This document discusses the Apostles' Creed and what it means to believe in Jesus Christ. It explains that to believe in Jesus Christ means: 1) To be in a covenant relationship with God and live with and for God, trusting Him with your life. 2) That Jesus perfectly fulfilled the roles of prophet, priest, and king for humanity by revealing God, reconciling people to God through His sacrifice, and guiding, protecting, and strengthening believers. 3) That Jesus was uniquely God incarnate who died and rose from the dead, making Him either Lord, a liar, or lunatic - nothing less. Belief in Jesus reveals much about one's character.

1. Session 5:
I believe in Jesus Christ

2. The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the
dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. AMEN.

3. I believe in Jesus Christ
• Let’s review..
–I
• No one can believe for you.
– believe
• Saying “I believe in God” is more than “I feel” or “I think” or “I
want”
• “I BELIEVE” = “GOD IS”
– in
• (not I believe that God)
• Greek=I am believing into God
– Meaning:
» I am living in a covenant relationship with God--
living with God and for God.
» Because of God I am different.
» I trust God with my life.

4. JESUS CHRIST - Colossians 1:15-20
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things
were created: things in heaven and on
earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or
powers or rulers or authorities; all things have
been created through him and for him. 17 He is
before all things, and in him all things hold
together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the
church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from
among the dead, so that in everything he might
have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to
have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through
him to reconcile to himself all things, whether
things on earth or things in heaven, by making
peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

5. 15-18We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be
seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in
everything created. For everything, absolutely
everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank
after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in
him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any
of it came into existence and holds it all together right up
to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he
organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.
18-20He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the
resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From
beginning to end he's there, towering far above
everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that
everything of God finds its proper place in him without
crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated
pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and
atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant
harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured
down from the cross.

6. I believe in Jesus Christ
• Hebrew - Yesua
– meaning Savior or God is Savior
• a common name
– speaks to Jesus’ humanness
• A man from Nazareth
• Mary’s son
• An ex-carpenter turned iterant Rabbi
• Put to death by Roman authorities
• Much of his life is recorded in the gospels

7. I believe in Jesus Christ
• Hebrew - Messiah
• Greek- anointed one
• In ancient Israel three people were anointed
– Prophets –messengers of God
– Priests –intercessors for God
– Kings-rulers
• All OT prophets, priests, and kings fell short of
the mark.
• JESUS PERFECTLY FULFILLED ALL THREE ROLES

8. I believe in Jesus Christ
• What do we sinners need in order to be in a right
relationship with God?
– Divide into three groups. How did Jesus perfectly fulfill the
role of prophet, priest, and king?
– Prophet
• We need to know who God is.
– Jesus reveals God to us.
– If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From
now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:7
– Priest
• We need to be reconciled to Him.
– Through his blood we are made right before God.
– 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in
every way, in order that he might become a merciful and
faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make
atonement for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17
– King
• We need someone to guide, protect, and strengthen us.

9. I believe in Jesus Christ
• God incarnate.
– No other religion makes such a claim.
– He was NOT just a good person or great teacher.
– Jesus alone died and then rose from the dead.
• He was either Lord, a Liar, or a Lunatic.
• Nothing reveals more about us than what we
make of Jesus.

10. Review
• What are we saying when we say “I believe in”
• Jesus means?
• Christ means?
• How was Jesus Christ different from every
other person who ever lived?
• Explain why Jesus was either Lord, a liar, or a
lunatic?