What do you believe?

Here's an interesting exercise for you: write down your beliefs so you can explain them to someone else.

Sure, it sounds simple doesn't it? It took me about an hour, but I've been mulling it over in my head for about two hours before that. I don't know how concise or easy to understand they are, but I've done it. I reserve the right to change my belief statement, but I doubt my beliefs will change.

I never really thought about how powerful a belief statement is. Not only does it lay your soul bare before everyone, it makes you vulnerable. I don't like being vulnerable. But here it is.

I Believe:

• in God, the Almighty, Father, creator of all that is
  
• in His son Jesus who is the Christ, Messiah (Prophet, Priest & King) for all
  
• Jesus' birth was a miracle, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to a virgin
  
• Jesus lived as a man, but was fully God
  
• Jesus took my place and died on a cross for my sins
  
• Jesus rose from the grave on the third day
  
• Jesus went up to heaven and is seated at God's right hand
  
• Jesus sent the Holy Spirit as a Comforter
  
• Baptism (immersion) is for the remission of my sins, as Jesus commanded
  
• I am a new man because of my acceptance of the free gift of salvation
  
• I received the Holy Spirit as a gift from God, and that part of God lives in me
  
• The Holy Spirit intercedes for me when I don't have the ability
  
• I do not, nor can I ever deserve salvation from my sins
  
• All will be judged by Christ before God on the last day
  
• None of this can be explained rationally or logically but must be accepted by faith
  

Yeah, it's sort of like the Apostle's Creed. That's not because I plagiarized it, it's because we believe the same things.

So, what do you believe? Do you drive your beliefs or do your beliefs drive you?