What we Believe
Confessional Lutherans, grounded in the Holy Scriptures as the inspired and inerrant Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16) and the confessions of the 1580 Book of Concord, hold to the following core beliefs, rooted in the historic doctrine and practice of the Christian Church:
Justification by Grace through Faith: Salvation is a free gift of God’s grace, received through faith alone in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again (Romans 3:23-24; Ephesians 2:8-9; Augsburg Confession, Article IV).
Authority of Scripture: The Bible is the sole rule and norm for faith and life, infallible and authoritative in all matters of doctrine and practice, consistent with the apostolic and early Church’s reliance on God’s Word (Psalm 119:105; Formula of Concord, Epitome, Rule and Norm).
The Trinity: God exists as one divine essence in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-equal and eternal, as confessed by the early Church in the ecumenical creeds (Matthew 28:19; Athanasian Creed).
Christ’s Person and Work: Jesus Christ is true God and true man, whose atoning sacrifice on the cross fully reconciles sinners to God, a truth upheld from the apostolic era through the Reformation (John 1:1, 14; Colossians 1:19-20; Augsburg Confession, Article III).
The Sacraments: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are true means of grace, instituted by Christ, through which God delivers forgiveness and strengthens faith. These practices are rooted in the early Church and faithfully continued in Lutheran worship (Matthew 26:26-28; 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11: & Acts 2:38; cf. 1 Peter 3:21; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:11-12 Small Catechism, Baptism and Lord’s Supper).
The Church: The true Church consists of all who trust in Christ, gathered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament, transcending visible institutions, a definition consistent with the New Testament and historic Christian teaching (Ephesians 2:19-22; Augsburg Confession, Article VII).
Good Works: While good works do not earn salvation, they flow from faith as fruits of the Spirit, done to serve others and glorify God, reflecting the early Church’s emphasis on charity and service (John 15:5; Augsburg Confession, Article VI).
The Last Day: Christ will return to judge the living and the dead, granting eternal life to believers and eternal punishment to unbelievers, a belief held unwaveringly since the apostolic age (John 5:28-29; Apostles’ Creed).
Historic Continuity of Doctrine: Confessional Lutheranism maintains the catholicity of the Church by preserving the teachings of Scripture as confessed in the ancient creeds (Apostles’, Nicene, Athanasian) and clarified in the Reformation, rejecting innovations contrary to God’s Word while embracing the faithful tradition of the Church Fathers (Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Rule and Norm).
The Mass and Worship (Augsburg Confession, Article XXIV): The Lutheran practice of the Mass, or Divine Service, retains the historic liturgy of the Western Church, centered on Word and Sacrament, with ceremonies that proclaim the Gospel. It rejects abuses (e.g., masses for the dead) but upholds the reverent administration of the Lord’s Supper, ensuring it is celebrated for the living to receive Christ’s body and blood for forgiveness (Augsburg Confession, Article XXIV; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25).
Confessional Subscription: Confessional Lutherans subscribe to the Book of Concord (1580) as a true exposition of Scripture, not as a new authority but as a faithful witness to the historic Christian faith, uniting them with the Church of all ages (Preface to the Book of Concord).
The Gospel: The Gospel is the good news that God, out of His boundless mercy, sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for the sins of the world through His death and resurrection, freely justifying sinners by grace through faith, apart from works, and delivering forgiveness and eternal life through His Word and Sacraments (Romans 1:16-17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation”; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Augsburg Confession, Article IV, on Justification).
NICENE CREED
The Nicene Creed, confessed in each Divine Service, is a historic confession of the Christian faith, adopted in 325 AD and expanded in 381 AD.
“I believe in one God,…”
One God: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4; cf. Mark 12:29)
“…the Father Almighty,…”
Father: “Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist.” (1 Corinthians 8:6)
Almighty: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)
“…maker of heaven and earth…”
Maker of heaven and earth: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1; cf. Psalm 33:6)
“…and of all things visible and invisible….”
All things visible and invisible: “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.” (Colossians 1:16)
“…And in one Lord Jesus Christ,…”
One Lord: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Ephesians 4:5)
Jesus Christ: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
“…the only-begotten Son of God,…”
Only-begotten Son: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son.” (John 3:16)
“…begotten of His Father before all worlds,…”
Begotten before all worlds: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1; cf. Hebrews 1:2)
“…God of God, Light of Light,…”
God of God: “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)
Light of Light: “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12; cf. 1 John 1:5)
“…very God of very God,…”
Very God: “And the Word was God.” (John 1:1; cf. Titus 2:13)
“…begotten, not made,…”
Begotten, not made: “This day I have begotten you.” (Psalm 2:7; cf. Hebrews 1:5)
“…being of one substance with the Father,…”
One substance with the Father: “He is the image of the invisible God… For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” (Colossians 1:15, 2:9)
“…by whom all things were made;…”
By whom all things were made: “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3)
“…who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven…”
For our salvation: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)
Came down from heaven: “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (John 6:38)
“…and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary…”
Incarnate by the Holy Spirit: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” (Luke 1:35)
Of the virgin Mary: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son.” (Isaiah 7:14; cf. Matthew 1:23)
“…and was made man;…”
Was made man: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14)
“…and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate…”
Crucified for us: “For I delivered to you as of first importance… that Christ died for our sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:3)
Under Pontius Pilate: “When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out… and said, ‘Here is the man!’” (John 19:5; cf. Matthew 27:2)
“…He suffered and was buried….”
Suffered: “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3; cf. Matthew 27:27-31)
Was buried: “And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb.” (Luke 23:53)
“…And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures…”
Rose again the third day: “For I delivered to you… that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:4; cf. Matthew 28:6)
According to the Scriptures: “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead.” (Luke 24:46)
“…and ascended into heaven…”
Ascended into heaven: “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:9)
“…and sits at the right hand of the Father…”
Sits at the right hand: “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’” (Psalm 110:1; cf. Hebrews 1:3)
“…And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,…”
Come again with glory: “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30)
Judge the living and the dead: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:10; cf. Acts 10:42)
“…whose kingdom will have no end….”
Kingdom with no end: “Of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:33; cf. Daniel 7:14)
“…And I believe in the Holy Spirit,…”
Holy Spirit: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.” (John 14:16)
“…the Lord and giver of life,…”
Lord: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.” (Luke 4:18; cf. 2 Corinthians 3:17)
Giver of life: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all.” (John 6:63)
“…who proceeds from the Father and the Son,…”
Proceeds from the Father and the Son: “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.” (John 15:26; cf. John 20:22)
“…who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,…”
Worshiped and glorified: “Go therefore and make disciples… baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19; cf. 2 Corinthians 13:14)
“…who spoke by the prophets.”
Spoke by the prophets: “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21)
“And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,…”
One holy Christian and apostolic Church: “There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Ephesians 4:4-5; cf. Acts 2:42)
“…I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,…”
One Baptism for remission of sins: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2:38; cf. 1 Peter 3:21; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:11-12)
“…and I look for the resurrection of the dead…”
Resurrection of the dead: “For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:52)
“…and the life of the world to come. Amen.”
Life of the world to come: “And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.” (1 John 2:25; cf. Revelation 21:1-4)