Do you know what you believe?
This song inspired this post and reminded me of the things I believe.
I hope it blesses you.
After I listened I read John 4 about Jesus and the Woman at the Well.
The power of that passage is in the profound truth Jesus tells her.
It’s what God wants everyone to know.
When Jesus met the Samaritan ‘woman at the well’ He basically, but politely, told her she didn’t know what she worshipped.
Intrigued, she began asking Him questions and it was clear she wasn’t completely sure what she believed.
She knew what others had said, but Jesus spoke plainly to her and answered the big question about God: Who is God and what is He like?
She was hoping that the Messiah would tell her everything when He came. And He did.
He referred to God as the Father.
Of all the truth known about God, this gives us the greatest hope and comfort.
God wants to be our Father. He loves like a Father, forgives like a Father, and provides like a Father.
We are in His heart and on His mind continually.
Then Jesus told her the criteria for worshipping God: in spirit and in truth.
Worship is a spiritual act. It flows from our spirit in direct response to knowledge and awareness of God.
That’s where the truth part comes in. God has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ and through His word.
Your worship will reflect what you know and believe from those two sources.
If you’re a little unsure of what you believe, or what the Bible says, I want to give you two good sources.
Christians have been debating smaller issues for over 2000 years, but here you’ll find the basic beliefs of Protestant Christianity.
I’m not Catholic, but if you are I’m certain you can find plenty of information online, or the old fashioned way, ask your priest.
The first resource is from Chuck Swindoll. He’s a pastor, a past President of Dallas Theological Seminary, currently the Chancellor there, and in 1998 began a new church in Texas.
The second resource is from John MacArthur of Grace Community Church. There are three parts to this series. Find the links to parts 2 & 3 under Resources at the end of the Part 1.
http://www.insight.org/about/essential-beliefs.html
For centuries believers have recited The Nicene Creed. It’s the essentials in brief and worth committing to memory.
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.