A Millennium Creed

A MILLENNIUM CREED

We believe in the future!
We believe the best is yet to come!
Our hope is no mere optimistic wish or positive thinking.
Our hope is an anchor, sure and steadfast, unseen yet real.

The ground of our hope is the Triune Godhead:

The Revelation of the Father…
Whose Person is loving and faithful, merciful and gracious,
slow to anger, quick to forgive – unlike the pagan gods.
Therefore we have hope!
Who Plans to give his people ‘hope and a future’,
to bless all peoples and fill the earth with the knowledge of his glory.
Therefore we have hope!
Who Promises to be with us always, even to the ends of the earth.
Therefore we have hope!

The Resurrection of the Son…
Who came to demonstrate the love of the Father.
Therefore we have hope!
Who showed us how we should live to please the Father.
Therefore we have hope!
Who defeated sin and death, reconciling us with the Father.
Therefore we have hope!

The Reassurance of the Spirit…
Who came at Pentecost, as promised by the prophet Joel.
Therefore we have hope!
Whose fulfilment of that promise promises the ultimate fulfilment.
Therefore we have hope!
Who is the guarantee, deposit and foretaste of what is yet to come.
Therefore we have hope!
The goal of our hope is the Triune Godhead:

The Reign with the Father…
Who intends us to spend eternity with Him;
Therefore we have hope!
Who intends us to share in his divine nature, to become like Him;
Therefore we have hope!
Who intends us to reign with Him as daughters and sons.
Therefore we have hope!

The Return of the Son…
Who, as before, will come again in time and space;
Therefore we have hope!
Who will consummate history, breaking the cycle of hopelessness and despair;
Therefore we have hope!!
And who will balance the books and rule in justice and righteousness.
Therefore we have hope!

The Restoration through the Spirit…
Who, since Pentecost, has empowered the global spread of God’s kingdom;
Therefore we have hope!
Who, in the Twentieth Century, has inspired unprecedented awakenings, surely making it the Century of the Spirit;
Therefore we have hope!
And, who promises further outpourings in the new Millennium
… until all peoples have been blessed.
Therefore we have hope!

Till next week,

Jeff Fountain