Questions About Christianity?
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What about salvation in Christ?
Forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are freely available to all through faith in Christ, who is fully God and fully man. Salvation is not gained by anything that we do, but is won and given by Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9) What do we say about the Bible? As a member congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, growing out from Christ, the True Vine (John 15), we believe, teach, and confess that the entire Bible, which points to Jesus as the Savior of sinful mankind, is inspired (2 Timothy 3:16) and without error (John 10:35). What about God’s Law and Sin? Along with Scripture, we hold that the Law of God, revealed in the 10 Commandments, is eternal. It reveals God’s perfect will for humanity, which cannot be kept perfectly. It can be summed up in the two phrases, “Love God” and “Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-38).” Because sin curves us inward, we neither love God or neighbor as we ought. The Law shows us our sin and shows us our need for a Savior. What about God and Worship? We confess the three ecumenical creeds (Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian) as faithful summaries of what Christians ought to believe, centered around the belief that there is only one True God, and He reveals Himself to us in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They link us to the Church of all time, dating back to the Apostles. This is also reflected in our worship service, which we have joyfully received from faithful Christians from various points in Church History, dating back to the Apostles (Acts 2:42), built upon the foundation of the worship life of Ancient Israel. Lutherans prefer to call their worship service “Divine Service,” because at its center is God taking on human flesh to serve us with His gifts given through the Word and Sacraments. What about prayer? We believe, as Scripture teaches, that God desires our prayers. The Scriptures teach that we should call upon Him in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks, because He promises to hear our prayers (Psalm 50:15). What about Baptism? We believe that Christ Himself instituted two Sacraments: Baptism (Matthew 28:19) and the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and I Corinthians 11). We believe that Baptism is God’s work, actually saves (I Peter 3:21), gives us the hope of the resurrection to eternal life (Romans 6:4), and is how He adopts us as His children (Galatians 3:27-4:7). What about Christ’s Office and the Forgiveness of Sin? Jesus Himself instituted the Pastoral Office to forgive the sins of those who repent and withhold forgiveness from those who refuse to repent (John 20:21-23). The Holy Spirit calls pastors to announce the forgiveness of sins, won by Christ, through the proclamation of the Scriptures and apply this forgiveness to individuals through Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 4:1). Jesus promises to be with us to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20), and He does so through the pastors He calls into the Church to proclaim Him faithfully and administer the Sacraments as He has commanded them to be done. What about the Lord’s Supper? In accordance with Scripture, we believe that Christ’s body and blood (born of Mary, crucified, risen, and ascended into heaven) is really present in the bread and wine to forgive those who believe Christ’s Word. Apart from faith in Christ’s Word about His Supper, a person can commune to their harm (I Corinthians 11:27-29). Out of love and respect for others that believe differently from us, we ask that you speak with Pastor or elders before communing with us for the first time. Want to know more about what Confessional Lutherans believe, teach and confess?
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(26)"Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said,
“Take, eat; this is my body.”
27) And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying,
“Drink of it, all of you, (28) for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (29) I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
MATTHEW 26 26:29
“Take, eat; this is my body.”
27) And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying,
“Drink of it, all of you, (28) for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (29) I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
MATTHEW 26 26:29
