“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” — Deuteronomy 6:4–5 (BSB)
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” — Psalm 18:2 (BSB)
“Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” — John 17:3 (BSB)
“It is just as the Scripture says: ‘Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.’” — Romans 10:11 (BSB)
The Creed begins here because everything flows from our belief in God. It affirms that God is not a distant force or abstract principle, but the living God who speaks, acts, and saves. In Psalm 18:2, David confesses God as his rock, fortress, and deliverer—language that moves far beyond mere acknowledgment into a deep and trusting relationship. When we say “I believe in God,” we are saying, “My life is founded on Him. I trust Him. He is my hope and strength.”
Anglican worship and theology affirm this truth in word and sacrament. The Book of Common Prayer begins nearly every service by directing the heart toward God: “Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open…” The Thirty-Nine Articles start with belief in God, “the Maker and Preserver of all things.” Faith in God is not a one-time act, but a continual turning to Him in all things. This is not blind faith but informed faith—faith that rests on the sure testimony of Scripture and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Bishop J.C. Ryle once said, “To believe in God is to lean your whole weight on Him, to rest in His mercy, to walk in His commandments, and to look to Him in every time of need.” Biblical belief engages the whole person—mind, heart, and will. It recognizes God as Father, trusts in the work of the Son, and depends upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It brings assurance and confidence, not because we are strong, but because God is faithful.
Ultimately, to believe in God is to live in covenant with Him—to know Him as He truly is and to respond with faith, love, and reverent obedience. As Jesus prayed in John 17:3, eternal life is knowing the one true God. The Creed begins with “I believe in God” because this is the starting point of Christian life and discipleship. Everything we are and everything we hope for depends on this vital relationship with the living God.
Irenaeus emphasized belief in God as Creator and Redeemer as the beginning of true faith.
Tertullian (c. 155–220 AD) said: “We believe in one God, not by compulsion, but by the reason of truth itself. Faith is born from hearing, and hearing from the Word of God.” — Apologeticus, 21
Tertullian saw belief as a reasoned and Spirit-empowered response to divine revelation.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386 AD) taught: “We do not merely say, ‘I believe,’ but ‘I believe in God’—this is a confession of personal trust and allegiance to the living God.” — Catechetical Lectures, 5.12
Cyril emphasized the intimate and trusting relationship at the heart of Christian belief.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD) wrote: “To believe in God is to believe that He is, and to believe in Him is to love Him, to walk in His ways, and to cling to His promises.” — On the Creed, 1.2
Augustine defined belief as a living faith that includes love, obedience, and perseverance.
St. Gregory the Great (c. 540–604 AD) said: “True belief in God changes the soul, strengthens the will, and fills the heart with hope.” — Moral Reflections on Job, 6.15
Gregory taught that genuine belief is transformative, rooting the believer in divine grace and truth.
An Anglican Catechism (Expanded) offers over 350+ Scripture-based answers to the core truths of the Christian faith. Each entry includes biblical texts, theological insight, and reflections from historic and contemporary Anglican voices. Rooted in the classical tradition, it is designed for teaching, discipleship, and spiritual formation.
An Ancient Worship Movement invites readers into the rich, historic worship of the early Church rediscovered through the Anglican tradition. This book calls believers into a deeper, Spirit-filled encounter with Christ through timeless practices.
St. Thomas Church
PO Box 873
Abbotsford, BC,
V2T 7A2, Canada
If you are interested in starting a St. Thomas Church in your area and or ordination path fill the contact card form.
St. Thomas Church is a Church planting movement in ancient tradition.
