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Introduction to the Creed God shows us in the Law what He requires of us so we would make an honest assessment of ourselves. Our failure to keep the commandments shows us that we do not dread displeasing God more that we dread displeasing others. It reveals that we do not love and trust God more than we love and trust people and things. We create substitute gods. That is, the things and people we love often take God’s place in our hearts. The Law reveals that we are all sinners in need of a Savior, but we have a tendency to think the situation is not that serious. Therefore, more Law is often necessary, especially with religious people for they imagine that they deserve good things from God because they have done a pretty good job of keeping the Law, certainly better than most. The Law show us the way things really are -- we have earned God’s wrath and punishment. The Law, therefore, cannot be a tool that we use to gain God’s favor. Instead of leading us closer to God, it reveals that we are far away from Him. Our situation is hopeless unless God does something about it. Fortunately, He has come near to us and rescued us in Jesus Christ. What He desires is that we learn about Christ and return to Him through the open door that Christ has created. Because of Christ, God does not give us what we deserve. Instead He is patient and kind. And when we come to our senses and return to Him, He welcomes us back. Indeed, He is overjoyed at our return (Luke 15). The main reason God has given us the Ten Commandments is to lead us to see our need for Christ, but this is not its only purpose. When we become Christians, we need to watch out that we do not invent our own good works. The Law points us in the right direction by giving us God’s instructions on what is pleasing to Him. However, even after we become Christians, the demands and threats of the Law are not able to produce anything that is truly pleasing to God. Demands and threats can produce action, but such action is motivated by self-interest. If you do what is right to get a reward or to avoid punishment, your action is not good in God’s sight. God expects us to act out of love for Him and others, not love for ourselves. Let’s say you were on a trip and your car broke down. A passing motorist stopped and took out a map. He showed you where you were and how to get to your destination, but then he left. This would not be very helpful since your car does not work. You would never reach your destination. In a similar way, the Law, which is like a road map, does not enable a person to reach the goals God sets before us. It is the wrong tool for the job for it cannot strengthen and renew us. God’s Law is limited in what it can do for two reasons. First, whether you have never set foot in a church or have faithfully attended for many years, the Law will never stop pointing an accusing finger at you. Therefore, comfort and hope cannot come from the Law. Secondly, the Law points us in the right direction, but that is all it can do. It does not give the strength to walk along the right path. Therefore, we must now move on and study the Creed. The Creed is very different from the commandments. It shows us what God gives to us, not what we are to give to Him. It shows what He does for us, not what He expects of us. If we are to keep the commandments, we must know and believe what the Creed teaches. God’s love and His promises is what enables us to follow the commandments. Because of Christ, our Savior, we are confident that the commandments are for our good. We trust that God will keep His promises to us; therefore, we treasure the agents and instruments He has given to us. We treasure His name, His word, parents, life, spouse, property, and reputation. We treasure these gifts even when they seem weak or inadequate, and we patiently wait for our Lord to bless us through these agents and instruments when they are imperfect. This confidence and patience comes not from the Law, but from the Gospel. We learn this from the Creed, which teaches us about God’s goodness and generosity. |
