Beliefs

  1. The Bible is God’s true and inerrant Word, written by men whose every thought and word was inspired by the Holy Spirit. (Verbal Inspiration)

  2. There is only one true God. He reveals Himself as three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Triune God)

  3. God created the world in six 24-hour days. On day 6, God created human beings in His own image—without sin. They were meant to live forever.

  4. Satan and his demons used to be angels. They had been created by God for His glory. But soon after creation, they sinned against God.

  5. When Adam and Eve sinned, they brought sin and death into this world. (The Fall)

  6. Because of Adam’s sin, all people are now born in sin and in need of a Savior. (Original sin)

  7. God gave us a Savior in the person of His Son Jesus Christ, who was born to a virgin named Mary. (person of Jesus—true God, true man)

  8. Jesus Christ received the punishment for the sins of the world when He died on the cross. (Universal atonement)

  9. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after His death, guaranteeing our victory over sin and death, and He lives forever as our glorious King. (Resurrection)

  10. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are declared innocent and righteous by God. (Justification)

  11. Only by the working of the Holy Spirit can a person have faith in Jesus Christ. (Sanctification)

  12. Jesus sends His Holy Spirit to us only through the Gospel in word and sacrament. (The Means of Grace)

  13. Jesus has given us two sacraments by which He makes and strengthens believers—Baptism and Holy Communion.

  14. In Baptism, God gives His Holy Spirit and unites the person (at any age) with Christ so that the person receives forgiveness, righteousness, and salvation.

  15. In Holy Communion, Jesus miraculously gives us His very body and blood together with bread and wine so that we receive the forgiveness of sins that He won for us at the cross.

  16. God has revealed His will for how He wants us to live on this earth. (The Law—natural law and written law)

  17. What God says in His written law, He means, and we cannot change His commands to fit our desires.

  18. Only through faith in Jesus Christ can our works be pleasing to God.

  19. The devil, the world, and our own sinful nature are working against our faith.

  20. Only by the working of our King, Jesus Christ, will we overcome these enemies. (Kingdom of heaven)

  21. God encourages us to talk to Him in prayer, and has told us what to pray for in the Lord’s Prayer.

  22. A day will come when Jesus will raise to life all those who have died. (Judgment Day)

  23. Those who do not believe in Jesus Christ will be punished eternally in hell, and have only themselves to blame.

  24. Those who, only by God’s eternal grace, believe in Jesus Christ will receive eternal life in heaven. (Election/Predestination)