Believing
This lesson asserts the historical and theological reality of Christ’s death as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity, as well as His descent to the Bosom of Abraham to free the righteous. It explains that His death confronted the effects of sin and fulfilled God’s plan. It also emphasizes the importance of living with reverent fear and obedience, reminding us that salvation is not automatic and that hell is a reality.
The Apostle’s 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 living 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.
“was crucified, dead, and buried.”
Christ’s death was a historical event under Roman rule, presided over by Pontius Pilate.
He was executed as a common criminal: beaten, mocked, and crucified at Golgotha, outside the walls of Jerusalem.
He died in His human nature; His divinity did not die.
The death fulfilled the Father’s plan: to be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity.
Even in His humanity, Christ felt fear, but He obeyed God’s will.
Five effects of sin that made His death necessary:
Sin is an offense against God.
Sin contaminates the soul.
Sin produces weakness.
Sin requires punishment.
Sin expels us from the Kingdom of God.
“He was crucified, died and was buried” / “He descended to the dead”
Christ died a real and physical death, experiencing the same condition as all humanity.
Before His resurrection, He descended to the Bosom of Abraham, where the righteous who had died in faith were awaiting Him.
Five reasons for His descent:
To take upon Himself the full punishment for sin and provide complete atonement.
To rescue His friends (the righteous).
To triumph completely over the devil.
To rescue the righteous from the Bosom of Abraham and bring them into heaven.
To teach us about hope in God and the reality of condemnation.
Lessons about condemnation
Christ saved some, but not all: the condemned remain in their eternal punishment.
We must avoid presumption of automatic salvation; salvation requires reverent fear and obedience.
Hell is real; we must seek closeness with the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 2:12 calls us to work out our salvation “with fear and trembling.”
