Apostles Creed, #28

The conclusion of 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 by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and buried; He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.

"Amen."

The Hebrew word "Amen" means "truly" or "so be it." As we conclude this ancient statement of faith, and consider how, through the Hebrew Scriptures, the people of God were prepared not only for the coming of the Messiah, but also for His death and resurrection, and His coming again and the reality of the Day of the Lord, it is right for us to affirm this faith as true. We greet these doctrines not only as those who know them with our minds, but as those who celebrate them with our hearts.

"So be it," we declare in the presence of God, His people, and an observing world. So be it. Come, Lord Jesus!

If you believe these things, pray to God, and tell Him so. Ask that He would come into your life, and move you according to the words of the Law and the prophets. Use His Psalms to sing praise to Him. Gather in the assembly of His church, the new temple of Jews and Gentiles who believe, the temple of the Holy Spirit. Worship Him with new resources of faith, hope, and love. Hear His message proclaimed, as the people heard so long ago on another day of great renewal, when Ezra the scribe read from the book of the Law, and the Lord's people received a true sense of the word of God. They were moved by the truth. They wept, and they rejoiced. And they said, "Amen."

And so we say, "Amen!" And now, from the closing words of the New Testament: "The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.... 20 He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen." (Revelation 22:17, 20-21)

Nehemiah 8:1-12 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved." 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.