"I Believe in Jesus Christ, His Only Begotten Son, Our Lord" — The Apostles' Creed, Article of Faith 2
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Editor’s note: This is the second installment of a series on the Apostles’ Creed. Rev. Campbell Markham is a Presbyterian minister in Perth, Australia.
I drove this 1958 Series II Land Rover when I was eighteen years old. It didn’t have a satnav, radio, air conditioning, airbags, adjustable seats, or even seatbelts.
It was not a Tesla, but it did have the basics: four wheels, an engine, a steering wheel, and (the semblance of) brakes. So, it was still a car.
In the same way there are bare minimum parts for what makes a car, there are bare minimum beliefs for what makes a Christian. These are found in the Apostles’ Creed, and in this piece I focus on the second sentence:
Article Two: “I believe in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord.”
The Apostle’s Creed will say much more about Jesus’ birth, suffering, death, resurrection, ascension, and Second Coming, about the things Jesus did and will do. This sentence focusses on who Jesus is. Each word is important.
Jesus is a name which derives from the Hebrew word Yeshua. It means “God’s Savior.” As the angel said to Joseph,
“[Mary] will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21)
Christ is a title, not Jesus’ surname. It is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Messiah and means “Anointed One.” In the Old Testament, prophets, priests, and kings were consecrated to their role by being anointed with oil. As the Christ, Jesus is God’s promised, eternal, and anointed Prophet (spokesman), Priest (one who reconciles God and sinful humanity), and King.
Being the only begotten Son, Jesus bears all the divine attributes of the Father.
“God’s only begotten Son” emphasizes that Jesus was loved by God. Being the only begotten Son, Jesus bears all the divine attributes of the Father. Only he will inherit all the glory and honor of the Father. At Jesus’ transfiguration his Father spoke from heaven: “‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’” (Matt. 17:5).
“Our Lord.” In the Old Testament there are two words which are translated lord. Adonai means “master” and describes a person who bears position and authority over others. YAHWEH is God’s personal name. It is related to a Hebrew word meaning “I AM” and refers to God’s self-existence and faithfulness to his people.
Moses asked God for his name:
God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.” (Exod. 3:14-15)
When the New Testament refers to Jesus as Lord, it explicitly identifies him with the Lord of the Old Testament. He is worthy of all the love, obedience, and worship that is owed to God.
Jesus Christ is “our great God and Savior” (Tit. 2:13).
That’s why, when Jesus’ identity was questioned by the Pharisees, he said: “‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am’” (John 8:58).
That’s why Doubting Thomas, when he finally opened his eyes to see who Jesus truly is, cried out, “‘My Lord and my God!’” (John 20:28).
A Christian does not just believe that Jesus existed. Every informed student of history believes that. A Christian believes that Jesus is God’s Savior, the Anointed One, the only begotten Son of God the Father, and the Lord.
Jesus Christ is “our great God and Savior” (Tit. 2:13). It is our greatest freedom, hope, and joy to believe thus.
