Gavin says, "This is the third in a series of six sermons on The Catechism, with the first three being delivered today as an Annunciation Day trilogy. In this series of six sermons, the Anglican Short Catechism found in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer is the model catechism & thus the primary catechism considered, although some other Protestant catechisms that also use the same five great symbols of the Christian Faith, namely, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, Ten Commandments, & holy sacraments of Baptism and Communion, are also being referred to in a secondary way from time to time. … And this third sermon of today, … will now give a more detailed exposition of Article 4b of the Apostles' Creed, 'He descended into hell.' … Now lest I be misunderstood in these sermons on Articles 1 to 12 of The Apostles' Creed, let me say that I'm not suggesting that, for example, The Apostles' Creed in isolation is a gospel standard, rather, I'm saying that the 1662 Anglican Short Catechism is a Gospel standard, of which one component is, for example, The Apostles' Creed. And so what I am saying, is that, the five great symbols of the Christian faith, The Apostles' Creed, Ten Commandments, and Lord's Prayer, together with the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, as elucidated upon in connection with the other matters found in the immediate context of the Anglican Short Catechism, & as properly understood through reference to the theology in the wider context of the Anglican 1662 Book of Common Prayer & 39 Articles, are a gospel standard. And so … the Apostles' Creed is one element of a gospel standard that is succinctly summarized in the Anglican Short Catechism." |
