Hillsong Worship – This I Believe (The Creed)

The quintessential juggernaut worship organization that is Hillsong is popular among all generations, especially young people. Their songs often appear on the Billboard top 100 with multiple entries. They are also the subject of several Berean Test submissions, dominating the polls and forcing me to retweak my approach in an attempt to balance artist reviews. Its latest iteration is specialized Hillsong polls that guarantee one review every few months or so. I am a huge fan of artist variety. Joining seventeen other Hillsong reviews is the victor of the latest Hillsong poll: This I Believe (The Creed).

I learned recently that one of their leaders, Marty Sampson, is shaking in their faith.  Pray for him.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.  I strongly encourage you to consider the potential blessings and dangers of this artist‘s theology by visiting Resources.

1. What message does the song communicate?

This song is similar in expression and intent as Newsboys’ We Believe.  It rewords portions of the Apostle’s Creed using a different order.  There are additional elements added, such as God as defender and that God is three in one, while others are left out, such as Christ’s suffering at the hands of Pilate and Jesus as God’s only son.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

This song aligns with the Bible.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

Our Father everlasting

That is, God the Father is eternal (Deuteronomy 33:27, 1 Chronicles 16:34, Job 36:26, Psalm 48:14, Psalm 90:2-4, Psalm 102:12, Psalm 102:26-27, Proverbs 8:23, Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 41:4, Habakkuk 1:12, John 17:5, Romans 1:20, 1 Corinthians 2:7, Ephesians 1:4, Hebrews 1:11-12, 1 Peter 1:20, 2 Peter 3:8, Revelation 1:8, Revelation 11:17, and Revelation 22:13).

The all creating One

Creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 8:3-8, Psalm 33:6, Psalm 96:5, Proverbs 3:19, Isaiah 37:16, Isaiah 42:5, Isaiah 45:18, Isaiah 66:1-2, John 1:1-3, Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:16, and Revelation 4:11).

God Almighty

There are 48 references in the Old Testament and 10 in the New Testament.

Through Your Holy Spirit
Conceiving Christ the Son

This occurred inside the womb of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18 and Luke 1:35).

Jesus our Saviour

Explored further in Verse 2.

[Chorus]

I believe in God our Father
I believe in Christ the Son
I believe in the Holy Spirit

These appear in the Apostle’s creed,

Our God is three in one

Three persons in one God-head.  Also known as the Trinity.

I believe in the resurrection

That is, Christ’s rising from the dead (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20, Acts 1:3, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8).

That we will rise again

That is, the final resurrection (Luke 20:34-38, Acts 24:15-16, Romans 6:1-5, Romans 8:11-13, 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 1 Corinthians 15:50-56, 2 Corinthians 4:13-14, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

For I believe
In the name of Jesus

There is no other name by which we can be saved (John 14:6 and Acts 4:12).

[Verse 2]

Our Judge and our Defender

There are far too many passages to describe God as judge to list here.  As for God as protector, see Ruth 2:12, 2 Samuel 22:3-4, Psalm 3:3, Psalm 5:11, Psalm 18:30, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 32:7, Psalm 34:22, Psalm 41:2, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 57:1, Psalm 59:1, Psalm 61:3, Psalm 91:1-16, Psalm 118:8, Psalm 121:7-8, Psalm 138:7, Proverbs 18:10, Proverbs 30:5, Nahum 1:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, and 1 John 5:18).

Suffered and crucified
Forgiveness is in You

Jesus paid the penalty for our lawbreaking, paving the way for forgiveness (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).

Descended into darkness
You rose in glorious life

The portion of the Apostle’s creed that states Jesus descended into hell (that is, hades [1 Peter 3:19]) and rose again (see Chorus, line 5).

Forever seated high

Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father in the third heaven (Matthew 22:44, Acts 2:33, Acts 7:55–56, Romans 8:34, Ephesians 1:20, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 12:2, 1 Peter 3:22, and Revelation 3:21).

[Bridge]

I believe in You

In what way?  Let’s keep reading.

I believe You rose again

See Chorus, line 5.

I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord

Indeed!  See Luke 2:11, Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 2 Corinthians 4:5, Colossians 3:17, Philippians 2:9-11, 1 Peter 3:15, and Revelation 17:14.

Yes, I believe in You
I believe You rose again
I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord

Repeats lines 1-3.

[Post-Chorus]

For I believe
In the name of Jesus

Repeats Chorus, lines 7 and 8.

For I believe
In the name of Jesus

Repeats Chorus, lines 7 and 8.

[Chorus 2]

I believe in life eternal

That is, eternal life with God (Mark 10:29-30, John 3:15-16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, John 5:39-40, John 6:27, John 6:40, John 10:28, John 17:3, John 20:31, Romans 5:21, Romans 6:22-23, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Galatians 6:8, 1 Timothy 1:16, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:11 , Hebrews 5:9, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 2:23-27, 1 John 5:10-13, 1 John 5:20, Jude 1:20-21, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 7:16-17, and Revelation 21:3-4).

I believe in the virgin birth

See commentary on Verse 1, lines 4 and 5.

I believe in the saints communion
And in Your holy Church

The body of Christ fellowshipping with one another, coming together as one (1 Corinthians 10:17, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, and Ephesians 4:1-16 ).

I believe in the resurrection

Repeats Chorus, line 5.

When Jesus comes again

That is, the second coming of Christ (Matthew 24:43, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Corinthians 11:26, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4, 2 Peter 3:10, and Revelation 16:15).

For I believe
In the name of Jesus

Repeats Chorus 1, lines 7 and 8.

[Outro]

For I believe
In the name of Jesus

Repeats Chorus, lines 7 and 8.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers who are not familiar with the Apostle’s Creed should still easily see the credal interpretation under the Christian umbrella.  The phrase “I believe” beaten over their head makes that obvious, along with the multiple references of Father, Son, Christ, Holy Spirit, and resurrection.  Yes, it is rife with Christian-ese, but I see no reason to think that it detracts from Hillsong’s intended message.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Hillsong Worship’s This I Believe (The Creed) repackages the Apostle’s Creed for a modern audience while remaining faithful to its Biblical roots, glorifying God.  Little will find its message difficult to grasp.

Music ministers looking for a recent alternative to Newsboys’ We Believe or searching for a credal worship song should consider it. Consider replacing “I” with “we” for a more together worship session.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: This I Believe (The Creed) (Live) (listen to the song)

Artist: Hillsong Worship

Album: No Other Name (Live)

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2014

Duration: 6:41

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

*Copyright © 2014 Hillsong Music Publishing (APRA) (adm. in the US and Canada at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Updates:

08/04/2023 – J caught a typo!  The Apostles are no longer greedy.

05/07/2021 – Per Artist Theology announcement, I expanded the red text to encourage others to study Hillsong’s theology.

03/24/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.  I increased section 1’s score and added the missing summary in section 2.  This raised the overall score, from 9.5/10 to 10/10.