t say I like Colson though (ECT and all that). But Knox is right on.

  2. Tom Wimsatt Says:
    August 28th, 2008 at 6:45 am

    Harv,
    This brings back my days as a Roman Catholic. They do worship well. I at one time had the Mass in Latin memorized as an altar boy (3-years). The Apostle’s Creed is such an excellant statement of our faith in Jesus Christ. I used to love saying it because it brings to mind the importance of stating our faith out loud to others. Harv, you are a true teacher and preacher of our faith. Keep up the excellant work.

    Thank you and May God Bless,

    Tom Wimsatt

  3. Gower Says:
    October 30th, 2009 at 4:07 am

    Refreshing to here that there are so many other believers. I believe…

  4. Ramil Mante, MA Says:
    July 17th, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    Deo Gratias!

  5. Rev Dr Jan (John) Grey Says:
    March 28th, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    Yep! As a minister of the one true Gospel I and most Christians believe in only One Way = Jesus!

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