Today we will continue looking at the Apostles’ Creed: 

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe 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 was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again 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.

Today we’ll look at the last part of the Creed that specifically relates to Jesus – His return to judge. I grew up saying “the quick” and the dead; the phrase quick is just another word for the living. This passage tells us two important truths.

First, Jesus will return. He will return and make all things right. One day, sin, death, and the grave will be forever destroyed. We know that Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father and He is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, now. It is not that one day He will be King. He is King now.

But right now, sin is still at work on the earth. Evil is still present. One day He will return, and all that will be done. The devil has his final judgment, and all will be restored as God intended it. One day, all will be made right as God desired. Jesus will return and restore all things.

Second, we see that He will judge the living (those who are alive at His return) and the dead (those who have died). Now notice, there isn’t anything here about all the things that get so confused about with the Second Coming, dates and details and things such as that. All we see here is this, He will return. And He will judge.

So, yes, we will all stand before the judgment seat. We will give an account. But what is the judgment? Do we know Jesus, or do we not? That’s the judgment. That is what we read in John 3; this is the judgment, light has come, and men loved darkness more than light. Where do we stand with Jesus? That’s the judgment. Do we know Him?

Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess. But do we know Him, or do we not? That’s the judgment.

And the Bible (and the Creed) tell us that judgment is coming.

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