What We Believe.
The Scriptures
We believe the Bible is inspired by God, infallible and authoritative for the life of the church and the believer in all matters of faith and conduct. The Scriptures are meant to be read, studied, and enjoyed by the believer. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12-13; Hebrews 4:12)
The Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. These three persons are equal and are worthy of worship and praise. The Triune God is at work in creation and in believers as the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer of all things. (Deuteronomy 6:4; II Corinthians 13:14; Mark 12:29; Matthew 28:19; Isaiah 43:10-11.)
God the Father
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of people, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death through Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 48:12; Ps. 95:3,6; Is. 40:21-26; Ps. 139:1-12; Jn. 7:37,38)
Jesus Christ
We believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, His suffering and atoning death through His shed blood, and His bodily resurrection. Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, and we await His return in power and glory. (Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 1:8; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20; Romans 3:25; Titus 2:13; I Corinthians 15; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 20:31.)
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity. He convicts of sin, calls people to faith, and bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony. He is the agent in new birth, indwells all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, empowers believers for mission and ministry, and binds them into the Body of Christ. (Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 5:18-20; I Corinthians 3:16-17.)
Salvation
We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and are therefore in need of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that those who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior, are saved by God's grace. (Acts 10:47-48.)
Sanctification
We believe that all believers are in-dwelt with the person of the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation, given every spiritual blessing, and are renewed, empowered and called by the Holy Spirit to use these gifts for Kingdom purposes. (Acts 2:38, II Peter 1:3, Ephesians 1:3, Ephesians 2:1-6, II Corinthians 3:16, Romans 12:1-3, Galatians 2:20.)
The Church
We believe the Christian church on earth is the living spiritual body of which Christ is the Head and all Christian believers are members. We believe in the ministry of the local church who gather to worship God out of gratitude, to hear the preaching of the Word and to share in the Lord’s Supper, to pray for the needs of the world, to encourage one another, and to bear witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe that the calling of the church is to be the very presence of Christ in the midst of the world, standing as a testimony of His life and character. (Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:25-27; I Corinthians 12:12-14.)
The Sacraments
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two sacraments to the local church: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that in Baptism the Holy Spirit calls the recipient into a covenant with God and inspires faith, which must be nurtured and personally affirmed. In obedience to Jesus' command, we baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ as a means of grace and witness to the death and resurrection of Christ. We believe in the real presence of Christ "in, with, and under" the bread and the wine. We believe that these two sacraments should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4.)
The Last Things
We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, eternal life for those made righteous in and through Christ, and eternal separation from God for those who do not recognize Jesus as Savior. Jesus will establish a new heaven and a new earth that believers will enjoy with him for eternity. (Mark 9:43-48; John 5:28-29; John 11:25-26; Revelations 20:5-15.)
The Sanctity of Marriage
We believe in the sanctity of marriage as instituted in scripture, a bond under God’s guidance and blessing, between one man and one woman, meant to be a life-long commitment before God and the church. (Genesis 2: 24.)
Christian Attitude
Considering the various denominational backgrounds and spiritual journeys represented in our church, we stress the importance of fundamental doctrines of evangelical Christianity and our Lutheran heritage, but to be understanding in minor differences that are so often merely difference in terminology or customs.