Statement of Beliefs

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STATEMENT OF BELIEFS

WE BELIEVE, teach, and confess that in Jesus Christ alone there is salvation -- by grace alone, through faith alone, on the basis of Scripture alone. To share this message with the world is the mission of the church and the reason for its existence.

Grace Alone: Salvation is the free gift of God's grace for Christ's sake alone.

Faith Alone: People cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for Christ's sake through faith when they believe that their sins are forgiven on account of Christ.

Scripture Alone: The Bible is the infallible Word of God, and Scripture alone stands as the final standard of what the Gospel is.

WE BELIEVE that the Sacraments are instituted by God, in which God Himself has joined His Word of promise to a visible element, and by which He offers, gives, and seals the forgiveness of sins earned by Christ. There are two Sacraments: Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

We believe in infant baptism, because Jesus gave the command, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). The phrase "all nations," includes all people, young and old.

We believe that Christ gives us His own true body and blood for the forgiveness of sins under the bread and wine of the Lord's Supper. We are to take communion frequently, as Jesus says, "This do in remembrance of Me" (Luke 22:19).

WE BELIEVE in one, holy Christian church in heaven and on earth, which is made up of all believers in Jesus Christ. Although this spiritual unity of the church is a present reality, external unity in the church is not. Divisions in Christendom are the result of sin and are contrary to God's will. The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod seeks to be faithful to this understanding of the spiritual unity of the church as it relates to other Lutherans and other Christian churches.