Our Beliefs

The Tri-L declaration gives a clear understanding of Lutheran beliefs.

The Lutheran Confessions as expressed in the Book of Concord of 1580 provide the source of our beliefs.

Creeds that follow are statements that Lutherans regularly use to express their faith.

 

 

 

Beliefs - from Lutheran Laymen's League

There is only one true God. He has revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

God is the creator of everything that exists.

People were originally created by God pure and holy. They lived according to God's will, doing what was pleasing to Him.

Adam and Eve, the man and woman God created in the beginning, went against God's will and brought sin into the world. Since that time, all people have been conceived and born in sin.

Sin is living out of relationship with God, not living according to God's will, and thus transgressing His holy will in thought, word and deed.

People cannot save themselves by their good works or restore themselves to a right relationship with God.

God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world. He is both true God and true man. He lived to fulfill God's law for us, died on the cross to pay the penalty our sins deserved, and rose from the dead so that we might have eternal life. He ascended into heaven, where he now sits at the right hand of The Father to intercede for us.

Because of Jesus' death on the cross, God declares a person just - or righteous - and forgiven. This happens not because of human effort, but because the justification won by Jesus is applied to the one who believes in Jesus as Saviour.

Faith in Jesus is a gift of God, given by the power of the Holy Spirit, thus all the glory belongs to God.

The means of grace are the Word, Holy Baptism, and Holy Communion. By these means, God applies the merits of Jesus' atoning death to all who believe in Jesus as their Savior.

Jesus will come again to take all believers to Himself. On the final day, all the dead will be raised. Those who are still alive will be bodily transformed. After this, the final judgment will take place. Unbelievers will go into eternal damnation, and believers into eternal life.

The true Christian church is made up of all believers of all times who believe in the Triune God and in Jesus Christ as their only Savior.

The true visible church is the church which correctly preaches and teaches God's Word and administers Holy Baptism and Holy Communion according to the teachings of Scripture.

Christians are called to tell others that the only way of salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ, and to show their faith by their deeds of love towards others.

 

The Apostle's Creed (belief in the Triune God)

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the holy Christian church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

 

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of the Father before all worlds;
God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God;
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven,
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary,
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered and was buried;
and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures;
and ascended into heaven,
and sits on the right hand of the Father;
and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead;
whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost,
the Lord and Giver of Life;
who proceeds from the Father and the Son;
who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified;
who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church.
I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins;
and I look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.