I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 1 Corinthians 15: 50
As the pastor led his congregation in the recitation of the Apostles’ Creed, which begins with the words “I believe...” one man mumbled, “I used to believe...” and continued to say his adapted version of the creed recited by Christians for centuries.
Needed today is an understanding of what you believe and why you believe it. “But that’s a matter for the church to decide – not for me as an ordinary person,” some reason. “Okay,” going one step further, “do you know what the Church believes, your own church?” Probably not.
Many Christians today are searching, striving to formulate a belief system. Interested in taking a challenge? Sit down, take your Bible and a blank sheet of paper and write at the top of the page, “I believe.” Then list what you believe and, if you can, include the Scripture reference where your belief is substantiated. Yours may be a short list, but at least it will be a beginning. One of the earliest statements of belief was written by Paul who said, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. He was buried, and He rose again the third day.”
Ours today is a world that is hostile to the Christian faith, but when you affirm “I believe,” you are driving an immovable stake into the ground. When you finish the statement “I believe,” you are embarking on the life of faith that will take you beyond the empty, unbelieving secularism of our day. Knowing what you believe can well keep you from saying “I used to believe...”
Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love towards me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave. Psalm 86: 8-13