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Bible Study The Creed
Session 8 – 17 th September 2025
I believe in the holy catholic church, the communion of saints
Opening prayer
Lord we thank you for the privilege of being your church, thank you that your church is the community in which the Holy Spirit lives and for whom Christ died. Help us today Lord to recognise the responsibilities of living as the church, help us to understand from Your word in Ephesians what the church truly is and what its ministry and mission should be. We pray in Jesus mighty and powerful name - AMEN
‘holy’ is also translated ‘saints’ - all God’s people are called saints and we all have a role to play –
serving God and building up His church
‘catholic’ does not mean Roman Catholic – it means the universal church – everyone who believes
- the church is set apart for Christ, sanctified by the Holy Spirit
‘communion’ here does not mean the Lord’s supper – it means community or fellowship, united communities of love and care
I wonder – should we perhaps re-write the Creed in meaningful language!!!
The word we study today will be from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians which he wrote while he was in prison. Paul's letter was likely passed from church to church, city to city, as was the custom of the time.
The purpose of the letter to the Ephesians was to encourage unity in the early church. Paul counsels the people of Ephesus not to be divided by their former statuses as Gentiles or Jews.
What unites the church, Paul points out, is their shared commitment to the cause of Christ, also reflected in the words of the grace we say each week
Read Ephesians 1:1-8
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us.
Chapter 1 opens with a beautiful, Jewish-style poem, in which Paul praises God the Father for the amazing things that he’s done through Christ Jesus. From eternity past, the Father planned to choose and bless a covenant people, which started with Abraham’s family in Genesis 12:1-3.
Through Jesus, anyone can now be adopted into that family. His death covers our worst sins and failures, and in him, we can find God’s grace. In fact, that grace has opened up a whole new way to understand life and our entire world
Q.1.a. So what does it mean to say the church is a holy community?
They are called saints – holy ones v1
They were chosen by God to be holy v4
The church is the community of people who have had their sins forgiven v7
Q.1.b. How can the church be a holy community if Christians are not perfect?
God regards us as holy because our sins are forgiven. We are holy in God’s sight because he sees us “in Christ.”. One day we will be truly holy and blameless before Him – our holiness before God is NOT our achievements, but Gods gracious work!
Read Ephesians 1:18-23
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Q.2. What has God the Father done for Christ and for what purpose?
He raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority v20
God has given all authority to Christ – to guide, protect and bless His people
He is the head of everything for the church v22
His body is His people
Q.3. How do you generally think and feel about church on Sunday mornings? What shapes your attitude?
The church is not simply a convenient group for Christians to meet – or it shouldn’t be!
It is at the centre of God’s eternal plan
God promises to save people who would be His people – made holy and adopted into His family v1-4
Read Ephesians 2:11-22
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called k the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember l that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might w reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, 4 but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
The words of the worship song Cornerstone just speak so much – link in and listen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiFBzVDVgf4&list=RDSiFBzVDVgf4&start_radio=1
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name
[Chorus]
Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Saviour's love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all
When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
My anchor holds within the veil
[Chorus]
Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Saviour's love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all
Q.4. What has the blood of Christ done – verses 12-13 and 16
Made it possible for people from all nations to become part of Gods people – to enjoy the promises and blessings that were previously only for Israel
By reconciling people of all nations to God, Christ has reconciled us to one another
Q. 5 What is it that unites everyone who is in Christ?
Membership of the church is based entirely on what God has done – nothing that we are, or what we can do, makes us different or superior. We are all equal members of Christs church, we all have access to the Father through the Son by the Spirit
Read Ephesians 4:1-6 - Unity in the Body of Christ
4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Q’s. If this is how we should live, what stops us from doing so and what antidote is found in these verses?
Antidote – to see the church as one body – to prioritise the things that bind us together – the Spirit, the Lord, our faith, our hopes, our needs, God’s needs of us and God’s will
What stops us from being humble – or gentle and patient with others?
Do we go to church to benefit ourselves and have a good time? Does this help us to keep in unity with people who are very different to ourselves?
Let’s say together a closing Prayer from Ephesians 4:25 – 5:2` and make Pauls prayer our own, asking God to help us grow together as a fellowship of saints.
Lord, help us to put off falsehood and speak truthfully to our neighbour, for we are all members of one body. ‘In our anger do not sin’: do not let the sun go down while we are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom we were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Help us to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave us.
Help us to follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
In Jesus mighty name we pray, Amen
This is the link to the Creed we sang at Songs of Praise and are going to sing together at some point in the future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVyUiqvbmBw
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