Phil Wickham – I Believe

Contemporary Christian artist Phil Wickham was 18 years old when he began his career in 2002.  Since then, he released 11 albums, including:

• Give You My World (2003)
• Phil Wickham (2006)
• Cannons (2007)
• Heaven & Earth (2009)
• Response (2011)
• The Ascension (2013)
• Children of God (2016)
• Living Hope (2018)
• Christmas (2019)
• Hymn of Heaven (2021)
• Hymn of Heaven (Acoustic Sessions) (2022)
• I Believe (2023)

He received four Dove awards for his work, including Songwriter of the Year – Artist (2022), Worship Recorded Song of the Year (2019, 2022), and Worship Album of the Year (2022).

Also, check out my other Phil Wickham reviews.

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1. What message does the song communicate?

Wickham believes:

• There is only One who can save, namely, Jesus Christ
• He was crucified and rose from the dead
• His shed blood freed Wickham
• The Trinity is praiseworthy
• Christ reigns forever
• He gives hope
• He originally came from heaven
• He went back to heaven to prepare places for those who are His
• He will triumphantly return
• He is the Lamb who was slain
• He is the roaring Lion

In response, Wickham trusts in Jesus, patiently waiting for His return.

Score: 10/10

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

This song is seeping with Scriptural goodness.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

I believe there is one salvation
One doorway that leads to life
One redemption, one confession
I believe in the name of Jesus Christ, hey

Combines John 14:6 with Ephesians 4:5-6.

[Verse 2]

I believe in the crucifixion
By His blood I have been set free

Wickham has been washed by the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:2, and 1 Peter 1:18-19), freeing him (Psalm 119:45, Isaiah 58:6, Isaiah 61:1, John 3:16-21, John 8:31-36, John 10:10, Acts 13:38-39, Romans 6:1-23, Romans 8:1-4, Romans 8:20-21, 1 Corinthians 6:12, 1 Corinthians 7:21-23, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 2:4, Galatians 3:13, Galatians 3:22, Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:13, Colossians 1:21-23, Hebrews 2:14-15, and 1 Peter 2:16).

I believe in the resurrection

Christ rose from the dead (Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29, Acts 1:3, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8)

Hallelujah, His life is death’s defeat

Jesus conquered death (Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14, Luke 20:35-36, 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, 2 Timothy 1:10, and Hebrews 2:14).

The word ‘Hallelujah” is a compound Hebrew phrase, with “hallelu” meaning “a joyous praise in song” and “jah” or “yah”, which refers to the Tetragrammaton YHWH. Put together, we are singing “we joyfully praise God in song” when we use this word.

[Chorus (1)]

All praise to God the Father, all praise to Christ the Son
All praise to the Holy Spirit, our God has overcome

Praise the Trinity!

The King who was and is and evermore will be

He is the eternal Ruler (Exodus 15:18, Psalm 10:16, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 92:8, Psalm 145:13, Psalm 146:10, Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 11:10, Lamentations 5:19, Daniel 4:3, Daniel 4:34, Daniel 6:26, Micah 4:7, Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-6, John 12:15, John 18:37, 1 Timothy 1:17, 1 Timothy 6:13-16, 1 Peter 5:1, Revelation 11:15, Revelation 17:14, and Revelation 19:11-16).

In Jesus’ mighty name, I believe

Wickham believes in the genuine Jesus, not a fake version (Matthew 24:23-28, 1 Corinthians 3:11, 2 Corinthians 11:4, and Galatians 1:6-8).

[Post-Chorus (1)]

I believe, I believe

Self-explanatory.

[Verse 3]

I believe in the hope of Heaven

That is, Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 5:1-8, Romans 8:24-39, Romans 15:13, 1 Corinthians 15:54-58, and 1 Peter 1:3-6).

He’s preparin’ a place for me

Quotes the tail end of John 14:2.

Far beyond what hearts imagine
Ears have heard or eyes have seen

Quotes from 1 Corinthians 2:9.

[Verse 4]

I believe that a day is comin’
He’s returning to claim His bride

He’ll be back (Matthew 24:43, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Corinthians 11:26, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4, 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 16:15, and Revelation 19:11-16) for His bride the church (Ephesians 5:22-32 and Revelation 19:7-9).

Light the altar, keep it burnin’

References the Parable of Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13).

See the Lamb who rose a roarin’ Lion

The Lamb who was slain (Isaiah 53:7, John 1:29, John 1:36, Acts 8:32, 1 Peter 1:19, Revelation 5:6-8, Revelation 5:12-13, Revelation 6:1, Revelation 7:9-17, Revelation 12:11, Revelation 13:8, Revelation 14:1-10, Revelation 15:3, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:7-9, and Revelation 21:9) is also the roaring Lion (Joel 3:16).

[Post-Chorus (2)]

(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)

References Casper the friendly ghost.

Oh, I believe in You

Combines Casper with Post-Chorus (1).

(Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, in You)

Repeats line 1.

[Bridge]

No, I’ll never be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ

Quotes Romans 1:16.

How could I ever walk away from the one who saved my life?

This was the same conclusion of Peter in John 6:68.

No, I’ll never be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ
How could I ever walk away from the one who saved my life?
Oh no, I’ll never be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ
How could I ever walk away from the one who saved my life? Yeah

Essentially repeats lines 1 and 2.

[Chorus (2)]

All praise to God the Father (God the Father), all praise to Christ the Son (Christ the Son)
All praise to the Holy Spirit (It’s who You are), our God has overcome
The King who was and is and evermore will be
In Jesus’ mighty name, I believe
And all praise to God our Father, all praise to Christ the Son
All praise to the Holy Spirit, our God has overcome
The King who was and is and evermore will be
In Jesus’ mighty name, I believe
In Jesus’ mighty name, I believe

Essentially repeats Chorus (1), lined 1-4.

[Post-Chorus (3)]

I believe, I believe
I believe, I believe

Repeats Post-Chorus (1).

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

The chorus alone makes it abundantly clear to unbelievers that this song calls Christians to worship the three persons of the Trinity. Almost the entire song is written in Christianese language. Yet, there is just enough everyday language that those who do not yet know Jesus should be able to piece together almost all of Wickham’s points. The only term that they may not comprehend is the bride of Christ is the church.

Score: 9/10

4. What does this song glorify?

it glorifies the three persons of the Trinity that they are praised, the litanty of their acts/attributes are vast (see section 1), and Wickham awaits the second coming of Christ.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Phil Wickham’s I Believe is excellent. He calls us to praise the three persons of the Trinity, focusing intently on Jesus’ acts and attributes that are equally praiseworthy, including His sacrifice for our redemption, resurrection, Lordship, that He is the only way to the Father, and that He will come again. These glorify the Trinity. In response, we, like the five wise virgins, prepare for His second coming, where He is also preparing rooms for our new home. Although filled with much Christianese language, unbelievers with elementary knowledge of Christianity should be able to comprehend this meaty song, though I suspect many will not know that the bride is the collective body of Christians.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 9.5/10

Artist Info

Track: I Believe (listen to the song)

Artist: Phil Wickham

Album: I Believe

Genre: Rock

Release Year: 2023

Duration: 5:03

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*Copyright © 2023 Songs For TIM (BMI) CDavs Music (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com), Be Essential Songs (BMI) / Cashagamble Jet Music (BMI) / Simply Global Songs (BMI) / Phil Wickham Music (BMI) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.