When Adam and Eve chose not to obey God, they ceased to be what they were made to be and became distorted images of God. This caused them to fall out of fellowship with God, and fractured all of creation ever since that time.  Yet, even in their disobedience God never gave up on them.  God still provided and still loved, as He does for you and me.  Our "falls" are never to deep for God to pull us up and out.  Reach out to Him today!

Jesus Christ came to reconcile us with God. He lived a life without sin and willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for our transgressions. God raised him from the dead and now, by grace, offers as a free gift eternal life to all who follow Christ, by faith, as their Lord and Savior. That is why salvation can be found in Christ alone.  Jesus wants you to know Him, and puts no barriers between you and a new life.  No matter who you are or what you have done, Jesus loves you!

The Church is meant to be the visible body of Christ, sent into the world to glorify God and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We know, however, that the current Church has changed that message of love into a message of judgement and hypocrisy.  Overcome wants to change that by bringing the real life-giving message of grace and forgiveness.  The world needs to know Jesus, and the church with that biblical message of mercy and grace in its hands can change the world!

Jesus wants a real relationship with you.  One that gives life.  One hour on Sunday will never establish one.  Instead, our walk with Jesus is throughout the entire week.  At Overcome we believe we must be intentional about that walk, and we are here to help you discover that today.

Origins and Purpose
The Apostles’ Creed is a concise summary of core Christian beliefs. It emerged during a time when the early Church needed a clear way to teach new believers, combat heresy, and unify the growing Christian community.

• Its original function was as a baptismal confession of faith used in the Church at Rome during the 2nd century A.D.
• Early Christians were baptized after publicly professing their faith, often with a series of questions resembling the Creed.

Who Wrote It?

• The exact author is unknown, and the apostles themselves did not write it directly.
• The name "Apostles’ Creed" reflects the content of the apostles' teachings, not their authorship.
• Church Fathers such as Irenaeus (c. 180 A.D.) and Tertullian (c. 200 A.D.) quoted or paraphrased parts of the Creed’s teachings in their writings, showing its early influence.
• By the 4th century, creeds were also being used to defend against heresies like Gnosticism and Arianism, which denied key doctrines such as the incarnation or the divinity of Christ.

Why Was It Written?

1. To clarify essential Christian beliefs in a time of doctrinal confusion and false teaching.
2. To prepare new believers for baptism and entrance into the Church.
3. To unify the Church across different regions with a shared confession of faith.
4. To preserve apostolic doctrine during a time when the New Testament canon was still being recognized and formalized.
   

Development into the Modern Form

• The Creed evolved gradually over time.
• The full version of the Apostles’ Creed as we know it today likely took shape by the 8th century in Western Europe, especially under the influence of Charlemagne and efforts to standardize Christian doctrine across the Frankish empire.
• It was used especially in the Latin Church (Western Christianity), while the Eastern Church used the Nicene Creed more prominently.

Summary

The Apostles’ Creed was developed by early Church leaders—not the apostles themselves—as a baptismal confession and doctrinal safeguard. It reflects the heart of apostolic teaching, ensuring that Christians across generations would be grounded in the essential truths of the faith.

In the Apostles’ Creed, the phrase “the holy catholic Church” can be confusing or misunderstood, especially by those who associate the word “catholic” exclusively with the Roman Catholic Church. However, in the context of the Apostles’ Creed, the meaning is broader and more rooted in the early Christian understanding of the universal church.

What It Means

1. “Holy”

• Set apart by God — The Church is holy not because its members are perfect, but because it has been set apart by God for His purposes (see 1 Peter 2:9).
• The Church is made holy through Christ’s righteousness, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the call to be sanctified in this world (Ephesians 5:25–27).

2. “Catholic”

• This word is a greek word that means “universal” — not a reference to the Roman Catholic denomination, but to the entire body of Christ throughout history and across the world.
• It expresses belief in the unity of all believers in Jesus Christ, regardless of denomination, culture, or geography (Ephesians 4:4–6).

Historical Note: The word “catholic” has been used since at least the 2nd century (see Ignatius of Antioch) to mean “universal” in regard to the global Church.

3. “Church”

• The people of God, called out from the world to follow Christ (Greek: ekklesia – "called out ones").
• Refers not to a building, but to the community of believers (Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:18).
• Christ is the head of the Church, and we are His body.

Connected Phrase: “The Communion of Saints”
This further clarifies that the Church includes all believers — those alive now and those who have gone before — all united in Christ. It expresses the spiritual unity of the Church across time and space.

Supporting Scriptures:

• Matthew 16:18 – "On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
• 1 Corinthians 12:12–13 – “The body is a unit... so it is with Christ.”
• Ephesians 4:4–6 – “There is one body and one Spirit... one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
• Hebrews 12:1 – “We are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses…” (those who have gone before).