The Comforter: “He shall teach you all things”

John 14:25–27

25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

We are given in this passage a knowledge of the Holy Ghost (AKA: Holy Spirit) that provided the disciples of Christ the certainty needed to preach the good news of the Gospel to all people, and change the world for over two thousand years.

The news that God reached down to man, to reveal to him what God has provided to restore the eternally broken relationship between him and man because of the sin of man. That Jesus Christ, the Son of God and God the Son, was sacrificed for the sin of man and all who believe in him would have eternal life. 

That is the Gospel, and it was the Spirit of God, God the Spirit, who would comfort them, give them the confidence they need; teach them, give them the knowledge they needed; and empower them, through that confidence, knowledge and peace to have the courage the share the light of Christ in an ever darkening world.

How did TWELVE MEN transform the world for over 2000 years?

We don’t often think how it can be that twelve men, many of whom were unlearned in the things and wisdom of the world, unschooled, of rough demeanour, average men with no special training in social engineering or subterfuge, could have been the very men God would employ to bring the greatest news concerning the infinite hope of heaven to a completely hell bound world, and yet in large measure the answer is given us in the text above.

It was the giving of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit, is here identified as “The Comforter”, Jesus said he would be sent by the Father for at least four distinct purposes.

The First is that the disciples and all those who come after should be COMFORTED BY CONFIDENCE;

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things,

It is through the Spirit teaching you and I the truth of “All things” that we become confident in the ‘knowledge’ of the truth.

The Second, is that the disciples and all those who come after should be COMFORTED THROUGH CONTEMPLATION

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 

It is the Spirit of God who leads us through our purposeful CONSIDERATION of all things, remembering what Christ has done and continues to do in your lives.

The Third, is that the disciples and all those who come after should be COMFORTED IN CONTRAST to the world;

Jesus said, 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Lastly, is that the disciples and all those who come after should be COMFORTED TO COURAGE.

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

We find that through learning, recollection and experience, we can live our lives with the courage to tell of the hope of Christ in spite of the persecution that will come as we shine that light in the darkness.

Comforted By Confidence

Comforted Through Contemplation

Comforted In Contrast

Comforted To Courage

 

Comfort By Confidence

John 14:26

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things,

The text begins by referring to the Holy Spirit as “the Comforter”. 

Identified first by Title “The Comforter”, then by Trade, a teacher, for “he shall teach you all things”.

Introduction

1 John 5:7

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

This morning we are going to focus give consideration to the doctrine of the Trinity, that God is triune in his Godhead. That both God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is ONE LORD, AS IT TELLS US IN THE SCRIPTURE;

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: Deuteronomy 6:4

That Christianity consists of “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph 4:5-6)

And yet 

16 … without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 1 Timothy 3:16

The very nature of the Godhead is a unity in plurality, that he is three persons but ONE Lord.

Just as man cannot be defined as physical only, (the materialist religious fervour of these days want to define man as nothing more than a material product of his environment, no). Man is Body, Soul and Spirit.

So too therefore we will see this morning that God is complete in and of himself and that no part of God can be separated. The Godhead consists of three persons and yet ONE Being.

Can we understand it? Well, no, but we can grasp its central truth.

In the many passages of the Bible we see that it is the Spirit of God that intercepts and that leads, that oversees and guides. We see that the Spirit of God IS God and, through a simple process of elimination, can be nothing else.

We know that there are differing spirits in the world. We know that there is a “spirit in man”, and yet it is “the inspiration of the Almighty that giveth him understanding” (Jb 32:8). We know that some “know not what manner of spirit ye are of” (Lk 9:55). We know also that there is “that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (1 Jn 4:3). There was an angel who became a “lying spirit in the mouth of all” the prophets who encouraged King Ahab to fall at the battle of Ramothgilead in 1 Kings 22:20-22. 

And finally we also know that there are many diverse “Unclean spirits” in the Bible, that take possession of the lives of many of those who do not have the Spirit of God in them. 

NB: Those who have the HOLY SPIRIT of God, CANNOT BE POSSESSED of ANY unclean spirit!!!!

This morning we will see the Holy Spirit as;

The Person (1 Jn 5:7)

The Creator (Gen 1:1)

The Convictor (Jn 16:8-11)

The Comforter (Jn 16:7)

 

The Person Of The Holy Spirit

1 John 5:5–8

5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 

6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

We naturally begin our consideration of the Spirit of God as a PERSON and not a thing or an entity that is not understood to have the nature of a person. 

Personhood is established both in this passage and many others, and that personhood is distinct from the other two members of the Godhead.

