Sometimes people will ask “Why Lutheran?”
Well, while we could take you back 500 years to the period of history known as the Reformation and a great Christian named Martin Luther, we will spare you the history lesson.
THE WORD
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21), the final authority for faith and life, inerrant, infallible, and God-breathed (Matthew 5:18; Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5).
GOD
The Lord God is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – co-eternal in being, co-eternal in nature, co-equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfection (2 Corinthians 13:14). God is not hidden, as though we must search to find him. Rather, he has revealed himself to us, that we might know him. He is the creator of the universe (Genesis 1:1). He has always existed, never having a beginning, never ending (Revelation 21:6) and never changing (Psalm 102:27; Malachi 3:6). He is the most beautiful of all things (Psalm 27:4). He is love (1 John 4:16) and he loves the world (Hosea 2:23; John 3:16). He is holy (Isaiah 6:3), he is merciful and forgiving (Daniel 9:9), he is compassionate (Exodus 34:6) he is just and rules the world with justice (Psalm 67:4).
THE FATHER
God the Father is the creator and sustainer of life. He spoke the world into being (Genesis 1:1). Throughout history the Father has shown himself to have a track record of pursuing and loving people even in their ignorance, apathy, and rebellion (Jeremiah 31:3) .The Father desires to be known by all people (1 Timothy 2:4). He delights in loving the people whom he created (Zephaniah 3:17; Ezekiel 33:11).
THE SON
Jesus Christ is true God with the Father and the Spirit – not merely a good man or a moral teacher. The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that he might reveal God and redeem sinful man (John 1:1-2, 14; Luke 1:35; Colossians 1:19). Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross as a vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice. His resurrection from the dead was literal and physical (1 John 2:2; Romans 3:24; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; 2:13; 1 Peter 1:3-5). The Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of the Father, where he is our high priest, mediator, intercessor and advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 7:25, 9:24; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2).
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is true God with the Father and the Son–therefore not merely the power or energy of God (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16). We believe that we cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord, or come to Him (Hebrews 9:14; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:3); but the Holy Spirit has called us by the Gospel, enlightened us with His gifts, sanctified and kept us in the true faith (Titus 3:5). The Holy Spirit indwells his people and gives them spiritual gifts that are manifested in numerous ways (1 Corinthians 12:1-11).
CONDITION OF HUMANITY
Humanity was created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27), but through Adam’s sin the humanity inherited a sinful nature and became alienated from God. We are by nature sinful to the core and rebellious toward God (Psalm 51:5, Genesis 8:21, Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 3:23-24, Ephesians 2:1-3, 12). Left to ourselves, we are utterly unable to remedy our lost condition (Romans 3:22-23, 5:12; Psalm 51: 5). In short, we need to be saved from ourselves!
SALVATION
Salvation is free. It is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12) of God that is received through faith in Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed on the cross at Calvary for the forgiveness of our sin (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 2Corinthians 5:21; John 3:16). No amount of good work or effort or church attendance or religious activity can be done to earn our way into heaven (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:28). Through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior (John 17:3), anyone can be assured that he/she will spend eternity with God.
HUMANITY IN CHRIST, THE CHURCH
Through Christ’s sacrifice, humanity was redeemed, made heirs of God’s love and adopted as his children (Romans 5:12-19). In believing this, humanity is connected with God and made whole. In Christ, believers know joy and purpose. In Christ, we experience true freedom and full life (John 8:36, Galatians 5:1, John 10:10). He gives us a new heart, new desires and new perspective. The church is a body of people from all times and all places who have been made alive to the Truth of God by the Spirit, and have put their faith in the work of Christ alone as their Savior from sin (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25-27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2). The church is not something we go to, nor is it something we do. Instead, the church is something we are. The church is here not just for itself, it exists to serve all people and adore the One – Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Genesis 12:1-3, Isaiah 49:6, Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8).