Living Our Faith: What Does it Mean to be a Lutheran?
Religion and theology are pretty complicated subjects, but in a very real sense what Lutherans believe is very simple.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9
Beliefs
God the Son
We believe that God became human
in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. God did this out of divine love. Jesus
Christ's life, death, and resurrection express that love for us. Because Christ
gave his life for us, our relationship to God is restored. We are saved by
God's gracious love. This reality stands at the center of our faith.
God the Father
We believe that this entire universe is the fruit of God's imaginative and loving heart. God continues to cherish and care for all people and for all of creation. God longs to see the
universe in harmony.
Holy Spirit
We believe that God is present and
active in our world, in our congregation, and in our individual lives through
the Spirit. The Spirit activates and enlivens our faith and creates the Church
that is the body of Christ.
One God
We believe in one God – Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. God is one in power and purpose and love. Along with the
community of believers since the time of Christ, we continue to experience God
as creator, savior and sanctifier.
The Bible
We believe that the Bible, both
the Old and the New Testaments, contains the Word of God and is a faithful
guide in all matters of faith and life. In and through our personal reading and
community study of the Bible, in and through Bible-based preaching, the Holy
Spirit continues to make Christ real and active in our lives.
Holy Baptism
We believe that God acts through
water and the Word to make us part of the divine family. In Baptism we are
claimed and named and given the power to act and live as children of God.
Holy Communion
We believe that in, with, and under the bread and wine of Holy Communion, Christ's presence is made real through His body and blood. When we celebrate this meal, Christ's love and
forgiveness are given personally to each one of us.
Discipleship
We believe that to trust in Christ
is to follow Christ. To follow Christ is to love the world sacrificially, to
serve others joyfully, and to proclaim the Gospel boldly to all peoples.
"Lutheran" Christians
We believe that all those who
claim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are part of the one Christian Church. The
name "Lutheran" refers to our historical roots in the efforts of Martin Luther
to reform the Church in the 16th Century. Lutherans are one of the largest
mainline Christian denominations in the United States.
Mission, Vision and Values
Our Mission at First Lutheran Church is to be
TheGrace Place!
Receiving, Sharing, and Living Out God's Free and
Unconditional Grace through Jesus Christ.
May the Peace of this Good News Be with You.
Religion and theology are pretty complicated subjects, but in a very real sense what Lutherans believe is very simple.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9
Beliefs
God the Son
We believe that God became human
in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. God did this out of divine love. Jesus
Christ's life, death, and resurrection express that love for us. Because Christ
gave his life for us, our relationship to God is restored. We are saved by
God's gracious love. This reality stands at the center of our faith.
God the Father
We believe that this entire universe is the fruit of God's imaginative and loving heart. God continues to cherish and care for all people and for all of creation. God longs to see the
universe in harmony.
Holy Spirit
We believe that God is present and
active in our world, in our congregation, and in our individual lives through
the Spirit. The Spirit activates and enlivens our faith and creates the Church
that is the body of Christ.
One God
We believe in one God – Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. God is one in power and purpose and love. Along with the
community of believers since the time of Christ, we continue to experience God
as creator, savior and sanctifier.
The Bible
We believe that the Bible, both
the Old and the New Testaments, contains the Word of God and is a faithful
guide in all matters of faith and life. In and through our personal reading and
community study of the Bible, in and through Bible-based preaching, the Holy
Spirit continues to make Christ real and active in our lives.
Holy Baptism
We believe that God acts through
water and the Word to make us part of the divine family. In Baptism we are
claimed and named and given the power to act and live as children of God.
Holy Communion
We believe that in, with, and under the bread and wine of Holy Communion, Christ's presence is made real through His body and blood. When we celebrate this meal, Christ's love and
forgiveness are given personally to each one of us.
Discipleship
We believe that to trust in Christ
is to follow Christ. To follow Christ is to love the world sacrificially, to
serve others joyfully, and to proclaim the Gospel boldly to all peoples.
"Lutheran" Christians
We believe that all those who
claim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are part of the one Christian Church. The
name "Lutheran" refers to our historical roots in the efforts of Martin Luther
to reform the Church in the 16th Century. Lutherans are one of the largest
mainline Christian denominations in the United States.
Mission, Vision and Values
Our Mission at First Lutheran Church is to be
TheGrace Place!
Receiving, Sharing, and Living Out God's Free and
Unconditional Grace through Jesus Christ.
May the Peace of this Good News Be with You.