This passage is a passage that culminates, reckons or summarises EVERYTHING we find throughout the bible concerning the relationship of the Holy Spirit of God in the Godhead, and places it into one very clear and absolute verse.

All though scripture we see the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit, the Holy Ghost, the Comforter etc, we see him act and behave as a separate and distinct entity and yet we also see him directly involved in ALL the aspects attended to b

The Manifestation Of The Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:1–11

A Statement of Faith is a document that illustrates the core belief of a Church. It is designed to give those who are looking for a biblical Church a glimpse into exactly what they believe the Bible teaches. Generally the more transparent the Church desires to be the more clear that statement of faith is presented. The less transparent the Church desires to be the less clear will be that statement, until you get to the Churches that don’t want anyone to know what they believe…coz they don’t know either 🙂 

We have spent time dealing with God the Father, then God the Son and now we are in the third message of the third member of the Godhead, speaking of God the Holy Spirit. What we will look to bring out today is HOW GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT manifests himself through Christians to the world.

Now when I say “Christians” I am not speaking of those who CALL themselves Christians, I am speaking of all those who are Born Again believers, they have believed the Gospel, that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

That “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:12)

They believe “that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4)

They believe in their heart That “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6), the Old Testament version of John 3:16, and so many more.

We should understand from the beginning what Christianity is and isn’t; Christianity is NOT the beliefs held by those who are Christians, that is NOT the measure. It was the late John Robbins who I think made clear that, 

quote, “Christianity is what the Bible teaches, Christianity is not the beliefs held by those who call themselves ‘Christian’”

Christians are NOT those who go to Church each Sunday, they are NOT those who do good deeds most of the time, they are not those who grow up under a certain tradition or nationality, or family, there is no such thing as a “Christian Country” and there was NEVER such a thing as “Christendom”, at least, not in a physical sense.

A Christian is an individual who has believed in their heart that Jesus Christ is Lord;

Romans 10:9

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

So how is it that we should expect the Holy Spirit to manifest himself through Christians?

Lets take another look at just a few of those verses read this morning;

1 Corinthians 12:3–8

 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Here we see that the “Manifestation of the Spirit”; that is, how the Spirit of God is evidently revealing himself is through a range of Gifts given to those who are born again. By

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The Purpose Of The Holy Spirit

John 16:7-15

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

 

He Shall Glorify Me

Introduction

“He shall glorify me” it says in verse 14 of John 16, being the words of Christ respecting the Spirit that he shall send when he departs to the father. 

We see the Lord speaking of it first in the previous chapter, referring of him in verse 26 as “the Comforter”, and again in this chapter we see the same designation in verse 7.

But the ultimate purpose of the Spirit of God is seen in the purpose statement of verse 14; “He shall glorify me”.

In these last of days there are so many that have completely misrepresented The Holy Spirit and given to him a level of significance above that of Christ. 

The Purpose of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ. To point to Jesus, to reveal the Christ, the Saviour of the world. It’s what the gospel is all about and we see the two extremes of those whose ONLY focus is The Spirit and others who ignore his purpose completely.

To the one we have an inordinate focus, opposite to that which the Spirit has, to the other we have no consideration of the Spirit, opposite to that which the Bible teaches.

“He shall glorify me”

He doesn’t draw attention to himself.

Compare that to the multitude of ministers today who do.

Rather than speak of Jesus, it’s all “I, I, I, I”. There was a brother who told me he counted almost 20 “I” Statements from a pastor in the first few minutes and walked out. 

That is an indicator of those who, UNLIKE the Spirit of God, draw attention to themselves and not Christ our Lord.

If they had the Spirit of God in them, their PRIMARY DESIRE should be to bring Glory to Christ! 

It is of interest to know that Satan is the one who loves to bring glory to himself, that is his PRIMARY DESIRE;

Turn to Isaiah 14

What we shall see in this passage that you all know describes the fall of Satan, is his ultimate desire, HIS VERY OWN PURPOSE STATEMENT is revealed in two verses;

Isaiah 14:12–14

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Is the purpose of Satan to lift up and help mankind?

Is the purpose of Satan to love and exalt man?

The purpose of Satan is to exalt himself, his love is for himself. The five “I Will’s” of the devil demonstrate the very purpose of his fallen existence and it astounds me how well we see him re-presented in the pulpits around the world today.

Pastors desiring to create a kingdom for themselves. It is plainly not the Holy Spirit working in them, for “he shall glorify me” said Jesus. If it were the Holy Spirit working in them, then they would glorify Jesus!

This is the work, the primary work of the Spirit of God. 

IT STANDS TO REASON there

The Earnest

Saved, Sealed, Secured, Settled.

Introduction

We move to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit for this next segment of the series and explaining that which we believe concerning him and that which the Bible teaches of him.

