We believe in one true God,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
ever present help in need,
praised by all the heavenly host;
by whose mighty power alone
all is made and wrought and done.
We believe in Jesus Christ,
Son of God and Mary’s Son,
who descended from his throne
and for us salvation won;
by whose cross and death are we
rescued from sin’s misery.
We confess the Holy Ghost,
who from both fore’er proceeds;
who upholds and comforts us
in all trials, fears, and needs.
Blest and Holy Trinity,
praise forever be to thee!
Tobias Clausnitzer, 1668
Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1863
Read: 1 Corinthians 15:1-10
(This confessional hymn was written not long after the Reformation, and so it is easy to see why a minister would want to give people a succinct doctrinal statement in music. Believers have had confessional statements from the very beginning. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians are thought to be part of one of the earliest confessional statements. What 3 “I believe” statements would you put in your confessional?)