Beliefs

THE BIBLE
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, trustworthy and true, and without error. From beginning to end, the Bible is about Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, John 1:1)

GOD
There is only one God who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 28:19)

THE FATHER
God the Father is the first person of the Trinity and the maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. (Isaiah 44:6, Genesis 1:1, Acts 14:15)

JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity, the Son of God, fully God and fully human, and our Lord and Savior. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay for our sin through His shed blood. Jesus rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and will return in power and glory. (John 1:1; Matthew 1:18,25; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 9:15-22; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 9:27-28)

THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, fully God, who brings people to faith and lives within and guides Christians so they are enabled to live godly lives. (John 14:15-26; John 16:5-16; Ephesians 1:13-14)

SALVATION
God wants all people to live with Him forever in a restored and perfect world. God desires eternal death for no one. (1 Timothy 2:4; John 3:16-18; Ezekiel 33:11)

Eternal life in Heaven is offered by the grace of God in Jesus Christ and the renewing work of the Holy Spirit and is the only path to salvation for a lost and broken humanity. (John 3:16; John 5:24; Titus 3:3-7)

Those who reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will receive eternal suffering in hell. (Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

HUMANITY
Adam and Eve were created in the image of God with immortal souls in order to reflect God’s character to the world, to manage and care for God’s creation, and to bring glory to God. (Genesis 2:7; Genesis 1:26-28)

Adam and Eve brought sin and evil into the world through their disobedience. All mankind is therefore guilty before God and in need of forgiveness. (Genesis 3, Romans 5:12)

Adam and Eve were given the promise of forgiveness and redemption through Jesus Christ even as they experienced the consequences of their sin. (Genesis 3:15-16)

THE CHURCH
All believers are members of Christ’s body, the Church, who are called to live in unity. (1 Peter 2:9, Ephesians 3:20-21, Philippians 2:1-4)

The Church is called by Christ to preach the Gospel, teach God’s Word, and heal in His name, as we await His return. (Matthew 4:23, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Matthew 28:18-20)

BAPTISM
Baptism is a Sacrament instituted by Jesus available to anyone. In Baptism, God combines His life-creating and life-giving Word with the waters of Holy Baptism, so we can be born again. It works forgiveness of sins, rescue from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare. (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:37-41, John 3:5, Acts 22:16, Romans 6:4-8)

COMMUNION
Communion (or The Lord’s Supper) is a Sacrament instituted by Jesus and offered to baptized believers. The Lord’s Supper “is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink” (Luther’s Small Catechism). In receiving Jesus’ body and blood, we receive forgiveness, life, and salvation because of the sacrifice He made for us, the sacrifice by which He paid for the sins of the entire world. (1 Corinthians 10:16, Luke 22:14-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25)

LUTHERAN CHURCH –MISSOURI SYNOD 
theCross is a part of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS). The LCMS is a Lutheran denomination that dates back to the 1860s. For more information about the LCMS, please visit www.lcms.org/about/beliefs.