The Apostles' Creed & Authentic Christianity by Dr. Mohler
“All Christians believe more than is contained in the Apostles’ Creed, but none can believe less”
What is authentic Christianity?
When I google “churches near me” there are 19 churches within a 5-mile circle.
Baptist Church, Community Church, Presbyterian Church, Holy Trinity Church, 1st Baptist, Calvary Bible Church, Gospel Church, Upper Room Church, and other named churches.
Yet, each church promotes a slightly or drastically different version of Christianity than the other. But isn’t there only one Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
This is the impetus for Together for the Gospel. Starting in 2008 with several close friends from different backgrounds, it has now emerged into a bi-annual assembly of 25 denominations, all 50 states, and 62 nations
gathered for one purpose.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
"The Apostles' Creed stands as a timeless distillation of the Christian faith. The creed instructs, guides, defends, and enshrines the glorious truths that answer the most important question anyone could ask: "What must I do to be saved?" (p. xix).
This is week 16 of 52 in the Tim Challies 2020 reading challenge, and the assignment was a Book on Church History. I decided to read and review Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr.’s The Apostles’ Creed: Discovering Authentic Christianity in an Age of Counterfeits.
Dr. Mohler is the President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, host of two podcasts The Briefing and Thinking in Public, and author of numerous books and academic articles. He continually engages in the public square, bringing the word of God timely to interpret current events.
I had the pleasure and privilege of being a student at Southern and attending lectures and meetings with Dr. Mohler. His raw unending
knowledge of God's word, love for the church, and remarkable intellect are all shrouded with an undeniable humility that comes from his firm commitment to the Gospel.
This week I have been refreshed by the remainder of our historic faith that is rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ. This Creed outlines what unites Christians together for the Gospel. What follows are a few highlights from the 99.9% enjoyment and complete recommendation of this book.
I do have one (dare I say disagreement?) with a particular comment as it relates to discipleship. But we will leave that for the end.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty
Maker of heaven and earth
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
Born of the virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
And sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
Whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy catholic Church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrections of the body,
And the life everlasting,
Amen.
“All Christians believe more than is contained in the Apostles’ Creed, but none can believe less… indeed, wrapped up in the Apostles’ Creed is nothing less than the unfathomable riches of our God, the surpassing knowledge of Christ, and the true theological identity of Christ’s people” (p. xvi & xxiii).
Dr. Mohler’s argument is simple.
Every aspect of the Apostles’ Creed is a non-negotiable tenant to the Christian faith.
To deny one aspect is to deny Christ.
Unfortunately, we cannot just simply walk down the stanzas and check them off and conclude we are saved or can have Christian fellowship with another as a result of believing the phrases. For each phrase holds great implications that are often abused, misunderstood, or colorfully denied.
Dr. Mohler therefore expounds upon each line of the Creed to explain its biblical, historical, and theological roots and reasoning.
In his highly controversial book Velvet Elvis, Rob Bell argues that the core doctrines of the faith should be thought of as springs to a trampoline. If we simply remove one spring the trampoline will still function, and we shouldn’t let that one little spring wreck our whole faith.
While there are significant problems with Bell’s argument, even more perplexing is his choice to use the Virgin Birth as an example of said removable springs.
Dr. Mohler points to the Apostles’ Creed, formed in the fourth century and consistently affirmed throughout history, as being one united bridge to the Gospel of Jesus. To remove even one tension line, one supporting stanza is to lose the Gospel itself.
To Bell’s point, Dr. Mohler would say that to deny the virgin birth is the deny Jesus.
My personal two favorite chapters were “and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord” and “whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.”
And in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord
“Christians are defined by one primary mark: we believe in and are disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ” (p. 27).
Arguably, the greatest problem plaguing American churches today is a lack of genuine discipleship.
As I heard in a sermon recently by my friend Keoni Hughes, people want a Jesus that wants what they want. People want a Jesus that will bring them happiness. People want a Jesus that will bring them wealth. People want a Jesus that will bring them success and comfort.
People don’t want a Jesus that says, “any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33).
But Jesus said it. And meant it.
“We read the Gospels and selectively composite texts that create a Jesus who values what we value. We must confess our complete dependence upon the revelation of God in Scripture lest we preach some other Jesus, some other Christ” (p. 35).
I remember February 2009, sitting on my creaky wooden chair in the Moody Church sanctuary during Founders Week, listening to Francis Chan. He said something that has never left me.
“What if you just read the bible, believed Jesus’ words, and did what Jesus said?”
He paused for what felt like an eternity.
Finally, he continued, “would your life still look the same?”
Is it really that simple?
What most people don't realize, is the Jesus they do not think they want is the only one who can give them what they desperately seek.
“whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.”
“Perfect justice points to dual destinies – the sinful offender will receive exactly what is owed, and the offended Son of God will receive his glory. This judgment affirms the wrath of God, and if we flinch from speaking honestly about the wrath of God, then we can never speak honestly about the love of God” (p. 131).
Jesus is coming back.
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
Dr. Mohler argues persuasively that the church cannot grasp God’s deep love without wading into the dangerous precarious waters of his wrath.
Brokenness is a trending term today. Everyone is talking about being broken. And it is okay to be broken in the church because we are all broken.
But just saying we are broken doesn’t equal we are sinful! People need to know that they have offended the Holy and righteous God of the universe and waged war on him in their sin. And his judgment upon them, is that an offense against an eternal God deserves and eternal punishment.
And more importantly, Jesus is coming back!
I like Matt Chandler's way of addressing our sinfulness and pursuit of sanctification; "It's okay to not be okay—but it's not okay to stay there."
The future return of Jesus should ever be on our hearts, minds, and displayed in the actions of our hands.
Every chapter enters into wonderful thought provoking discourse on the core beliefs of the Christian faith. You will find each one engaging, intriguing, and convicting as you read through!
A Small Disagreement or Clarification
Whenever you disagree with Dr. Mohler, you should do a solid double take. Cause you are likely wrong.
There is one phrase, equaling less than .01% of the book, that I cannot overlook. Mostly, because it is concerning discipleship.
He says, "A. W. Tozer brilliantly summarizes the entirety of Christian discipleship when he said, "what comes into our minds when we think of God is the most important thing about us" (p. 3).
I love this quote by Tozer, and I completely agree with it. But I do not think it summarizes the entirety of Christian discipleship for several reasons.
Christian discipleship is not only a matter of the intellect.
Disciple involves the heart and hands as well. But even beyond that, discipleship cannot occur individually. Where one can think and ponder truths of God individually, discipleship requires interpersonal interaction for intentional life instruction.
Additionally, discipleship necessitates reproduction. This doesnt mean if you dont ever see a convert you were never a Christian. Rather, merely thinking and believing in God without proclaiming and living that belief is not true discipleship.
I believe Dr. Mohler would agree with this.
For he says later, “Anyone not bearing the fruit of the Spirit does not belong to Christ” (p. 145).
Yes, as you are probably thinking, I am hypersensitive to discipleship language. But I think that is what we need to help correct our discipleship problem in the modern Christian context.
Overall, I highly recommend Dr. Mohler’s exposition and explanation of the Apostles’ Creed! I have resolved to teach the creed to my two oldest girls this week, and it has produced wonderful gospel conversations and questions in their ever-growing minds! I hope this book does the same for you and your families as it has for mine!
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John Owen came from Welsh descent, was educated at Queens College, and became a renowned Puritan theologian, Oxford professor, and passionate pastor who lived from 1616 to 1683. In 1647, he wrote the exhaustive treatise The Death of Death defending Limited or Definite Atonement against the Arminian view of Universal Atonement or Unlimited Atonement.