STATEMENT OF FAITH
The Foundation of Scripture
We confess that the Holy Scriptures, comprising the Old and New Testaments, are the inspired, infallible Word of God; the sole authority for faith, doctrine and life.
The Trinity
God exists eternally as one divine essence in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father is the Creator and Sustainer of all, to whom all creation is subject. Humanity, created in God's image, fell into sin through Adam and Eve's disobedience, rendering all people totally depraved, unable to please God apart from grace. Jesus Christ, the eternal Son, fully God and fully human, was born of the Virgin Mary, lived sinlessly, died on the cross, and was resurrected to pay our sin-debt. He ascended to heaven, intercedes as our High Priest, and will return to judge the living and the dead, establishing His eternal kingdom. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, regenerates, sanctifies and empowers believers through the Word and sacraments.
Repentance
Repentance has two parts: first, feeling deep sorrow for sins due to an awareness of guilt. This is the effect of the Law. And the second, having faith, which is effected through hearing the Gospel, believing that sins are truly forgiven because of Christ, which brings peace to the conscience and frees it from fear. Good works naturally follow as the result of true repentance.
Justification and Sanctification
Justification is God's act of forgiving and crediting believers with Christ's righteousness, apart from works. This righteousness is received by grace through faith when one repents and believes the forgiveness of sins. This leads to a sanctified life. Sanctification is the Holy Spirit's ongoing work in believers, producing spiritual fruit and helping them live godly lives.
Means of Grace
So that the promises of God can be apprehended, God provides means of grace: His Word, Absolution, Baptism and Holy Communion. These are Gospel, offering forgiveness of sins and strengthening faith in those promises by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Holy Baptism, God offers benefits of Christ's redemption and graciously bestows a washing of regeneration and newness of life to all who believe. God calls the baptized person to live in daily repentance; that is, in sorrow for sin, turning from sin, and in personal faith in the forgiveness of sin which was obtained by Christ. In Holy Communion God offers Christ's true body and blood, under the bread and wine, declaring forgiveness of sins to one who receives these promises in faith. These are sacraments only because the physical elements are joined to God's Word and are effectual in a heart that receives them in faith. The sacraments do not justify by the outward act, and faith which believes that sins are forgiven, is required.
The Church and the Congregation
The Christian Church is the assembly of believers where the Gospel is purely preached and sacraments rightly administered. While the Universal Christian Church comprises only true believers, the local congregation may include hypocrites mingled within it. Nevertheless, the congregation offers refuge to sinners in the preaching of the Word, administration of the sacraments, forgiveness of sins, fellowship, and diverse sharing of gifts for the edifying of the Body of Christ. The Word of God, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, guides the congregation and speaks to all who gather and hear. The Holy Ghost is given and works faith where and when it pleases God in them that hear the Gospel.
Traditions of the Fathers
We uphold the Apostles', Nicene and Athanasian Creeds, the unaltered Augsburg Confession and Luther's Catechisms; all as faithful expositions of scripture, thereby subject to Scripture's divine authorship.
Walking in Faith
Believers are called to preach the Gospel, resist sin, and live in love, trusting solely in Christ's righteousness for salvation. The spirit of God produces fruits of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are made evident in the love of God and love for neighbor.