What Do You Believe?

This blog seeks to encourage people in the grace and truth of Christ, so as to know what to believe, and then to live out the true historic faith that has come through the ages.  It's been 20 centuries since Jesus lived, taught, died, and rose again from the grave.  Many billions of Christians have come to faith in that time, and there's one Creed that has lasted through the ages and has been more effective than any other.  This confession has been a great encouragement to my faith, and to many others as well.  

The Apostles' Creed was first developed by the Apostles and is a great confession.  It was informal and unofficial at first but it was Trinitarian, as it acknowledged the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and what each has done.  I've been greatly blessed by this creed because of its content, but also because we use to recite it every Lord's day, out loud, in worship, and it revived my drooping faith, it awakened my heart again to the unchanging and necessary focus on God Himself.  I highly recommend memorizing it and reciting it on a regular basis.  And I recommend reciting Scripture too.  

Here is the confession as it was given at Independent Presbyterian Church for many wonderful years.  It really was the bedrock of the sermons and the worship, and the faith we rejoiced in.  

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead; I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.  Amen.

We need to confess our faith!  And this begins with "I believe."  And then "in God."  We must confess that we believe in God first and foremost.  He is the object of our faith, in all his glory! 

I also believe the old English helps us to see the historical nature of the confession and our need for the historic biblical faith.  This creed began with the Apostles, and it summarizes our faith in every situation in life.  We can only know God in his grace and truth through Scripture.  And we can confess our faith in a historic creed.  But let's confess our faith, not our fears.  Christ is alive and well and He calls us to Him.  

FAITH TODAY:  Galatians 5:5-6, "For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love."