“I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth…”
These are the core beliefs of Faith Lutheran Church based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.
THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God. Consequently, all of its content is absolutely true and in its original manuscript is without error. We believe that the Bible must be read and studied in order to understand its meaning allowing scripture to interpret itself through other related scripture passages. References: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; John 10:35
GOD
We believe in a Triune God who is described in the Bible as the one, true God who has revealed Himself as God the Father (the creator of all), Son (our savior and redeemer), and Holy Spirit (our sanctifier). References: Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 5:23; 1 John 2:23; Genesis 1:1; 1 John 2:1,2; Romans 15:13
MANKIND
was created by God to be holy and to have eternal life. However, by his free will, he chose to break his communion with God and fall into sin bringing death as a punishment to this world. We teach that man cannot, by his own efforts, free himself from the chains of death and hell. References: Genesis 1:27; 2:7; Chap 3; Psalm 14:3; Romans 5:12; Isaiah 64:6; Psalm 143:2; 1 Corinthians 2:14
THE LAW OF GOD
teaches us what God desires from us which is the perfection of heart, thought, word, and deed. Since the fall of man into sin in the garden of Eden (Genesis 1) it points out our separation from God. As a result, man is unable to fulfill this Law, thus he needs to be redeemed. References: Matthew 5:48; Leviticus 19:2; Deuteronomy 27:26; Romans 3:20
SIN
Every thought, word, and deed that is contrary to God’s law is a sin. Every human being is a sinner at conception and that all the evil in the world is a result of man’s sin. References: 1 John 3:4; John 3:6; Genesis 8:21; Romans 5:12; Psalm 5:4
THE GOSPEL
The Gospel message tells us that despite our sin, God has loved us and sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the price of our sin and to set us free from death and Satan. References: Ezekiel 33:11; 1 Timothy 2:4; Luke 4:18,19; John 3:16; Romans 3:21-24; 1:16
JESUS
The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and equal to God the Father. Jesus was conceived of a virgin servant girl named Mary. He became a man in order that He might redeem the world by satisfying the demands of the divine Law for all people by keeping God’s Commandments in our place and then bearing the punishment of all the world’s sin by suffering, dying, and then rising from the dead. It is written in the Bible that He will come again at the world’s end to judge righteous and the damned. References: John 5:20, 23; 10:30; 14:9; Matthew 1:18-25; 1 Peter 2:22; Galatians 4:4, 5; 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:1,2; Romans 4:25; John 14:19; Acts 1:11; 10:42
REPENTANCE
Repentance is an acknowledgment of sin and sincere regret for it. We appeal to God for forgiveness in Christ’s name, knowing that there is nothing we can do to be saved and yet every truly repentant sinner is assured of God’s free and full forgiveness. References: Isaiah 55:6,7; Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 18:13, 14; Acts 2:38; 2 Corinthians 7:10
CONVERSION
We believe that conversion is not a mere changing of habits, but a change of heart, a spiritual genuine rebirth that is brought about by the power of God working through the Word of God; and that it takes place in and through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. References: Joel 2:13; Ezekiel 1:19; Jeremiah 31:18; John 1:12, 13; Romans 10:17; 1John 5:1
FAITH
Faith is a penitent sinner’s personal trust in Jesus Christ as His real and only Savior fully depending on his merits for the forgiveness of sins and salvation. Faith is not a personal achievement or an act of human merit, but a work of the Holy Spirit, that he who endures in this faith to the end will be eternally saved. References: John 1:12, 16; Acts 10:43; Galatians 2:16; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 Peter 1:5; Acts 16:31; Matthew 24:13; John 3:36
JUSTIFICATION
We are now Justified, cloaked in in the robe of righteousness provided by Jesus’ death and resurrection. Faith in Jesus makes us just before the laws of God because Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly through His life, death, and resurrection. References: 2 Corinthians 5:19; Romans 5:18,19; Acts 10:43; Romans 3:22-24, 28; Ephesians 2:8
SANCTIFICATION
We are now Sanctified in our faith, meaning that holiness of life and conduct follow conversion and that it is the fruit and outcome of faith; that all true Christians must be, and are, active in good works; and that, through such sanctification is progressive perfection that will not be attained until we enter eternal life. References: John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Galatians 5:6, 25; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 1:15; Romans 7:15-25; Philippians 3:12-14
BAPTISM
Baptism is a divinely instituted washing of regeneration, intended for young and old without exception. It may be administered by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion; and that by it all who in faith receive this sacrament are given the grace of God through the Holy Spirit, the forgiveness of sins, and the promise of eternal life. References: Matthew 28:19; Titus 3:5; Romans 6:1-7
LORD’S SUPPER
We teach that The Lord’s Supper is the body and blood of Jesus Christ, truly present in and with the bread and the wine in the sacrament of Holy Communion. This sacrament is received by the penitent believing Christian for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of their faith and their growth in godliness. As taught in the Bible, this sacrament is reserved only to those who have professed their Christian faith. References: Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:26-29; Matthew 7:6
PRAYER
We teach that prayer is a Christian’s communion with God. As commanded, it should be regularly practiced by all Christians for their own sake and for the benefit of others and if made in faith and through God’s will promises gracious acceptance and ready answer. References: Psalm 19:14; Matthew 7:7, 8; Psalm 50:15; 1 Timothy 2:1, 8; 1 John 5:14; Isaiah 65:24; Matthew 21:22
SATAN
We believe that there is a great host of evil spirits lead by Lucifer (Satan), who are bitter enemies of God and His church, who are condemned to hell; and that the Last Day all those who have died without faith in Christ will be confined with Satan to experience eternal torment and doom in Hell. References: Ephesians 6:12; 1 Peter 5:8, 9; Jude 6; Matthew 25:41; Isaiah 66:24
THE BODY
We believe that the body, separated in death from the soul, will be raised on the Last Day and reunited. All people will be judged by God, those who believe in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, and thus are cloaked in the robe of righteousness that only Jesus’ death on the cross could provide, will be given eternal life in heaven, while those who do not believe will be sent into eternal condemnation. References: John 5:28, 29; Matthew 25:31-46
CREEDS
We recognize and adhere to the ancient creeds of the early Christian church The Apostles, Nicene and Athanasian. A creed is simply a statement of what one believes. Every professing Christian has a creed whether by admission or not. A true creed is not an addition to the Bible, but only a necessary statement of the truth taught in holy scripture, against those who misuse the Bible for the support of their false teachings and to resist the additions of errors to the teachings of the church. References: 1 Peter 3:15; Matthew 10:32
