使徒信经是整理自整本圣经的基督徒信仰宣告,是基督徒信仰的准绳,提到我们所信仰的对像三一真神以及祂荣耀的作为:创造,救赎与使祂的教会成圣。今天任何个人或教会要成长,强壮,复兴,都不可能离开使徒信经所陈述的信仰根基。使徒信经的内容可以作为传道人传讲和教导的主要根据,其教导不止可以坚固基督徒的信心,使我们可以有能力分辨异端,使我们不会随着异教之风飘来飘去,使我们可以活出得胜的基督徒生活,也可以帮助教会在面对逼迫时能够有信心靠主站立的稳。 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 使徒信经: 我信上帝,全能的父,创造天地的主。 我信我主耶稣基督,上帝的独生子;因着圣灵感孕,从童贞女马利亚所生;在本丢彼拉多手下受难,被钉在十字架上,受死,埋葬;降在阴间;第三天从死里复活;他升天,坐在全能父上帝的右边;将来必从那里降临,审判活人,死人。 我信圣灵;我信圣而公之教会;我信圣徒相通;我信罪得赦免;我信身体复活;我信永生。阿们! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 使徒信经释义(马丁路德《基督徒小问答》对使徒信经的解释):
1)[第一条:我信上帝,全能的父,创造天地的主。 ]
圣父:创造
我信上帝造了我和万物,赐了我身体,灵魂,耳目,百体,理智和官能,并仍然为我保守;祂也赐给我衣服,饮食,房屋,家庭,儿女,田地,牲畜和各样美好的事物。祂也将凡为身体和生活上所需用的,每天丰丰富富地赏赐抚养我;并庇护保守我不受危险和凶恶。这一切全是出于祂为父为上帝的恩典感受,毫不是我的功劳,也不是我所配得的。因此我应该感恩,颂扬,侍奉和顺服祂。这实在是真理。
2)[第二条:我信我主耶稣基督,上帝的独生子;因着圣灵感孕,从童贞女马利亚所生;在本丢彼拉多手下受难,被钉在十字架上,受死,埋葬;降在阴间;第三天从死里复活;他升天,坐在全能父上帝的右边;将来必从那里降临,审判活人,死人。 ]
圣子:救赎
我信耶稣基督是自太初从天父所生的真神,也是童女玛利亚所生的真人,是我的主。祂不是用金银,乃是用自己的圣宝血和无罪的受苦受死,从诸般罪恶,死亡和魔鬼的权势中,释放,救赎及得着了我这沉沦被弃绝的人;为要我全属祂,在祂的国度里活着,在永远的义,无罪和福气中侍奉祂,正如祂从死亡中复活,永远活着掌权一般。这实在是真理。
3)[第三条:我信圣灵;我信圣而公之教会;我信圣徒相通;我信罪得赦免;我信身体复活;我信永生。阿们! ]
圣灵:成圣
我相信借着自己的理智或力量,不能信主耶稣基督,或亲近祂;只是圣灵用福音宣召了我,用她的恩赐照亮了我。祂曾使我成圣,并在真正信仰上保存了我。正如祂召集,照亮普天下的基督教会,在唯一的真正信仰上保存教会,使教会与耶稣基督联合和成圣一样。在基督教会里,祂每日多次地赦免我和众信徒一切的罪,也要在末日叫我和凡死了的人都复活,并赐永生给我和凡在基督里的信徒。这实在是真理。 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = The Apostles' Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried, he descended into hell, the third day he rose again from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence, he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 1)[The First Article:I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.] Of Creation: I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my limbs, my reason, and all my senses, and still preserves them;in addition thereto, clothing and shoes, meat and drink, house and homestead, wife and children, fields, cattle, and all my goods;that He provides me richly and daily with all that I need to support this body and life, protects me from all danger, and guards me and preserves me from all evil;and all this out of pure, fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me;for all which I owe it to Him to thank, praise, serve, and obey Him. This is most certainly true. 2)[The Second Article:And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.] Of Redemption: I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won “delivered” me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, in order that I may be “wholly” His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true. 3)[The Third Article:I believe in the Holy Ghost; one holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.] Of Sanctification: I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true. |