We believe…
- The Old and New Testaments are inspired by God, true, authoritative, and sufficient (Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
- There is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6; Isaiah 46:9-10; John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 1 Timothy 2:5).
- The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. There are not three Gods but One Triune God (Genesis 1:26; Psalm 45:6-7; Psalm 110:1; Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 28:17-20; 1 Corinthians 12:14-6)
- Every human being is by nature and action a sinner (Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23; 5:8; 12-21; 7:18; Ephesians 2:1-3).
- The just and deserved penalty for sin is death, both physical and spiritual (Genesis 2:15-17; Genesis 3:19; Romans 5:12; 6:23; James 1:14-15).
- Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, was born of a virgin and is both fully God and fully human (Matthew 1:20; Luke 2:52; John 1:1-4; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3).
- Jesus Christ died as my substitute to pay the penalty for my sin (John 1:29; 10:1-18; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 3:18).
- Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead to conquer death on my behalf (Matthew 28:1-20: Mark 16:1-8: Luke 24:1-53: John 1:20-21;25: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34).
- Jesus Christ physically ascended into heaven and will one day physically return (John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 9:28; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 1:7).
- When Christ returns there will be a physical resurrection of the dead. Those who trust in Jesus Christ alone will be raised to eternal reward. Those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ will be raised to eternal punishment (Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15 ).Only by grace, through faith, in Christ Jesus, are we reconciled to God and forgiven of our sins (John 3:18, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:21-26; 1 Timothy 2:5-6).
- Those in Christ Jesus are in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit who calls, convicts, guides, and comforts them.
- Those in Christ Jesus are called to live holy and blameless lives, being set apart from the world (Romans 6 and 12).
- Those in Christ Jesus are called and empowered to bear witness to the death and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins to all the world (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20).
- In order to offer and convey to men the merits which Christ has secured for the world by His death on the cross (2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 5:18), God employs certain external, visible means through which the Holy Spirit works and preserves faith and thus accomplishes the sinner’s salvation. These means include the Word of God, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:37-41; Romans 6:1-11; 1 Corinthians 11:1-34).
- The three Ecumenical Creeds (Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian), Augsburg Confession, and Luther’s Small Catechism are accurate summaries and right articulations of the doctrines taught within Scripture.
