Good Morning Friends,
Today’s devotional weaves Paul’s pattern of theology, the structure of the Apostles’ Creed, and the spiritual invitation for today’s believer to consider why we worship the way we do. With this in mind we ask: What Is The Saving Line Of The Apostle’s Creed?
Scripture: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman… to redeem those under the law.” — Galatians 4:4–5
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins… that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day.” — 1 Corinthians 15:3–4
Message: If you read the Apostles’ Creed slowly, you notice something striking. It moves from “born of the Virgin Mary” straight to “suffered under Pontius Pilate.” Thirty years of Jesus’ life — His teaching, miracles, compassion, table fellowship, kingdom parables — seem to vanish between two commas.Why?Because the Creed is not trying to tell the story of Jesus. It is proclaiming the saving acts of God. The early church crafted the Creed for baptism — to declare the core of the gospel, the non‑negotiable center of Christian faith. And in doing so, they followed the pattern of one of the earliest Christian preachers we know: the apostle Paul. Paul rarely mentions Jesus’ earthly ministry. He does not recount the Sermon on the Mount or the feeding of the five thousand. Instead, he preaches the events by which God saves:
- Incarnation — “God sent his Son, born of a woman…” (Galatians 4:4)
- Crucifixion — “Christ died for our sins…” (1 Corinthians 15:3)
- Resurrection — “He was raised on the third day…” (1 Corinthians 15:4)
- Exaltation — “God exalted him to the highest place…” (Philippians 2:9)
Paul’s gospel is not a biography. It is a proclamation: God has acted in Christ to save the world. The Creed simply echoes this rhythm. But this does not mean Jesus’ life is unimportant. His compassion, His authority, His kingdom teaching — these reveal the heart of God and the shape of discipleship. They show us what redeemed humanity looks like. Our worship is practice in exhibiting a little of this heaven on earth where we give flesh to the fruit of the Spirit. The pattern we follow in worship is to resemble Jesus in his life too. Yet the Creed reminds us of something essential: We are not saved by the teachings of Jesus but by the person and work of Jesus. His life shows us the way. His death and resurrection make the way. The Creed draws a straight line from manger to cross because that is the line of salvation — the line of God’s decisive love.
And So, today we consider how the Creed’s simple, saving line…born…suffered…rose… can recenter our faith when we are tempted to consider Jesus primarily as a teacher to admire rather than a Savior to Trust. In a Secular Humanistic world that often reduces Jesus to a moral teacher, spiritual influencer, or gentle sage, the Creed stands firm and clear: He came to save. He died to redeem. He rose to reign. This is the gospel of grace. This is the center that holds and just because sometimes the work of people parallels the Gospel Truth in a secular humanistic way that does not mean that their train track origins and destinations are the same as the one we seek as Christians.
Pray we believe the Lord Jesus Christ came in the fullness of time, born of a woman, to redeem us. Pray we believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, died for our sins, and rose in victory. Pray with thanksgiving that God’s saving work is complete, sufficient, and freely given. Pray that Jesus teaches us to follow his life, trust in the power of His death, and live in the power of His resurrection.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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