GOD

We teach that there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:13).

FATHER

We teach that God created the world and continues to lovingly watch over and provide for his creation. (Genesis 1:1-2-25; Psalm 104)

JESUS CHRIST

We teach that Jesus Christ is both God and fully human, who by his death on the cross has redeemed us (1 Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Colossians 1:15-20) and by his bodily resurrection has overcome death and the power of evil (1 Corinthians 15). He rules now over all things and someday will return. He is our Lord and Savior.

HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit works through the Word and the Sacraments to create and strengthen our faith. He also gives gifts to Christians and empowers us to live a Christian life and to share the Word of God with others. (Acts 1:8; John 14:15-31; 16:5-15; 1 Corinthians 12,14, Romans 12:1-8.)

HUMAN NATURE

We teach that human beings are specially created in God’s image and loved by him (Genesis 1:26-2:25). However, sin has distorted human nature and now people are born with selfishness and sin (Genesis 3-4). Our sinful condition cannot be removed by human means. (Romans 3:23)

SALVATION

We teach that Christ has done what we could not do - He has obeyed God and kept his commandments perfectly in our place and suffered death and hell to pay for our sins. He alone can save us (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). This salvation is a free gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). We teach that one can be certain of eternal life (John 5:24). We teach that we partake of God’s free gift of salvation by faith alone (Romans 3:28; John 3:16), and thereby enter a life-long process of change and growth (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

THE CHURCH

We teach that we are a part of the one true Church (Ephesians 3:4-6; Romans 5:12) made up of all who believe in Christ as Savior and Lord.

PRAYER

We teach that God loves us and wants to communicate with us; he wants us to pray. We teach that God answers all prayers (sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes wait) and we encourage everyone to grow in prayer (James 5:16; Matthew 18:18-20).

BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER

We teach that Jesus instituted Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We teach that God truly acts in the sacraments to forgive us of our sins and strengthen us in faith (Mark 16:16; 1 Corinthians 11:29; Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; Romans 6:1-14; John 3:3-6).

OUR LUTHERAN HERITAGE AND IDENTITY

We are a part of the confessing movement begun in the Lutheran Reformation. We teach the Lutheran themes of grace through faith alone, Scripture alone, and Christ alone. We confess that the Book of Concord is an accurate explanation of the doctrines of Holy Scripture.

THE LAST THINGS

We teach that Christ will return in power to judge the living and dead. We are living in the last times and once the gospel has been shared with people throughout the world, the world itself will end. ( Matthew 24:14, Matthew 25:31).

ON CURRENT SOCIAL ISSUES

• We teach that a full sexual relationship belongs within the boundaries of a publicly committed marriage between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:31; Exodus 20:14; Romans 1:26-27).
• We teach the sanctity and defense of all human life including the unborn
  (Deuteronomy 30:19; Jeremiah 1:5; Proverbs 31:8).
• We teach that we are to be active in seeking and making peace in the world
  (Ephesians 2:14; Matthew 5:9).
• We teach that in Christ there is no distinction between people on the basis of race, nationality, economic status, or gender (Galatians 3:28; Acts 10:34-35) and that Christians are to be active in living out that reality among themselves (Matthew 6:10) and in breaking down those barriers in the world that divide people (Ephesians 2).