Believe in Jesus as the Gospels Present Him

Who is Jesus, really? Not the version shaped by culture, family tradition, or popular opinion, but the Jesus presented in the Gospels. That question sits at the heart of the Christian faith, and it is exactly what the Apostles' Creed was designed to answer.

What Is the Apostles' Creed and Why Does It Matter?

The Apostles' Creed has grassroots origins. It was likely connected to early baptismal confessions, used to distinguish those genuinely following Jesus from those drifting toward trendy ideologies that pulled people away from the Gospel.

It is structured around three questions: Do you believe in God the Father? Do you believe in God the Son? Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit? The longest section by far is devoted to Jesus, which tells us something important about where the early church placed its focus.

What Does the Creed Say About Jesus?

The Creed presents Jesus as the unique, eternal Son of God who took on full human flesh and nature. He was fully God and fully human. Both of those truths matter deeply.

What Does "Only Begotten Son" Actually Mean?

The phrase "only begotten" comes from the Greek word monogenes. It does not necessarily mean Jesus was sired in the heavenly realms at some point in time. It more likely means unique in an absolute sense, one of a kind, unrepeatable.

A helpful example comes from Hebrews 11, where Isaac is called Abraham's monogenes child, even though Abraham had other children. Isaac was the unique, set-apart one. That is the sense in which Jesus is the only Son of God. He is not a created being who came into existence at some point. He is the eternal Son who always was.

Why Does the Creed Mention the Virgin Mary and Pontius Pilate?

The Creed says Jesus was "conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary." This is not primarily elevating Mary's status. It is anchoring Jesus's humanity in real history. He had a genuine human origin, a real human nature, real human flesh.

Similarly, mentioning Pontius Pilate is not a statement about Pilate's importance. It locates Jesus's suffering and death in a specific historical moment. He suffered under a real Roman governor, in a real place, at a real time.

Why Did Jesus Die? Three Overlapping Causes

The Gospels describe three concurrent causes for Jesus's death, and the Creed touches on all of them.

Human injustice. Jesus was treated unjustly by Pilate, Herod, the Sanhedrin, and Roman soldiers. His death was a profound act of human wrongdoing.
Jesus's own willing choice. Jesus was not surprised by His death. He predicted it, taught its importance, and chose it. As He said, a good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He laid His life down for us.
The plan of God revealed in Scripture. Isaiah 53 makes clear this was always the plan. "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter." The New Testament writers consistently connect Jesus's death to what God had revealed long before it happened.

All three of these converged at the cross. It was injustice done to Him, a life freely laid down for us, and the will of God fulfilled in history.

What Does "He Descended Into Hell" Mean?

This is the phrase in the Creed that raises the most questions. There are three possible explanations, and honest theologians have disagreed on this for centuries.

He endured hell on the cross for us. John Calvin held this view, arguing that Jesus took on the full wrath of God as our substitute. In this reading, the descent into hell describes what Jesus experienced during the crucifixion itself.
He descended as a liberator. This view pictures Jesus entering the realm of the dead and releasing those who had been waiting. Revelation 1 records the risen Christ saying, "I have the keys of death and of Hades," which could support this idea.
He descended as a conqueror. Drawing from 1 Peter 3, this view suggests Jesus went to declare victory over imprisoned spiritual forces, announcing that He had won and they had no chance.

All three are viable readings. When you recite the Creed, your heart can rest in whichever of these best reflects what Scripture leads you to believe.

What Happened After Jesus Died?

The Resurrection

On the third day, He rose from the dead. Jesus Himself predicted this. On the day of Pentecost, Peter quoted Psalm 16 as evidence that the resurrection was always part of God's plan. "You will not abandon my soul to Sheol... you will make known to me the path of life." This was not an accident or a surprise. It was the plan all along.

The Ascension and the Reign of Christ

Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus Himself pointed to Psalm 110 to explain this: "The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool." He also quoted Daniel 7 during His own trial, describing the Son of Man coming with clouds to receive authority over all the kingdoms of the earth.

He is not absent. He is reigning.

He Will Come Again to Judge

When Jesus ascended, angels told the disciples that the same Jesus they saw go up would come back the same way. In Matthew 25, Jesus described all nations being gathered before Him, with some entering eternal life and others facing eternal judgment. The Creed does not spell out the criteria for that judgment, but Jesus did. And that brings us to the most important part.

What Does It Actually Mean to Believe in Jesus?

In Luke 6, Jesus asks a pointed question: "Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and don't do what I tell you?" He goes on to describe two builders. One digs deep and builds on rock. When the flood comes, the house stands. The other builds without a foundation. When the flood comes, the house collapses completely.

The difference between them is not what they believed about Jesus. It is whether they did what He said.

Jesus did not come just to give you truths to believe. He came to give you a life to follow. Believing in Jesus as the Gospels present Him means more than reciting a creed. It means becoming like Him.

How Do You Become More Like Jesus?

Jesus said that a disciple, when fully trained, will be like the teacher. That is the goal. Here is how to move toward it.

Take responsibility for your own growth. No one else can do this for you. Progress is possible, but it requires intentional effort.
Control what you can. You cannot control everything, but you can control what you put in front of your face, where you invest your time, and what has your attention. Over time, those choices shape what matters most to you.
Apply Scripture honestly and consistently. Believing in Jesus is not a one-time event that you move on from. It is an ongoing commitment to follow. Jesus said the good person produces good out of the good treasure of the heart. What you put into your heart matters.

Three Questions Worth Sitting With

When it comes to Scripture shaping your life, three questions are worth asking regularly.

Do you understand the big picture of what the Gospel says about Jesus?
Do you actually want what Jesus offers?
What is your next step?

Belief without action is not the kind of belief Jesus called people to. He called people to follow.

Life Application

This week, identify one specific area of your life where you are calling Jesus "Lord" but not doing what He says. It might be a relationship, a habit, a pattern of thought, or a place where you have been hearing the Word but not acting on it. Choose one concrete step you can take this week to align that area of your life with what Jesus actually taught.

Ask yourself these questions as you reflect:

Is the Jesus I follow the Jesus of the Gospels, or have I shaped Him into something more comfortable?
Where in my life am I building without a foundation, hearing but not doing?
What am I putting into my heart each day, and is it making me more like Jesus or less?
If someone watched how I live this week, would they see evidence that I believe Jesus is Lord?

The Apostles' Creed is not just a statement to recite. It is a foundation to build on. And the only way to build on it is to do what Jesus says.