Ever wondered what we’re really saying when we confess in the Apostles’ Creed, ‘He descended to the dead’? In this episode of A Matter of Truth, Anthony and co-host Alex tackle one of the most misunderstood lines in the Creed from a Reformed Baptist and confessional Lutheran perspective.

We cut through the myths, medieval legends, and modern distortions—Roman Catholic Harrowing of Hell, Eastern dramatic imagery, progressive metaphors, Mormon second chances, and more—and return straight to Scripture. Jesus really died. His soul truly entered the realm of the dead. Yet the atonement was finished on the cross—nothing extra needed. The descent is not more suffering; it is the bold announcement of victory over sin, death, and the powers of darkness.

We unpack the hypostatic union, the biblical geography of Sheol/Hades vs. Gehenna, key passages like 1 Peter 3, Acts 2, Ephesians 4, and the real pastoral comfort this brings when facing grief and death. Christ has gone before us, holds the keys, and because He lives, we will live too.

If you’ve ever recited the Creed and wondered what it actually means, or if you’re searching for clear biblical hope in a confusing world, this episode is for you.

Stand firm on the Word. Rest in the finished work of Christ.

Resources:

"He Descended to the Dead": An Evangelical Theology of Holy Saturday

https://www.okbu.edu/directory/matthew-emerson

John MacArthur: DID JESUS VISIT HELL?

https://thebookofconcord.org/introductory-materials/historical-introductions/controversy-over-christs-descent-into-hell/

https://www.gty.org/sermons/80-376/the-truth-about-hell

https://www.lutheranlibrary.org/b22-christs-descent-into-hell/

#ApostlesCreed #HeDescendedToTheDead #ReformedBaptist #ConfessionalLutheran #SolaScriptura #ChristVictory #FinishedWorkOfChrist #BiblicalTheology #ChristianPodcast #GospelHope #TheologyPodcast #ReformedTheology #LutheranTheology #DeathAndResurrection #ChristianHope #heisrisen #easter #goodnews #newstoday

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Gospel of “Don’t judge me.” It is the ultimate conversation-stopper. In a culture that equates tolerance with affirmation, Matthew 7:1 has been hijacked and weaponized to silence truth and normalize sin. But did Jesus really command us to turn a blind eye to wickedness?

In this episode of A Matter of Truth, we’re stripping away the modern layers of the "Judge Not" narrative to find the heart of Christ’s command. We explore the critical distinction between hypocritical condemnation and righteous discernment, looking at a consistent standard from the Old Testament to the Church Fathers that has often been traded for cultural comfort.

As we open this conversation, we’ll take a high-level look at these themes, not as an exhaustive study, but as a starting point for reclaiming biblical clarity.

Join us as we discuss:

• The Plank and the Speck: Why Christ calls for rigorous self-examination as the necessary foundation for helping others navigate their own struggles.

• The Cost of "Niceness": Examining how a modern emphasis on social pleasantries can unintentionally create a barrier to genuine repentance and growth.

• Spheres of Accountability: Understanding why the Bible holds those within the Church to a different standard of conduct than the world outside.

• The Ministry of Restoration: How speaking truth with a heart of love serves as the highest form of Christian charity and communal care.

It’s time to stop using the Bible as a shield for sin and start using it as a lamp for holiness. Is it "judgmental" to call sin what God calls it? Let’s find out.

#BibleStudy #TheologyMatters #ChristianPodcast #ScriptureAlone #GospelTruth #Apologetics #Discernment #ExpositoryPreaching #BiblicalWorldview #ChurchHistory #SoundDoctrine #Truth #Jesus #Faith #ChristianLiving #JudgeNot #Repentance #AMatterOfTruth

Follow us on:

https://www.instagram.com/amatteroftruth/

https://www.instagram.com/speak.gospel.truth/

https://www.instagram.com/apzenk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us in this eye-opening episode as we put one of Christianity’s oldest confessions under the microscope of Scripture. The Apostles’ Creed is recited in churches worldwide, but is it truly apostolic—or a later church creation?

We dive deep into:

• The real historical origins (spoiler: not written by the Twelve Apostles!)

• How it lines up (or doesn’t) with the Bible’s core teachings

• Why the early church needed this summary amid heresies and confusion

• Its primary role in baptism vs. broader uses in teaching and worship

• Whether creeds still matter today in a world of relativism and doctrinal drift

We also discuss infant vs. believer’s baptism perspectives, the covenantal promises to households (Acts 16:31), and how the Creed points us back to the “faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3)—while remembering Scripture alone is our ultimate authority.

If you’ve ever wondered whether the Apostles’ Creed holds up biblically, this episode is for you. Listen, test everything against the Word, and contend for the faith!

#ChristianPodcast

#BiblePodcast

#FaithPodcast

#GospelTruth

#BiblicalTruth

#Christianity

#JesusPodcast

#Scripture

#FaithOnceDelivered

#SolaScriptura

#IsThisBiblical

#apostlescreed

#creeds

#amatteroftruth

Mentioned References:

https://www.gty.org/blogs/B151109/is-the-apostles-creed-all-i-need-to-believe

https://www.crcna.org/welcome/beliefs/creeds/apostles-creed

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.