Exposition of the Apostles' Creed Part 7

While this article may be regarded as bearing upon the doom of the unG.o.dly, it is rather to be viewed as affirming the eternal blessedness of the risen saints. The everlasting life begins on earth, but is perfected only in eternity. It is sometimes spoken of as a present possession: "He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is pa.s.sed from death unto life."[240] Again it is spoken of as a reward in futurity: "He shall receive an hundredfold now in this time ... and in the world to come eternal life."[241] Our knowledge of what that life will be is very limited. Human words cannot describe it; human beings in this life cannot understand it. We know that it will arise from knowledge of G.o.d. Men will be equal to the angels who see G.o.d. "Now we see through a gla.s.s darkly,"[242] but "we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."[243]

Statements regarding the happiness of the saints are in Scripture expressed sometimes in negative and sometimes in positive terms. In the new heavens and the new earth the redeemed "shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more";[244] "There shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord G.o.d giveth them light."[245] Pain and sorrow and death can never touch them; they shall be delivered from perplexing doubts, from all misery and trouble. Care and anxiety shall be banished for ever, and G.o.d will wipe away all tears from every eye.

There are also many positive statements regarding the future life. Not only will there be the absence of all that is painful and productive of sorrow; those for whom it is prepared shall enter into rest. They shall possess abiding peace, and the joy of their Lord will become their own.

Their bodies shall be like Christ's own glorious body, which, when transfigured on Tabor, shone as the sun, and was white as the light.

They shall be satisfied, when they awake, with the Divine likeness.[246]

"They shall s.h.i.+ne as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars for ever and ever."[247] They shall sit down with Christ upon His throne, and shall be rulers over cities. "They are as the angels of G.o.d in heaven."[248] In the many mansions of the Father's house there will be a place for every saint. Each will be rewarded according to his works. Some are to be raised to higher glory than others--some are to have authority over ten cities, and some are to bear rule over five--but all the saints will be happy in the eternal enjoyment of G.o.d's favour, which is life; and of His loving kindness, which is better than life.

APPENDIX

The, following arrangement is from Professor Lumby's _History of the Creeds_. It shows that the portions of the Apostolic Creed which do not appear in the earlier forms are very few. Irenaeus omits the conception by the Holy Ghost, while Tertullian inserts it. Neither Creed contains the first part of the fifth article, and in both the ninth and tenth are wanting. With these exceptions the substance of the Apostles'

Creed was in circulation as early as A.D. 180.

THE APOSTLES' CREED. CREEDS OF ST. IRENAEUS CREEDS OF TERTULLIAN (A.D. 180). (A.D. 200).

1. I believe in G.o.d the I believe in one G.o.d, I believe in one G.o.d, Father Almighty, Maker the Father Almighty, who the Creator of the of heaven and earth: made heaven and earth; world, who produced all out of nothing ...

2. And in Jesus Christ And in one Christ Jesus, And in the Word His Son His only Son our Lord, the Son of G.o.d [our [Jesus Christ], Lord],

3. Who was conceived by Who was made flesh [of Who through the Spirit the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin]; and Power of G.o.d the the Virgin Mary, Father descended into the Virgin Mary, was made flesh in her womb, and born of her;

4. Suffered under And in His suffering Was fixed on the cross Pontius Pilate, was [under Pontius Pilate]; [under Pontius Pilate]; crucified, dead, and was dead and buried; buried,

5. He descended into And in His rising from Rose again the third h.e.l.l; the third day He the dead; day; rose again from the dead,

6. He ascended into And in His ascension in Was taken into heaven, heaven, and sitteth on the flesh; and sat down at the the right hand of G.o.d right hand of G.o.d; the Father Almighty;

7. From thence He shall And in His coming from He will come to judge come to judge the quick heaven ... that He may the wicked to eternal and the dead. execute just judgment on fire.

all.

8. I believe in the Holy And in the Holy Ghost. And in the Holy Spirit Ghost; sent by Christ.

9. The Holy Catholic Church; the Communion of saints;

10. The Forgiveness of sins;

11. The Resurrection of And that Christ shall And that Christ will, the body; come from heaven to after the revival of raise up all flesh ... both body and soul with 12. And the and to adjudge the the restoration of the Life Everlasting. impious and unjust ... flesh, receive His holy to eternal fire, and to ones into the enjoyment give to the just and of life eternal and the holy immortality and promises of heaven.

eternal glory.

TRANSCRIBER'S CHANGES:--

Footnote 016 amended from "1 Peter iii. 1." to "1 Peter iii. 15."

Footnote 198 amended from "1 Rom v. 19" to "Rom v. 19"

Footnote 243 amended from "2 John iii. 2" to "1 John iii.2."

FOOTNOTES

[Footnote 001: John xi. 25, 26.]

[Footnote 002: Matt, xxviii. 20.]

[Footnote 003: 1 Cor. xv. 1-4.]

[Footnote 004: Rom. vi. 17.]

[Footnote 005: Gal. vi. 16.]

[Footnote 006: 1 Tim. vi. 20.]

[Footnote 007: 2 Tim. i. 13, 14.]

[Footnote 008: See Appendix]

[Footnote 009: Rom. x. 10.]

[Footnote 010: Rom. x. 17.]

[Footnote 011: Heb. xi. 3.]

[Footnote 012: _Table-Talk_, 1852, p. 144.]

[Footnote 013: 1 John v. 9.]

[Footnote 014: Heb. xi. 6.]

[Footnote 015: Heb. xi. 6.]