2 Thessalonians 2:15 “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught
by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter”.
To prevent children from going with strangers, many parents teach their children a password. If
someone approaches without mentioning the password, the children know that person was not sent by
their parents. Only when they hear the password can they trust the individual.
Paul, writing to the Thessalonians, was aware that many false teachers attempted to persuade believers
to disregard gospel truth. For this reason, he encouraged the believers to stand firm in the traditions
they had learned from him and the apostles. At that time, the Christian faith was still in its primacy, and
believers did not have a Bible like we do today. Yet, the same principle applies to Christians today. Many
people are being deceived by churches that claim to follow Christ but do not truly reflect Christ. It is
challenging to discern these false teachings unless you have a “password” to confirm their authenticity
as coming from God.
Thankfully, God providentially raised up early Christians who opposed heretical teachings and preserved
the truth of the Christian faith. As a result, we now have a way to discern true faith from falsehood.
Anyone who deviates from these foundational truths does not reflect the historical and biblical beliefs
upheld by genuine followers of Christ. This foundation, passed down from the Apostles, is encapsulated
in the Apostles’ Creed.
The Apostles’ Creed is not, and will never be, higher than the Bible. However, it reflects the essential
teachings of the Bible. While it was not written by the Apostles themselves, it developed as a baptismal
profession of faith that summarizes core Christian beliefs. Reciting it reveals the distinctiveness of the
Christian faith from other faith and unites all genuine Christians across the world. (We will discuss each
line of the Creed in the following articles.)
What we can take away from this is the reality that in God’s providence, He has provided a helpful guide
that celebrates the true Christian faith. As we journey life and encounter various beliefs, let us
remember that God has given us His Word, His people who established sound Christian doctrine, and His
assurance through the Holy Spirit. With this guidance, we can live confidently, knowing that His eyes are
always on us to keep us safe. He is our Father who would always faithfully look after His children.
