I don’t know if this is an actual statement of faith, because I am not an organization
or church or parachurch. However, I am southern Baptist. That will help some, others
not so much. So, I’ll just tell you what I believe, at the end of which you should think
“Christian.” Although, I should, we all should, be careful with labels and words. They
mean different things to different people. A lady once told me when I was out preaching
not to call myself “Christian.” She said that would mean I am perfect like Christ is, as the
word “Christian” means “little Christs.” Well, she was right and wrong, one of those
paradoxes that illuminates rather than confuses. She was right—I am not perfect. She
was wrong—I do have His perfection. And that leads me into my “I believe” statements,
which I hope will explain what I just wrote.
     I believe Scripture is the divinely inspired word of God. The Holy Spirit led men to
write it. It is inerrant, infallible and sufficient for salvation. It isn’t exhaustive, but it gives
us everything we need to know God, Man and how God saves people. In as far as my
limited capacity will allow, I interpret everything through the lens of Scripture.
I believe Scripture accurately describes God as one in essence and three in person,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Do you have trouble understanding that? Well.
Think harder. God wants us to love Him with all our minds, as well as all our emotions
and all our strength.
     I believe Man is born in sin. He is born with the fallen nature of his human father,
Adam. God made Adam, Man, in His image to have fellowship with Him and reflect His
glory to all of creation. When Adam sinned and fell, all of creation fell with him.
I believe God the Father sent God the Son to be born of a virgin, to be incarnated as
a man in order to bring Man back into His family. Jesus Christ is truly God and truly
Man.
     I believe Jesus Christ lived a sinless, perfect life. He lived the life no other man has.
There has only been one man who truly embodied and lived out what it means to be
human, Jesus Christ. He did what no other had done, reflected the image of His Father
perfectly.
     I believe Jesus Christ went to the cross and bore God’s wrath for His bride, His
people. He satisfied the wrath of God on the cross. The debt His people owe to God
was paid in full by Jesus Christ.
     I believe He died on the cross and rose to life three days later. His resurrection was
God saying that the debt is paid in full by His Sacrifice, His Son. That sacrifice, and no
other, saves people from the wrath of God and delivers them from the bondage of sin.

     I believe that anyone who truly repents, believes this, and confesses Jesus Christ as
Lord is saved from eternal wrath and the dominion of sin. A true believer will be oriented
toward righteousness by the grace of God.
     There’s more. Afterall, the Bible is sixty-six books long. There are many more “I
believe” statements. But give me a break; that’s a long book.