I Believe

One of the greatest honors and pleasures of my life is to be a writer here at Triablogue. I'm aware of the reputation that Steve and some of the other writers have built over the years, and I'm amazed that I'm a part of this crew.

As a blogger here, I have many opportunities to search the archives, which I do on occasion, and I found this piece from Steve Hays in August 2004, written within the first couple of months of the start-up of Triablogue. I'm reposting it here because it's an excellent reminder of why we do what we do:

Credo
1. I believe in one God, infinite in wisdom and power, and high above time and space, futurity or fortuity, yet near to the humble of heart.

Exod 20:3; Deut 6:4; 32:17,21,39; Ps 106:37; Isa 41:29; 44:6; 45:5-6
1 Sam 23:11-12; 2 Kgs 13:19; Ps 94:7-9; 139:1-4; 147:4-5; Isa 29:15-16; 42:9; 44:6-7; 46:10; Jer 23:23-24; 38:17-20; Mt 11:21,23; Rom 11:33-34
Ps 33:6-20; 115:3; Isa 14:27; 43:13; 55:11; Jer 32:17; Eph 3:20; Rev 1:8
Num 23:19; 1 Sam 15:29; Ps 90:1-4; 102:25-27; Jas 1:17
2 Chron 6:18; Ps 139:7-10; Isa 31:3; Jn 1:18; 4:24; Rom 1:20; Col 1:15; 1 Tim 1:17; 6:16
Ps 33:10-11; Isa 40:12-31; 43:10b; 46:5,9; Jn 1:1; 17:5,24; Acts 17:24-25
Ps 34:18; 85:9.

2. I believe that God eternally subsists in an inner symmetry of Father, Son and Spirit. I believe in God the Father, who freely foreordained the salvation of elect, and damnation the reprobate; I believe in his eternal Son, who has revealed the Father, and redeemed the elect; I believe in the Spirit of God, who renews and preserves the elect, and inspires the Scriptures.

Mt 3:16-17; 28:19; Jn 14:16,26; 15:26; 1 Cor 12:4-6; 2 Cor 13:14
Rom 9-11; Eph 1; 1 Pet 2:9
Jn 9:39; 12:37-41; Rom 9:17-18,21-22; 1 Pet 2:7b-8
Jn 1:18; Col 1:15
Jn 6:37-39; 10:11,14-15,26; 11:52; 13:1; 15:13; 17:2,6-7,9,24; Heb 9:15; 10:14
Jn 3:3-8; Tit 3:5.
2 Cor 1:21-22; Eph 1:13-14; 4:30
Mt 22:43; Acts 1:16; 4:25; 28:25; Heb 10:15f.; 2 Pet 1:21

3. I believe that God made the world in a span of six solar days according to his eternal plan and exemplary perfection. I believe that he directs the whole course of history — from the fall of man to the falling sparrow.

Gen 1
Ps 139:16; Prov 3:19
Ps 19:1-6; Prov 3:19; Rom 1:20; Eph 3:9-10
Eccl 3:1-14; Isa 14:24-27; 46:10; Lam 3:37-38; Jn 9:1-3; 11:4
Rom 11:32; Gal 3:22
Mt 10:30

4. I believe that God made man direct from the dust. I believe that all men fell in the downfall of Adam, as the first man and father of all. I believe that fallen man is altogether indisposed to either please God or take pleasure in God apart from his unmerited favor and invincible grace.

