Credo

Credo simply means "I Believe." Today (after being asked) I will discuss my fundamental beliefs. Ten years ago, in World Changers 180, I wrote my statement of believe. I, honestly, can't remember what I said, but I can promise you that the lack of depth was evident. My beliefs today are deeper, stronger and with more conviction than every before in my life.

Here is my Credo (in no specific order because it is Monday morning and my brain is not fully up for determining what is the most important)

God: I believe there to be one God. I believe him to be the creator of all things. He is infinite and therefore beyond my understanding. God exists before time, through time and after time in three persons-- Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Trinity- I believe fully in the trinity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that God is one substance and is equal in power. Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer are equal in glory and are one, yet they are three.

Salvation: I believe that salvation is only offered through the blood of Christ as the perfect sacrifice for my sins and the sins of the world. Good works are just that-- good works. They do not earn anyone a place in heaven; however, they can be seen as evidence of a belief that God has called us to build is kingdom.

Scripture: I believe that the canonized sixty-six books of the protestant Bible are the inspired Word of God. I believe those words to be divine, inerrant and infallible.

Sin- Created in the image of God, Adam and Eve were tempted. Through their disobedience, original sin, they brought the rest of creation a sentence of death. We are now born into sin and can only be saved by the grace of God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection.

Incarnation: Jesus Christ is the one true son of God. He is co-eternal with God and walked out of the glory of heaven to be born of the Virgin Mary. He is fully God and fully man united into one person. I believe that Christ lived a sinless life and died on the cross to be every person's substitute for the price of sin. I believe that He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. I believe that one the third day after his death he defeated hell and the grave. I believe that he resurrected, ascended and now sits at the right hand of God the father. I believe that he is making intercession for me and for all believers. I believe that he is coming again to judge the living and the dead. I believe that he has made a place for his own and will take us there.

Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Triune God. I believe that he is the Spirit of God living in us. The Holy Spirit applies the work of Christ to man. He is the comforter and the guide for life on earth.

Baptism: I believe that baptism is an outer sign of an inner conviction. However, I do believe that it is a measure of grace and can bring us into greater understanding of our redemption.

Communion: I believe communion to be like baptism, it is an outer sign of an inner conviction. I believe that we should take the bread and the cup with a heart and in a manner which is acceptable to God and in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice.

Of course, there are a lot more things that I believe but this is a good cursory view.