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The Faith We Believe, Teach and Confess
We are a family of faith that believes, teaches and confesses, through Word and Sacrament, the unity and purity of confessional Lutheran doctrine by following the Great Commission.*
* See Matthew 28:18-20
We believe in the one true God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:18-19; John 15:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
We believe that all people are sinful by nature (Psalm 14:3; 51:5; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:9-18, 23; 5:12; James 2:10; 1 John 1:8) and deserve God’s punishment, now and forever. (Matthew 10:28; Isaiah 66:24; Matthew 7:13; Luke 16:19-31)
We believe that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world as our substitute to be sacrificed on the cross in payment for our sins. (John 1:14; Matthew 1:21; John 1:1; 20:20; Romans 4:25; 5:8, 19; John 1:29; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23-25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13)
We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man. We believe that He won forgiveness for the whole world at the cross. We believe that He is the only Redeemer and the only Mediator between God and man. (Romans 3:21-26; 4:5; 5:1; Genesis 15:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19)
We believe that we are justified (declared righteous by God) solely by God's grace for Christ's sake through faith. We believe that the risen Christ now gives His forgiveness to us through the means of grace; that is, His holy Word and Sacraments. (John 3:5-8; 17:17-20; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Acts 11:14; Romans 10:17)
We believe that the Bible is the holy, inspired Word of God, and, as such, is free from error. We believe that the Bible is the only norm and rule for faith and life. (John 17:17; 10:35; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 2:13)
We believe that God grants saving faith; that is, forgiveness, life and salvation, and access into His holy Church to all baptized through water and the Word of God, including babies and infants. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21; Ephesians 4:5; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:38-39; Titus 3:5-7)
We believe that in Holy Communion, together with the bread and wine, we receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of faith. (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
We believe that the three ecumenical creeds (Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed), Martin Luther’s Small and Large Catechisms, the Augsburg Confession, the Apology (Defense) of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope and the formula of Concord (which all comprise the Book of Concord) confess the Scriptural faith.
For more information on our beliefs, teachings and confessions, see "A Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the Missouri Synod" (1932) and "A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles." (1973)
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