Dear Cornerstone Family,
Last week we heard from Pastor Sebastian about the first section of the Apostle’s Creed, concerning God the Father. Today we move into the second section of the creed to consider the life and death of Jesus Christ.
One line from this section —“He descended into hell”— merits special comment. In modern times this clause has been subject to challenge and debate, with some—even some Reformed theologians—arguing that it is unbiblical and should be removed from the creed. Indeed, a surface reading of this clause can cause confusion; perhaps you have wondered about it yourself.
Historically, Christians have understood it differently. Some believe Christ literally descended to hell to rescue Old Testament saints, to suffer further for sins, to offer the dead a second chance to believe the gospel and be saved. Others believe that Christ literally descended to hell to break the power of hell and Satan.
But these views lack biblical basis. Scripture does not teach a literal descent of Christ to hell. Jesus said to the thief on the cross, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Christ’s body was in the tomb, yes, but his spirit was in heaven. Likewise, Scripture does not lead us to expect a second chance of salvation after death. (Hebrews 9:27). And Christ suffered once for sins on the cross, after which he said, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
The Reformed churches have viewed Christ’s descent in two ways. The Westminster Larger Catechism teaches that “Christ’s humiliation after his death consisted in his being buried; and continuing in the state of the dead and under the power of death till the third day, which hath been otherwise expressed in these words, He descended into hell” (Q. 50). The descent here serves as a metaphor meaning that Christ really died, was buried, and remained for a time in the place of the dead, Sheol in the Old Testament idiom (Psalm 16:10), Hades in New Testament language (Acts 2:27).
The other major Reformed view was taught by John Calvin and expressed in the Heidelberg Catechism. Calvin writes that the creed “speaks of that invisible and incomprehensible judgment which he underwent in the sight of God.” Jesus suffered “in his soul the terrible torments of a condemned and forsaken man.” In both body and soul, Christ suffered in our place, receiving the just punishment due to us for sin. He was forsaken (Matthew 27:46), smitten by God, because the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:4, 6).
These two views are not mutually exclusive, but together express the Scripture’s teaching. They encourage and assure believers that Christ has fully atoned for sin. He has saved us to the uttermost. In the words of the Heidelberg Catechism, the creed “assures me during attacks of deepest dread and temptation that Christ my Lord, by suffering unspeakable anguish, pain, and terror of soul, on the cross but also earlier, has delivered me from hellish anguish and torment” (Q. 44).
Your Servant,
Drew Abercrombie