What We Believe

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​Simply stated, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod believes, teaches and confesses that in Christ alone is there salvation––by grace alone, through faith alone, on the basis of Scripture alone. To share this message with the world is the mission of the church and the reason for its existence. [What Do Lutherans Believe? by Dr. Samuel Nafzger]

Our Doctrines

  1. The Bible is the inspired Word of God. The entire Bible points to Jesus as Savior.
  2. There is only one true God, who consists of three divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is the mystery of the Trinity.
  3. When God created people, they were perfect and holy (in his image).
  4. When the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, rebelled against God, they destroyed their perfection and holiness. Since that time, all people have been conceived and born with a sinful nature (original sin).
  5. Because we have a sinful nature, we also break God's Law (actual sin).
  6. We can't save ourselves by keeping the Ten Commandments. We are spiritually dead. Left on our own, we'll always choose evil, so we are doomed to eternal death in hell.
  7. God the Son, who always existed as true God with the Father and the Holy Spirit, took upon himself our human nature in the womb of the virgin Mary.
  8. As true God and true man, Jesus had no sin, but he took all our sins on himself. He suffered even hell on the cross. He died and rose from the dead to win our salvation.
  9. Now, for Jesus' sake, God has pronounced us innocent (justified), and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are given faith that trusts in Jesus for forgiveness and life everlasting.
  10. God reveals this Gospel (Good News) through his Word and Sacraments (the means of grace) and uses these means to reestablish our relationship with him and to strengthen our faith.
  11. Baptism is an act of God, the miracle of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
  12. In the miracle of the Lord's Supper, Jesus gives us his very body and blood with the bread and wine, not as physical food, but for the forgiveness of our sins. Therefore we practice close Communion so that no one may purposely or inadvertently be guilty of “sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.”   [1 Corinthians 11:27]

Interested in learning more?

We invite you to attend an Adult Information Class where these doctrines and others are discussed in more detail. Contact us to when the next class is scheduled.