Gen 1-2; 1 Cor 15:45-47.
Rom 5:12a,18-19; 1 Cor 15:21-22.
Rom 1:18; 8:8; Eph 2:3b.
Jn 3:19-20; Rom 8:7; 1 Cor 2:14; Eph 2:1-3; 4:17-19
Jn 6:44-45,65; Rom 4:4; Eph 2; Tit 3:3-5
Jn 1:14; Phil 2:6-7; Col 2:9; Heb 2:14; 1 Jn 4:2
Isa 7:14; Mt 1:18-25; Lk 1:26-38
Jn 8:46; Heb 4:15; 7:26
Jn 2:11
Heb 2:14; 1 Jn 3:8.
Lk 24; Jn 20-21
Ps 110:1; Jn 6:62; 20:17; Acts 1:9; Col 3:1; Heb 6:20; 9:12,24
1 Cor 8:25; Eph 1:20-22

5. I believe that the Son of God became incarnate by the Virgin Mary, led an impeccable life, did mighty deeds, died for the sins of his people, and destroyed the works of the devil. I believe that he was raised in the flesh and ascended to the Father, from whence he governs his Church by sending his Spirit to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.

Jn 16:8-11
Mt 25:31-46; 2 Thes 1:7-10; Rev 19:11-21
Rev 21:3; 22:3-5
Isa 26:19; Dan 12:2-3; Jn 5:28-29; 1 Cor 15:20-23,35-57; Phil 3:21; 1 Thes 4:15-17
Dan 12:2; Mt 25:41,46; Jn 5:29; Rev 14:11
Jas 1:23
E.g., Lk 24:27,44-47
Heb 4:12; Jas 1:23.
E.g., Genesis-Exodus.
Rom 10:17; 1 Pet 1:23; Jas 1:18.
Jn 1:29; 1 Cor 5:7; 10:1-5; 11:23-26

6. I believe that he will return again to judge his enemies and dwell with his people. I believe that the dead in Christ will be raised to everlasting life and bliss while the damned will be raised to everlasting shame and misery.

Mt 25:31-46; 2 Thes 1:7-10; Rev 19:11-21
Rev 21:3; 22:3-5
Isa 26:19; Dan 12:2-3; Jn 5:28-29; 1 Cor 15:20-23,35-57; Phil 3:21; 1 Thes 4:15-17
Dan 12:2; Mt 25:41,46; Jn 5:29; Rev 14:11

7. I believe in the Bible as the infallible word of God, which, like a mirror, enables me to glimpse a true reflection of myself, my world, and my God. I believe that the Bible evinces its inspiration by its candor, concerted plan, discerning scan, archetypal quality, quickening power, and verisimilitude. I believe in baptism and communion as types and tokens of the work of Christ, and inworking of his Spirit.

Jas 1:23
E.g., Lk 24:27,44-47
Heb 4:12; Jas 1:23.
E.g., Genesis-Exodus.
Rom 10:17; 1 Pet 1:23; Jas 1:18.
Jn 1:29; 1 Cor 5:7; 10:1-5; 11:23-26
Ezk 36:25-27; 47:1-12; Jn 3:5; 7:38-39.

8. I believe that knowing God is the highest good, for God is the highest good. I believe that God foreordained the Fall to manifest his mercy, justice, wisdom and power for the edification of the elect. I believe that my chief calling in this life and in the life to come is to glory in God and enjoy him forever.

Rom 11:32; Gal 3:22
1 Kgs 8:37-40; Ps 51:4; 130:4; Ezk 20:26; Lk 7:42b-43; Jn 9:3,39; 11:4; Rom 5:20; 9:17,22-23; Eph 3:9-10; Rev 14:7; 15:1-4..
Ps 73:25; Lk 2:32; Rev 4:8-11; 5:9-14; 7:11-12

9. I believe that my only hope, in life or death, is that I am not my own, but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ, who by his blood has made full atonement for all my sins. I believe that I am justified by the sole and sufficient merit of Christ through the grace of faith. I believe that when I die my soul shall pass immediately into the presence of Christ with the all saints in glory.

Rom 3:21-28; 4:1-5:1; Gal 2:16; 3:10-14; Phil 3:8-9
2 Cor 5:1-10; Phil 1:23; Rev 20:4,6

With the RefTagger feature, I'm sure this is much better now than it was under the old format. Just hover your mouse over the Scripture verses and the citations will pop up for you.

Also, the Archives are all accessible in the right hand column; if you're interested in a topic, the Google Search feature is very impressive as well.