What We Believe

what is a lutheran?

Lutherans hold to the sacred and historic Christian faith, passed on to us in the Holy Bible and summarized in Luther’s Small Catechism. Lutheran Christians are Biblical, Sacramental, Confessional and Evangelical.

biblical christians

We believe, teach and confess that the 66 books of the Bible are the inspired Word of God and the sole rule and norm for all doctrine and practice in the Holy Christian Church. We believe that the Word of God is living and active and that through it God actually works to bring about His good and perfect will. We believe that all Scripture points us to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is our life and salvation. (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21, Psalm 119, Hebrews 4:12, John 20:31, Luke 24:13-27)

sacramental christians

We believe, teach and confess that the Lord comes to us in the mysteries of Holy Baptism, Confession and Absolution and Holy Communion. In these means of grace ordained by Christ Himself, God attaches His promise of forgiveness, life and salvation to a physical element, which we receive by faith as gifts from Him. (Matthew 28:16-20, Romans 6:1-14, Titus 3:5-8, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34)

confessional christians

We subscribe to the ancient creeds of the Holy Christian Church (The Apostles’, Nicene, Athanasian creeds) and make our confession of the historic Christian Faith in the Book of Concord. We subscribe to these confessions because they are true and accurate confessions of the Christian faith delivered to us by the Apostles in the Holy Scriptures.

evangelical christians

We believe, teach and confess that God’s Word consists of both Law and Gospel. The Law shows us our sin in light of the holy perfection of God. The Gospel shows us our Savior, Jesus Christ, who has fulfilled God’s Law completely and laid down His life for us and for our salvation. Because we are not saved by fulfilling the Law ourselves, we are ultimately people of the Gospel. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. This Good News is for us and for our neighbors. For this reason, we constantly seek to make known the Good News of Christ Crucified and Risen to all people everywhere; and with the help of God and as His forgiven people, we seek to live Holy Lives guided by His Law. (Romans 3:21-26, Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 12:1-2)