What We Believe!
ESV Leviticus 19:2 "Speak to all the congregation of the people of
We believe that God is triune—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three persons but one God.
ESV Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
We believe that heaven is a perfect place and that the heavens and earth to come (at
ESV Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
We also believe that “nobody’s perfect!”
ESV Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
ESV Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Therefore, since heaven is perfect, imperfect people cannot enter heaven of their own worth or merit, lest heaven be contaminated with our imperfections thus ruining heaven and making it “imperfect.”
ESV 1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the
We believe that the price we must pay for being imperfect is eternal death.
ESV Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in
We believe that Jesus
ESV Colossians 2:9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
ESV 2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We believe that because Jesus is true man, He was able to come down from heaven to live a perfect life for us and to die on the cross in our place as payment for our sins (i.e.” imperfections.)” He did this purely out of love for us.
ESV John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
NIV Colossians 1:22 But now he has reconciled you by
We believe that Jesus was able to pay for everybody’s imperfections (sins) because He is the true, infinite God and thus His life was of infinite value.
NIV Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by
NIV 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We believe that in order to receive the benefit of what Jesus did for the whole world, a person must believe (have faith) in
NIV
ESV John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
We believe that we cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus
NIV 1 Corinthians 2:14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
NIV Ephesians 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
ESV Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
We believe that the Holy Spirit delivers this gift of faith and the forgiveness of sins (imperfections) by means of God’s Word (Holy Scripture) and the Sacraments (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper).
ESV Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of
ESV Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
NIV 1 Peter 3:21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also-- not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus
ESV Matthew 26:28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
We believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God.
ESV 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
ESV 2 Peter 1:21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
We believe that we should live our lives according to God’s Word in joy and thanksgiving for what Jesus has done for us, not to gain merit or God’s favor.
ESV Romans 3:28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
ESV Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
We believe that Jesus has commanded us to lovingly share God’s Word with everyone so that they too can receive the benefits of what Jesus has done.
ESV Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
ESV Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in
ESV 1 Timothy 2:3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For more detailed explanations of what we believe, click on this link:
http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=523