WEBVTT 00:00:08.369 --> 00:00:14.129 Hello, my friends, and welcome back to the Spray UMC Podcast. 00:00:14.609 --> 00:00:15.730 I'm Hoyt. 00:00:16.929 --> 00:00:21.730 Today we come to the final episodes in our journey through the Apostles' Creed. 00:00:23.649 --> 00:00:29.889 Over these past weeks we have walked through the great truths of the Christian faith. 00:00:30.689 --> 00:00:34.049 We began with God the Father Almighty. 00:00:34.369 --> 00:00:38.689 We followed Jesus from Bethlehem to Calvary. 00:00:39.009 --> 00:00:51.810 We stood before the empty tomb, celebrated His resurrection, His ascension, His present ministry, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. 00:00:53.730 --> 00:00:57.010 Now the Creed brings us to its final words. 00:00:58.609 --> 00:01:06.929 I believe in the forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. 00:01:07.489 --> 00:01:08.129 Amen. 00:01:10.849 --> 00:01:14.609 These are not simply the last lines of an ancient creed. 00:01:15.010 --> 00:01:17.969 They are the destination of the gospel itself. 00:01:18.609 --> 00:01:21.890 Everything we have studied has been leading us here. 00:01:25.250 --> 00:01:31.409 The forgiveness of sins is more than God pretending our sins never happened. 00:01:32.049 --> 00:01:35.730 At the cross, justice and mercy met. 00:01:45.969 --> 00:01:53.490 Scripture tells us that there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:01:54.290 --> 00:02:03.170 John reminds us that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive. 00:02:04.930 --> 00:02:10.370 Have you ever met someone who believed God could forgive everyone except them? 00:02:12.129 --> 00:02:14.449 The cross answers that fear. 00:02:15.009 --> 00:02:23.170 If Christ's sacrifice is sufficient to save the worst of sinners, then it is sufficient for you and for me. 00:02:24.449 --> 00:02:27.009 Grace is not a reward for good people. 00:02:28.129 --> 00:02:33.890 Grace is God's gift to those who know they need a savior. 00:02:35.969 --> 00:02:42.689 The creed does not merely promise life after death, it proclaims the resurrection of the body. 00:02:43.729 --> 00:02:53.890 In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul declares that because Christ has been raised, those who belong to him will also be raised. 00:02:54.449 --> 00:02:58.849 Death is still an enemy, but it is a defeated enemy. 00:03:00.770 --> 00:03:05.009 For the Christian, the cemetery is not the end of the story. 00:03:05.729 --> 00:03:08.930 One day Christ will make all things new. 00:03:09.650 --> 00:03:14.930 Our hope rests not in wishful thinking, but in the empty tomb. 00:03:18.370 --> 00:03:25.009 When we hear the words everlasting life, we sometimes think only of endless time. 00:03:26.449 --> 00:03:33.090 Jesus describes eternal life as knowing God and living forever in His presence. 00:03:34.129 --> 00:03:37.650 Revelation gives us a beautiful picture of that future. 00:03:38.530 --> 00:03:46.050 God will dwell with His people, He will wipe away every tear, death shall be no more. 00:03:46.849 --> 00:03:57.009 Mourning, crying, and pain will pass away because Christ makes all things new. 00:03:58.530 --> 00:04:01.890 That is the future every believer has in Christ. 00:04:02.530 --> 00:04:09.009 For many years I thought following Christ meant climbing a ladder high enough for God to finally accept me. 00:04:09.810 --> 00:04:13.090 But the gospel teaches something entirely different. 00:04:13.409 --> 00:04:16.050 Grace is not a ladder we climb. 00:04:16.849 --> 00:04:21.889 Grace is the hand of God reaching down to us through Jesus Christ. 00:04:23.810 --> 00:04:27.089 We are not saved because we climbed high enough. 00:04:27.569 --> 00:04:34.129 We are saved because Christ came down low enough to rescue us. 00:04:36.610 --> 00:04:40.850 Six episodes ago we began with two simple words. 00:04:41.810 --> 00:04:43.329 I believe. 00:04:44.449 --> 00:04:47.810 Those words are more than a statement to memorize. 00:04:48.209 --> 00:04:51.569 They are an invitation to trust the living Christ. 00:04:52.850 --> 00:04:58.449 My prayer has never been that you would simply learn the apostle's creed. 00:04:59.250 --> 00:05:05.970 My prayer has been that through the creed you would come to know the Savior, it proclaims. 00:05:07.250 --> 00:05:25.810 If somewhere someone listening to these episodes opens a Bible, discovers Jesus Christ, and finds hope in him, then every hour spent studying, writing, recording, and praying has been worth it. 00:05:28.370 --> 00:05:37.170 Because of Christ, our past is forgiven, our present is filled with hope, our future is secure. 00:05:37.490 --> 00:05:39.089 That is the gospel. 00:05:39.889 --> 00:05:44.689 The Creed itself cannot save us, only Jesus Christ can. 00:05:45.170 --> 00:05:56.129 The Creed faithfully points us to Him, but He alone forgives sins, raises the dead, and gives everlasting life. 00:05:58.050 --> 00:06:03.170 As we conclude this series, may these words never become routine. 00:06:03.889 --> 00:06:16.370 May they deepen our faith, strengthen our witness, and remind us every day that our hope is not built upon an ancient confession, but upon a living Savior. 00:06:17.889 --> 00:06:19.329 Let us pray. 00:06:20.370 --> 00:06:30.930 Lord Jesus, thank you for forgiving our sins, for conquering death, and for the promise of everlasting life. 00:06:31.410 --> 00:06:36.370 Thank you that our hope rest not in ourselves, but in your finished work. 00:06:37.730 --> 00:06:49.410 Help us to live as people of hope, proclaim the good news with humility and courage, and faithfully follow you until the day faith becomes sight. 00:06:50.209 --> 00:06:52.610 In your holy name we pray. 00:06:52.930 --> 00:06:53.569 Amen. 00:06:56.610 --> 00:06:58.930 Thank you for joining me today. 00:06:59.810 --> 00:07:12.610 If you do not have a church home, we would love to have you worship with us at Spray United Methodist Church, located at eight oh three Morgan Road in Eton, North Carolina. 00:07:13.490 --> 00:07:17.730 We are a loving church where we love God and love people. 00:07:18.850 --> 00:07:19.810 All people. 00:07:21.649 --> 00:07:28.050 Until next time, may the grace of God rise before you and keep you safe. 00:07:28.850 --> 00:07:30.129 Goodbye.