The Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God.
"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness' that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation.
"For God so love the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16
"Jesus said to him,. 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." John 14:6
Christians are called to be salt and a light in the world.
"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:13-14
As a Bible Believing Lutheran Church we believe..
That Salvation is a gift from God. We are saved by grace through faith not by works or good deeds. Eph.2:8
That God is one God who has revealed Himself in 3 Persons, God the Father. God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, which we commonly call the Trinity. Deut.6:4, Is.44:6, Is.57:15, John. 10:30, Col. 2:9, John. 14:9,16 17,26 Acts 2:38-39
That Communion is more than symbolic. The body and blood of Christ are present Matt.18:20, although not visible, and thus it calls for the communicant to carefully deal with sin and relationships before partaking of the Lord's Supper. 1Cor. 11:27-29
That Baptism is a work of God that provides salvation but that this gift received in infancy must be accepted by the individual in a conscious, confirming way, at an age of accountability, or the salvation will be lost. 1Peter3:21, Jn.1:12, Rom.10:13, Matt. 10:32-33
That all believers are eternally secure in Christ, however, each of us has the power to leave that relationship and walk away from Christ even though He promises not to walk away from us. Hebrews 13:5, 6:4-6, 10:39, 3:1, 2 Peter 2:20-22
The Bible speaks to all the social issues of our day.
"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness" 2 Timothy 3:16
1. The Bible is not man's opinion, it is the work of God's Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21
2. The Word of God is applicable for all generations. Hebrews 13:7-8
3. It is the living word. Hebrews 4:12
On Abortion -
There is punishment for those who do abortion for selfish reasons. Amos 1:13
There was punishment for anyone who caused a woman to lose her unborn baby. Exodus21:22-25
God works with babies while they are still in their mothers' womb. Luke1:15, Jeremiah 1:4-5
Jesus was originally an "unwanted baby"! God had to intervene and change Joseph's heart and attitude.
Mary was an "unwed" pregnant girl! She was pregnant by Someone other than her husband to be!
Yet none of these reasons were sufficient to have the child aborted, Thank God! Luke 1:19
Children are a gift from God. Psalm 127:3
On Homosexualism -
It is a direct rebellion against God's plan for His creation to reproduce. Genesis 1:27
Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of Homosexualism. Genesis 19:4-7
It is a sin, an abomination! Leviticus 18:22
It is committed by people with "depraved" minds darkened by sin. Romans 1:27-28
It is listed among those sins which, if unconfessed, will keep a person out of heaven. I Corinthians 6:9-10
The abominable will perish in hell. Rev. 21:8
Homosexuals are just like any other person living in sin. They need to repent and stop sinning and return to Jesus for cleansing and forgiveness. They too can become a new creation in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17
On Fornication (sex outside of marriage)
Fornicators will not go to heaven. 1 Corinthians 6:9
Sexual relations are immoral when outside of the marriage relationship. 1 Corinthians 6:15-19
Immoral people will not enter heaven. Galatians 5:19
Marriage is honorable but fornication and adultery God will judge. Hebrews 13:4
On Marriage -
It is to be a lifelong union of one man and one woman. Malachi 2:16. Matt. 19:6-10, I Cor. 7:39
On "Christian Rock" music-
Mixing of the things of God (His Word) with the things of Satan (his music) does not edify the soul. 2 Cor.6:14-17, Deut.18:9, Rom.12:2
On Charismatic Theology
Faith Lutheran is a non-charismatic, conservative, evangelical church that welcomes all who know Jesus Christ as their Savior and all who are seeking Him. Faith Lutheran seeks to prevent the propagation of doctrines that would cause divisions within our church. Therefore, members of Faith Lutheran are not to propagate the teachings and emphases of the current charismatic movement. Although we do not control personal, individual interactions with the Lord, the expression of tongues and other sign gifts are not to be expressed at meetings that are under the organization and authority of Faith Lutheran Church.
As a Lutheran church we believe...
That every person must accept Christ and His free gift for themselves. Jn. 1:12. Rom. 10:9
That every man is sinful and needs forgiveness. Rom. 3: 10, 23
That Jesus Christ will physically return to gather this church (the believers) to spend eternity in heaven with Him. Jn. 14:3. I Thessalonians 4: 16-18
That the Lord has endowed His church with spiritual gifts for the building up of the saints and that He endowed the disciples who established the early Christian church with "'special" gifts. Rom. 12:3-8, Acts 19:11, 2 Cor. 12:12
That God intends for every believer to be participating in evangelism in order to win the lost for Christ. I Peter 2:9, Matt.5:16
That the use of tongues in the church has ceased.1 Cor. 13:8, 14:4, 12, 26
That the Lord has completed His revelation to mankind. Rev. 22:18- 19
THE PROGRESSION OF GOD'S WORD
In the Old Testament God used prophets, visions, dreams and angelic messengers to make His Word known to man. Jeremiah 1:7, Isaiah 1:1, Genesis 28:12-13, 22:11
In the New Testament God now spoke His word through Christ, which the Apostles recorded.
Hebrews 1:1-2, John 1:1, 14, 21:24, 2 Peter 3:2, 16, 2 Timothy 3:16
Acts - The book of transition from the O.T. to the church age, which we currently live in. While the book of Acts was being written God was still speaking prophetically through the apostles because the Bible was not yet completed. Acts 10:10-15, 19:1-5, Jn. 16:13-14
Revelation - the last message Christ spoke, confirming that the Scriptures were now complete, He forbid that anything be added to them. Rev. 22:18, 1 Corinthians 13:8
This means there can be no more "extra-biblical" revelations. "Extra-biblical" means revelations from God outside what He has revealed in His Word. God does reveal many new truths to us as we grow in Christ but they're always based on His written Word. 2 Timothy 3:15-16,
The Bible is the only way to determine the authenticity of someone who is claiming to speak for God. Do they claim a new revelation or are they quoting the truths of Scripture? If someone tells you God said something, they should be able to show you in Scripture where it is. If they cannot, don't believe them. 1 John 4:1-3, 1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Peter 3:16