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GOD
IS OUR CREATOR
God created the universe. He created human beings in His image as the
crown of creation. We are both created and preserved by God. We are
created to serve God and to reflect His glory Genesis 1&2; Psalm 100
WE ARE SINNERS
The human race turned it’s back on God and brought evil and death into
the world. All human beings are sinful by birth, break God’s law, and
stand helpless and hopeless under the judgments of God. We can do
nothing to save ourselves.
Romans 3:12,23
JESUS IS SAVIOR
God gave His Son Jesus Christ to save all people from their sin and it’s
punishment. Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. He rose from
death to break the power of death. The Gospel is the good news of God’s
love for all His people.
John 3:16; Romans 3:24
FORGIVENESS IS A FREE GIFT
God has forgiven the whole world for Jesus’ sake. God offers this
forgiveness to all peoples as a free gift. Everyone who believes in
Jesus as the Savior receives personally the forgiveness of sins. He or
she becomes a child of God and a member of His Church. If however we
reject God’s grace, we bring on ourselves the punishment we deserve for
our sins. Acts 16:31; John 3:16-18
THE BIBLE IS GOD IS GOD’S WORD
God has revealed himself to us in the Holy Scriptures. The Bible is
God’s inerrant word, written by men whom God inspired. Jesus Christ is
the center of the Scriptures, which are the only basis of Christian
faith. 2 Timothy 3:15-17
GOD WORKS THROUGH WORD AND SACRAMENTS
The word of God and the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are
channels to receive God’s grace. The Holy Spirit uses them to bring
people to faith in Christ, to strengthen them in faith, and to help them
live as God’s holy people. In Holy Baptism, God offers forgiveness to
all people, including children. In the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper,
Jesus gives His body and blood in and with bread and wine as a further
assurance of personal forgiveness to all believers. 1 Peter 1:12;
Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28
WE ARE SAVED TO SERVE
Through the work of the Holy Spirit, Christians are set free from the
power of sin to serve God lovingly and joyfully in every part of their
life. We show our love for God by a life of loving service to other
people, by forgiving others and showing them kindness and patience as
Christ loved us. Ephesians 2:4-10; Colossians 3:12-14
THERE IS ONE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
All believers in Christ are Saints who belong to the One Holy Christian
Church. They are members of the Body of Christ. Christians are called
into the church wherever they live, to praise and worship gracious God,
to receive the Spirit’s gifts, to support and strengthen
fellow-believers, and to bring the Good News to all peoples. Matthew
18:20; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
GOD WILL JUDGE
On the Last Day, God will raise all people from death. He will judge
people according to their relationship with Jesus Christ. Believers in
Jesus will go to live with Him forever. Unbelievers will go to eternal
death in Hell. Mark 16:16; John 12:48
WE SHARE THE GOOD NEWS
It is the privilege of all Christians to rejoice in the Gospel of Jesus,
to build their whole lives on the Gospel, and to share this Good News to
those who have not heard or accepted it. Mark 5:19; 2 Corinthians 4:5-6
LUTHERANS CONFESS THEIR FAITH
The Lutheran Church is a confessional church. It’s pastors, teachers,
members are expected to believe and teach the pure teachings of the Holy
Scriptures. Lutherans believe that the confessions of the church
contained in the BOOK OF CONCORD (written 1580) are correct statements
and explanations of God’s Word. These confessions include the historic
creeds (Nicene, Apostle’s and Atahanasian), the Augsburg Confessions and
Luther’s Small Catechism. These confessions are based ONLY in the Bible.
1 Corinthians 2:2-5; Jude 3 |
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