What We Believe

Grace Lutheran Church believes…

The Bible – We believe, teach, and confess that the 66 canonical books of Holy Scripture are the inspired and inerrant Word of God.  These books are Jesus Christ revealed to all the world in written form. The Bible is that by which we measure and consider all theology and practice.  It is our norm and source for all things.

The Creeds – We believe, teach, and confess the three ecumenical creeds: Apostles, Nicene, and Athanasian.  These three creeds are the historic confession and declaration of belief in the Trinity and each person’s work for the salvation of all creation.

The Person and Work of Jesus of Nazareth – We believe, teach, and confess  that Jesus of Nazareth to be true God and true man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.  Through his life, death, and resurrection, the Last Day has begun and the Spirit has been given.  Through his death on the cross our sins were forgiven and by his resurrection our hope is secure. 

Our Salvation – We believe, teach, and confess that we cannot obtain forgiveness of sin and righteousness before God through our merit, work, or satisfactions, but that we receive forgiveness of sin and become righteous before God out of grace for Christ's sake through faith when we believe that Christ has suffered for us and that for his sake our sin is forgiven and righteousness and eternal life are given to us.

The Sacraments – We believe, teach, and confess that our Lord has instituted two sacraments for the forgiveness of sins and the sanctification of the believer.  Baptism is not a mere symbol or rite of initiation, but God declaring to us by His Word and Promise that we are His child.  The Lord’s Supper is His meal given to us for the forgiveness of our sins.  This is a meal in which we taste and see the body and blood of Jesus in, with, and under the bread and wine. This sacrament is both one of salvation and of community. Therefore, this congregation practices close communion.  In order to partake in the Service of the Sacrament, we ask that you be in full accord and agreement with all teachings of our church body.

The Church – We believe, teach, and confess that the church is the congregation of the saints who hear the Gospel purely taught and the Sacraments rightly administered.  Without both present we cease to be a faithful bride of our Lord.

The Eternal Hope – We believe, teach, and confess that Death is the last enemy to overcome.  Christ has been victorious in His resurrection and we await the Last Day so that we may join him in the bodily resurrection.  It is on that Day that we will once again take up our flesh and live forever with him in the new heavens and the new earth.  But until that day we live in the now and not yet.  For now we live in the days in which the restoration has begun through Christ, but we also live in the not yet in which we still encounter the brokenness and sin of this time.

So Much More – We believe, teach, and confess the whole truth of Scripture.  There are many facets of our faith that cannot be simply summarized, but only taught through the lens of faith.  We invite you to come and grow with us as we are fed by the Good Gifts of God.

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