We are working our way through the Creed on Sunday mornings at Calvary Church – and last Sunday we dealt with the most controversial line in the Creed – “He descended to the dead.” What does this mean? We discussed the question at length on Sunday (see sermons-online on our website if you want to listen). After recieving a number of questions from last week's sermon, I want to clarify a few points. First, both scripture and tradition support the view that Christ descended to the place of the dead or the netherworld or “hell.” (The word has a range of meanings.) This view is found in Ephesians 4 and more explicitly I Peter 3. Notable persons who held this view include Augustine, Aquinas, and Luther – though they varied among themselves over the exact meaning of this expression.
Second, it is a common misunderstanding that his descent into hell or the place of the dead meant that Jesus suffered while in hell. Calvin believed this part of the Creed meant that Jesus suffered hell on the cross but that was as far as he was willing to go. Even the official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church does not view Jesus as suffering in hell for our sins.
Third, the word “hell” in the Creed raises another interesting question. Did Jesus go to a separate “compartment” in Paradise (the place of Abraham’s bosom) and release persons who were held there until after the crucifixion? Some, including the Roman Catholic Church, hold to this view. The primary problem is that it assumes that there was a separate compartment in hell, a view held by some in the church, but nowhere explicitly stated in scripture. In addition, the text says that “Jesus preached to the spirits now in prison.” There is no mention of releasing saints of old from a separate compartment.
So what do we do with this line in the Creed? I think Luther’s view is the closest to the text. (Calvin attempts to explain the text as figurative.) Let me cite his Small Catechism:
Q. 143: Why is Christ’s descent into hell part of his exaltation?
A. The Scriptures teach that Christ, after He was made alive in His grave, descended into hell, not to suffer punishment, but to proclaim His victory over the enemies of hell.
In other words, he went to give his victory speech. If we agree with Luther’s interpretation of Peter, Christ marched right into hell after his death and issued his proclamation that his death has won the victory over Evil. The days of the Evil Powers are numbered and the Kingdom of God will soon reign over all Evil.
So what is the application? Our hero has been to hell and back and has already proclaimed his coming victory over the Evil One. That was a message that the suffering Christians Peter is addressing needed to hear. That is a message I need to hear. Devil, your days are numbered.
If you don't agree with my (Luther's) view, don't worry - I don't think you are going to hell. But I do hope our study of the Creed has blessed (and challenged) you . . .
8 comments:
I have grown up in the church and found this topic new to me. I have never heard this yet found it intriguing. It sure makes me realize how Jesus did indeed go through everything that every person goes through.
In the church I grew up in, I had never heard of the creed. It was later as an adult when I attended the Luthern Church that I was first exposed to it. However it make sense to me. That our Lord marched triumphantly into hell to declare his victory over sin and death, and then left both behind at his resurrection. We are free from sin in Christ and we have no fear in death. Praise God.
It sure would be great to be able to hear the victory speech that Jesus gave! (Without being in hell of course) Maybe we can in a Hevenly history class!
I had always envisioned an battle between Jesus and the Enemy one on one.
i really enjoyed this sermon...i guess because it's not something we talk much about.
props, lionel. i HAVE enjoyed the credo series. :)
here's the link to all the audio sermons from this series, if anyone's interested:
http://www.calvaryweb.net
/mainsubpages/sermons.php
I incline more towards Calvin's view that the "hell" suffered by Christ was on the cross. Jesus experienced, for a time, that separation from God that makes hell the horrible place that it is. Hell is the final destination for those who have been judged and made to pay for their sins. We don't have evidence from Scripture that hell is yet inhabited by any human souls. All those who have died, in Christ or outside Christ, await judgment and determination of their eternal abode. We could, by way of explanation, consider the destiny of the men who died beside Jesus. Both of them were buried and await resurrection to be judged. One, presumably, will go to hell, and the other, according to Christ's promise, will be with Him in Paradise. Thus the modern day phraseology "he descended to the dead" is apt.
Brent, then what are we to make of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus? Lazarus died and was taken to Abraham's side, and the rich mam died and went to hell. Also, Jesus told the one criminal on the cross that, Today, you will be with me in paradise.
I thought the lake of fire was the final destination...where Satan and all that followed him will be cast after the final judgement. Until then, those lost in their sin are seperated from God in a real place and I'm sure that would be hell...figuratively and literally.
come on brent...tell us about your soul sleep theory. :)
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