Bible Question:
Thanks so much for all the answers/scriptures. I have more questions. What are the Articles of Faith, how many are there, please name them. What are the objectives of the church? What are the gifts of the spirit and the fruit of the spirit? |
Bible Answer: The Articles of faith are found in the Aposle Creed and the Nicean Creed The Apostles' Creed. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified; died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The Nicean Creed I believe in (Romans 10: 8-10; 1 John 4: 15) ONE God, (Deuteronomy 6: 4, Ephesians 4: 6) Father (Matthew 6: 9) Almighty, (Exodus 6: 3) Maker of Heaven and Earth, (Genesis 1: 1) and of all things visible and invisible. (Colossians 1: 15-16) And in ONE Lord Jesus Christ, (Acts 11: 17) Son of God, (Mathew 14: 33; 16: 16) Only-Begotten, (John 1: 18; 3: 16) Begotten of the Father before all ages. (John 1: 2) Light from Light; (Psalm 27: 1; John 8: 12; Matthew 17: 2,5) True God from True God; (John 17: 1-5) Begotten, not made; (John 1: 18) of one essence with the Father (John 10: 30) through whom all things were made; (Hebrews 1: 1-2) Who for us men and for our salvation (1 Timothy 2: 4-5) came down from heaven, (John 6: 33,35) and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary (Luke 1: 35) and became man. (John 1: 14) And He was crucified for us (Mark 15: 25; 1 Corinthians 15: 3) under Pontius Pilate, (John 19: 6) suffered, (Mark 8: 31) and was buried. (Luke 23: 53; 1 Corinthians 15: 4) And on the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures, (Luke 24: 1 1 Corinthians 15: 4) and ascended into heaven, (Luke 24: 51; Acts 1: 10) and sits at the right hand of the Father; (Mark 16: 19; Acts 7: 55) and He shall come again with glory (Matthew 24: 27) to judge the living and the dead; (Acts 10: 42; 2 Timothy 4: 1) Whose Kingdom shall have no end. (2 Peter 1: 11) And in the Holy Spirit, (John 14: 26) Lord, (Acts 5: 3-4) Giver of Life, (Genesis 1: 2) Who proceeds from the Father; (John 15: 26) Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; (Matthew 3: 16-17) Who spoke through the prophets. (1 Samuel 19: 20; Ezekiel 11: 5,13) In one, (Matthew 16: 18) holy, (1 Peter 2: 5,9) catholic, (Mark 16: 15) and apostolic Church. (Acts 2: 42; Ephesians 2: 19-22) I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. (Ephesians 4: 5) I look for the resurrection of the dead, (John 11: 24; 1 Corinthians 15: 12-49; Hebrews 6: 2; Revelation 20: 5) and the life in the age to come. (Mark 10: 29-30) AMEN. (Psalm 106: 48) The objectives of the Church, which is the Body of Christ, are the same as the objectives of Christ: To teach, to govern and to sanctify. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. They belong in their fullness to Christ, Son of David.109 They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.110 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God . . . If children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.111 The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: "charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity."112 109 Cf. Isa 11:1-2. 110 Ps 143:10. 111 Rom 8:14,17. 112 Gal 5:22-23 (Vulgate). The modern tranlations from the Greek list nine fruits, combining in thir tranlslations some of the twelve in the Vulgate for this list charity, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, sel-control. |