According to the doctrinal statement of the Church we have this written;

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person; equal with God the Father and God the

Son and of the same nature and that he was active in creation. He convicts of sin, of

righteousness, and of judgement and bears witness to and exalts the Person of Christ.

He is the agent in the New birth through which the believer is spiritually baptised when

he believes. The Holy Spirit seals, empowers, guides, teaches, and sanctifies the

believer. We believe that the Holy Spirit enables every believer to serve God through the

ministry of spiritual gifts. However, we believe that the miraculous sign gifts such as

tongues and healings, as recorded in the New Testament, were Apostolic in nature and

have ceased to exist as distinct ministries of individuals. We believe that God can

intervene in human history in a miraculous way should he choose to do so, but we

believe that the occurrence of such interventions today are distinct from the

phenomena of the miraculous sign gifts evident in Apostolic times.

Mark 16:20 Matthew 28:19 Genesis 1:1-3 Luke 1:35 John 14:16-17 John 3:5-

6 John 1:33 John 14:26 Romans 8:14,16,26-27 1 Corinthians 13:8 John 16:8-

11 Hebrews 9:14 1 Corinthians 14:21-22 Ephesians 1:13-14 Hebrews 2:4

This morning we are going to be simply dealing with that first act of the Holy Spirit concerning those who have believed the Gospel and are born again; that is;

“The Holy Spirit Seals”

It is what we refer to as “Assurance”, or often also referred to Theologically as “The Doctrine of The Preservation Of The Saints”.

We are going to be concentrating on the passage of the text read this morning, but having our focus on verse 13 and 14 only.

Ephesians 1:13–14

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

We will indeed be speaking of the Holy Spirit and his work, but there simply can be no talk of the Spirit of God that excludes the Gospel. 

Indeed, what we find even in the text before us this morning is a full presentation of the doctrine of salvation that can truly be sup-raised in four simple words that form the subheading of the Sermon Title this morning, each word also becoming the title of each of the four points I will expand on as we go through the message title first;

The Assurance of The Holy Spirit

Saved, Sealed, Secured, Settled.

Perhaps it’s because the Gospel is so simple it is made so unnecessarily complicated by many people who simply cannot accept the simplicity of how a person can KNOW he has eternal life.

Perhaps its because of our understanding of the eternal severity of Hell that makes us all think escaping it must be a complex labyrinth of twists and turns, tunnels and tortures that we need to be instructed in and follow before we can have any assurance whatsoever that heaven is our home when we die. 

Surely, if hell was not such a bad place and if it were not permanent, if it had even the darkest shade of light or the slightest rest of torment, or the heat of the flame could be turned down just a degree and time committed be limited to all the sands of all the beaches in all the world going through an hourglass, even at a year per grain, we might think being saved from it should not be too difficult to do ourselves.

But it seems that knowing of the eternal, conscious torment of damnation, that we begin to think escaping it must be difficult a

Unbounded Prosperity

Isaiah 55:6–13

6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

There is the Gospel presented in this text that may often be missed in our casual reading.

From the seeking of God; to the wicked forsaking their way and returning to the Lord; and the Lord bringing an abundant life through his word, which we see as likened to the rain that bring life to the earth; to the total unbounded prosperity which fills the heart with joy for what God has provided.

In the end, the blessing is eternal and the glory is to the LORD alone,

and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. (V13)

In the first part of the message this morning, you will see the Lord providing you a limitation of opportunity to take advantage of.

6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 

It is THE TIME-BOUND OPPORTUNITY

In the second part of this message, you may find chastisement. Just as Isaiah, through the Lord, first chastises the people of Israel, so too should you find yourselves the subject of Gods focus in this text, but not without hope;

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

This we see is THE HEAVEN-BOUND REALITY, the eternal hope of that OPPORTUNITY that went before.

In the third point we will have our focus on the explanatory portion of the passage that reveals to you WHY you should take heed to the Lord and to understand HOW HIS WORD fulfils its work, primarily in the Everlasting Gospel.

In the final portion of the text, you will see the UNBOUNDED PROSPERITY to those who have attended to that which went before, for their own eternal joy.

The Time-bound Opportunity

Isaiah 55:6

6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 

We have all seen the countdown clocks on shopping sites on the internet, “Limited Time Only” specials hanging in windows of store fronts, End of Financial Year and Black Friday sales coming about annually to take advantage of, Boxing Day sales where multitudes of people run over themselves and risk both life and limb just to nab a big ticket item at cents on the dollar, so we are not ignorant that there is in reality opportunities to take advantage of “While Stocks Last”, a LIMITATION is imposed but not before the opportunity is presented.

