The Rule of Faith
The early followers of Jesus developed a summary of essential beliefs that were taught by the apostles. New believers would memorize these truths.
Here is the summary*:
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, and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
[from there] he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian*** church, the communion
of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life
everlasting. Amen.
*This summary, The Rule of Faith, is also known by its more common name, The Apostles' Creed. This summary is written in the Ecumenical Version. (The Roman Catholic version and the version in Martin Luther's Small Catechism have slightly different wording).
**This phrase is also translated, he descended into hell. The phrase was not in the oldest copy of the creed.
***This phrase is also translated the holy catholic church with a small "c," meaning "universal."
Scripture Verses for the Rule of Faith
I believe in God, the Father Almighty: "...the Lord Almighty, has this to say: 'I am the first, the Last, the only God; there is no other god but me.'" Isaiah 44:6 (TEV)
...Creator of heaven and earth:
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1 (KJV) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." John 1:1-3 (NKJV)
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son:
"...[Jesus] said to him, 'Do you believe in the Son of God?' He answered and said, 'Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?' And Jesus said to him, 'You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.' And he said,'Lord, I believe!' And he worshiped Him.'" John 9:35-38 (NKJV)
...our Lord:
"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11 (NKJV)
...who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary:
"The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God's power will rest upon you. For this reason the holy child will be called the Son of God.'" Luke 1:35 (TEV)
...suffered under Pontius Pilate:
"So Pilate passed the sentence on Jesus that they were asking for. He set free the man they wanted...and he handed Jesus over for them to do as they wished." Luke 23:24-25 (TEV)
...was crucified, died, and was buried:
"I passed on to you what I received, which is of the greatest importance: that Christ died for our sins, as written in the Scriptures; that he was buried and that he was raised to life three days later, as written in the Scriptures;" I Corinthians 15:3-4 (TEV)
...he descended to the dead:
"...He went and preached to the spirits in prison." I Peter 3:19 (NKJV) This phrase is also translated He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again:
"...he was raised to life three days later, as written in the Scriptures;" I Corinthians 15:4 (TEV)
...he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father:
"As he was blessing them, he departed from them and was taken up into heaven." Luke 24:51 (TEV)
...[from there He] will come again to judge the living and the dead:
"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom;" 2 Timothy 4:1 (NKJV) "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son," John 5:22 (NKJV)
I believe in the Holy Spirit:
"The Helper will come -- the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God and who comes from the Father, I will send him to you from the Father, and he will speak about me." John 15:26 (TEV)
...the holy [Christian] church:
"For you are all sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's see, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:26-29 (NKJV) This phrase is also translated the holy catholic church.
...the communion of saints:
"Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer." Hebrews 10:25 (TEV)
...the forgiveness of sins:
"I will forgive their sins and will no longer remember their wrongs." Hebrew 8:12 (TEV) "And He said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.'" Luke 7:48 (NKJV)
...the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
"I give them [my sheep] eternal life, and they shall never die. No one can snatch them away from me." John 10:28 (TEV) "For the Lord Himself will descent from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." I Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NKJV)