A More Detailed Summary of our Basic Beliefs




The Trinity of God

We believe in God who is Triune. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not three distinct Gods but One God. Each Person of this Trinity is equal in power, wisdom and glory. We hold to the historic confession of God's Trinity as defined in the Apostle's, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds

Jesus Christ

Our church believes that Jesus Christ is True God and true man. As God He was born in frail human flesh and blood. The reason God had to be born of flesh was so He Himself could live the perfect life of obedience His commandments demand and die sacrificially in our place. As a man Christ was perfect and sinless, thus His death was the ultimate payment for our sin ("He who knew no sin became sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God"). This Jesus passed through death and rose to life again. He is now ascended into heaven and we await His return as our Savior and deliverer from this world.

Sinful Nature of Mankind

We believe that God's Word says all people are inherently sinful and in need of the forgiveness which only Jesus offers. God's Word teaches the total corruption and spiritual helpless of mankind in numerous verses. Some verses from God's Word testifying to this include;

Salvation

We believe that we cannot be saved by our own efforts to be good. No amount of our charitable works or good deeds can ever make up for the evils that we do and the evil we are by nature. Salvation does not come from within our hearts but only from the Savior who freely gives the gift of salvation to those whose sins are forgiven. Forgiveness is given to all who believe in Christ Jesus as their Savior and live in that faith.

Christian Living

The people of God who have been forgiven and saved by Jesus should seek to follow God's commands and conform their lives to His will as expressed in the Holy Bible. Such good works do NOT earn us points in heaven, but merely express our thanks to Him for His goodness and mercy and testify that the life we lead is His gift to us.

The Sacraments

We define a Sacrament as a visible sign to which God has attached His Word of forgiveness. We identify two Sacraments which fit that criteria; Baptism, and the Lord's Supper (However we would not object if someone wished to call Confession and Absolution a third Sacrament).

In Baptism we believe that God washes away sins (gives forgiveness) and joins Himself to the heart of the Baptized. We point to the following verses (to name a few) as primary reasons for our belief in Baptismal grace.


Our churches practice infant baptism because we believe that faith and forgiveness can be given all people regardless of age.

In the Lord's Supper we believe that Jesus gives us His actual physical body and blood in the elements of bread and wine. As we receive His body and blood those who believe His promise have their sins forgiven.


Our congregation practices Close Communion which is the historic practice of the Christian Church. Close Communion means that we offer the Sacrament to all those who recognize it as Jesus body and blood, are repentant of their sins, share the same confession of faith with us, and are properly instructed in the doctrine of the Lutheran Church. We do this in reference to God Words in such places as 1 Corinthians 11:27-29.

The Return of Christ

Our church believes that when Christ returns again He will not establish an earthly government but will come in power and glory to judge the living and dead.

Heaven and Hell

We believe in the physical reality of heaven and hell. We reject the notion that hell is not a real place and that God does not punish those who reject Him and His will. Heaven is God's gift to all those who believe in Christ Jesus as their Savior and who live life in that faith.

Holy Scripture

We believe that the Bible is God's Word. We do not hold to modern views that say Scripture merely "contains" God's Word, thus leaving the reader decide for him or herself which parts are God's Word and which are not. Because Holy Scripture is God's Word we also confess that it is truthful in all its parts, holy, inerrent, and does not contradict itself.

The purpose of Holy Scripture is to reveal Christ to us as our Savior. The Bible is not understood as a rule book that gives us a list of works we must do to be saved. It is rather a proclamation of all that Jesus has done to save us. The Old Testament points ahead to the coming Savior. The new Testament points back at the Savior who has come.

The Office of the Ministry

The office of the Holy Ministry was established by God for the care of His Church. This office proceeds from the office of Christ, it's primary function then is to proclaim the Gospel. The pastor's ministry is to teach and preach God's Word purely and administer the Sacraments according to God's institution. We do not understand our pastors to be CEOs of the Church, or "cheer leaders" at worship, rather they are undershepherds of Christ whose whole job is to bring Christ to the people according to their needs. Our Church body also maintains that this pastoral office has been given by God to qualified men (1 Tim. 2:11-14; 3:1-2; 2 Tim. 2:2, 1 Cor. 14:33-34). We therefore do not practice the ordination of women on the grounds that it contravenes the divine will.


For more detailed explanations consult the Book of Concord found in Project Wittenberg



Back to Home Page