The reality described above reveals the nature of Man for the temporal prosperity of life. But in this text, God reveals to man the opportunity for UNBOUNDED PROSPERITY in the riches of eternal life.

6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

The Return Of Christ

Introduction

Revelation 22:12–21

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 

20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

The single most anticipated event that has been looked forward to by Christians for 2000 years is what is spoken of in this passage in Revelation 22, THE RETURN OF CHRIST.

No single event has caused more comfort or consternation than the return of Christ.

No single event in the world ever has generated both greater expectation AND anxiety than the return of Christ.

And no single doctrine in the Bible has both the clarity and the paradoxical confusion than the Bible’s teaching of THE RETERN OF CHRIST. 

       Everything from the denial of his literal return, allegorising it all as if it is limited to him “ruling in our hearts”, to setting dates has been attended to historically and is still happening today by disingenuous, sensationalist ministers.

However, what is most evident of all, is that the time of his coming is nearer than when we first believed. 

The signs of the times we live in is so incredible to witness, that each and every one of us should be living in anticipation that our time to witness for Christ is short, the time to attend to that which is the very purpose of our lives, has an ever-closing window of opportunity.

We will address the topic in four parts this morning.

First, Jesus is coming for his Church: there are no signs required to be fulfilled before this incredible event occurs. Depending how many people in the world are actually born again, will determine how this event is manifest to the world when it occurs. If there be few that be saved, it would barely raise an eyebrow; if many are born again and alive when it occurs, there will be turmoil around the world and an excuse/explanation will be required to restore order.

Again, no sign is necessary for the immanent return of Jesus for his Church.

Second, Jesus is returning to execute his judgement on the kingdoms of this world. When the sinners are come to the full, and this evil world has its desired devil to rule over them, Jesus Christ will literally descend upon the mount of Olives and destroy the Devil with the brightness of his coming. It is a period know through History as The Apocalypse, The Great Unveiling. Satan will then be cast into the pit and bound for a thousand years, after which he is “loosed a little season” (Rev 20:3)

Third, Jesus is coming for his people. He was Crucified as ‘The King of the Jews’ before he had the chance to act as their king. Jesus will literally return for the remnant of Israel and set up his earthly government in Israel, in Jerusalem, on this earth for one thousand years. After which he will cr

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The Resurrection Of Christ 

1 Corinthians 15:1–19

We have at this time given consideration to a number of issues related to Jesus Christ and we have largely presented him from the scriptures as the very subject of our faith. 

We have considered the Statement of Faith that we hold and given testimony that our faith is well founded as that which comes directly from the scriptures, to this we consent. 

But, there is one element that we have not given as much consideration regarding Jesus Christ, and that is that he is a real person of history!

Yes, we have alluded to him in the last message as a part of history, indeed we considered him and his death as the very pivot on which the door of history swings, all that is since his death is reflected in each of our birthdays, the dating system of the western world has its reference point in Christ. 

(Though this is something I believe may change under the antichrist who “think to change times and laws” (Dan 7:25) as he tries to Reset the world according to his image). 

But have we really given due consideration to Christ, and especially his resurrection with the light of history? 

Have we yet shown Christ as a true historical figure?

1 Corinthians 15 is one of the most important passages in the New Testament declaring the reality of all we believe. 

It is accounted by Theologians AND sceptical Scholars as a passage so fundamental to the Christian faith, not least of which because of WHO WROTE IT…Paul, the one-time enemy of Christ.

Within the passage we find;

The Declaration of an Oral Tradition via a memorised Creed specifically in verses 3-7.

That it testifies to those things as having their primary origins in The Scriptures, that is, The Old Testament Scriptures.

That it is reflected in SECULAR History by writings OUTSIDE the Bible.

-That its truthfulness was evident through the WITNESS of those both once sceptics and enemies AND the witness of those persecuted for that faith.

 

THE CREED

1 Corinthians 15:1–7

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

The early Church did not have access to a Bible as you and I do today. It was not a “Click” away and ready to be hand-delivered on our doorstep the following day. The Scriptures were all “Manuscripts”, copied by hand.

It was both tedious, time-consuming AND expensive. 

In the first few years before the New Testament came together, it was through memory that the doctrines that were taught would be retained and that through what is known as a “Creed”. 

We see in verse 2 that Paul mentions the keeping in mind of those things he taught them.

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

The manner of memory through which those things are taught is through “Creeds”.

What is a “Creed”?

In short, it is a relatively short statement of faith around a given topic. Some look to summarise the entire Christian doctrine in a single creed such as the famous “Apostles Creed” and “Nicene Creed”, but what we see in the scriptures are a handful of very short statements that are indeed Creeds passed on from one