Matt, you sure have it right.
 
I belong to a faithful, blood-trusting, Bible believing, evangelical reformed Covenant PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) Church.
 
While they are in most ways mostly evangelical some of the things they do inevitably reflect the cultural history of their Reformed Calvinist Presbyterian heritage.
 
One of these things is to recite the Apostle's Creed once a month.
 
And, like you, the inadequacy of the Apostles Creed has always been glaring to me (originating as it does in Orthodox Catholicism -- which we fought a century-long Reformation against!)
 
And my complaint over the Apostle's Creed is exactly what yours is -- many un-saved people can, and do,  wholeheartedly recite and believe the Aposltle's Creed.
 
The problem, as you say, is that the stumbling block of "the Blood of Christ Shed Once and For All as a Substitute for the Death Penalty we Deserve" is no where to be found in the Apostle's Creed.  And "Sola Fide" -- "By Faith in the Blood of Christ Alone" -- is what the Reformation was all about!
 
So, I have often fancied approaching our Elders to add the "Covenant Amendment to the Apostle's Creed" for our recitation -- and further fancied that they would persuade Reformed Presbyterianism at-large to adopt the "Covenant Amendment to the Apostle's Creed" -- (taking its place in history alongside the historic declarations of the faith!).
 
The Covenant Amendment to the Apostle's Creed would go something like this (inserted in the last paragraph of the Creed):
 
"I believe Salvation is by Grace, through Faith, in the Atoning Shed Blood of Christ alone, plus nothing."
 
(Atoning means "substitutionary".)
 
or maybe:
 
"I believe Salvation is by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in the Atoning Shed Blood of Christ alone, plus nothing."
 
There are an awful lot of people who believe the declarations in the Apostle's Creed but do not believe that Salvation is by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in the Atoning Shed Blood of Christ alone, plus nothing.
 
This amended declaration would draw the line and make the distinction -- and make me happier to recite the newly amended Apostle's Creed once a month.
 
Sincerely,
 
James Norman
Malabar, Florida
 
PS Hey, all you old-timers!  You probably recognize my name from occasional posts over the last 8 years.  And, if you recall, the issue that always draws me out of lurk-mode is "Saved by grace, by Faith, in the Shed Blood of Christ alone, plus nothing."  The issue comes up from time-to-time and that's when I join the discourse.