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What We believe:    Who is Jesus:

God offers heaven to all as a free Gift:  "" For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."   (Romans 6:23)

All are sinners and cannot save themselves:  " For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"  (Romans 3:23)

God hates sin, but loves the sinner:  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."   (John 3:16)

Through Jesus' death and resurrection God offers the free gift of eternal life:  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life, He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?"   (John 11:25-26)

Anyone may receive this free gift by trusting in Jesus Christ:  "For it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."   (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God works by His Spirit through Baptism: Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.  Flesh gives birth of flesh, but the spirit gives birth to spirit.  You should not be surprised at my saying, You must be born again "  (John 3:5-7) and the Lord's Supper in the lives of people:   "For received from the Lord what I also passed on to you:  The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."  In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood:  do this, whenever you drink it in remembrance of me.   (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Those who believe in Jesus will live according to his Word:  "If you love me, you will obey what I command."    (John 14:15)

God directs believers to tell others of Jesus' love:  "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."   (Acts 1:8)

Who is Jesus:

For hundreds of years, Christians around the world (Lutherans included) have answered the question "Who is Jesus?" by repeating one of the church's most ancient creeds: the Apostles' Creed. The word "creed" simply means, "I believe." The Apostles' Creed summarizes in a few short statements what the Bible teaches about the true God.

The creed begins: "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth."

According to the Bible, there is only one God, the almighty, all-knowing Creator of all, who mercifully provides for the needs of His creatures. In love, God originally created human beings in His image: perfect and sinless.

In sinful pride, our first parents rebelled against God and brought sin, death and suffering to the entire human race. But God's love for His sinful creatures could not be quenched. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to rescue sinful humanity by His perfect life, redeeming death, and glorious resurrection from the dead.

Thus, the creed continues:  "I believe 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 rose 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."

According to the Bible, Jesus is both true God and true man. He is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit from all eternity: three persons, but only one God (the "Triune God"). But He is also true man, a human being like us in every way--except for sin. As true God and true man, Jesus lived the perfect life that we could never live.

He suffered and died on the cross to pay the price for all of our sins. He rose from the dead to seal and proclaim His victory over sin, death and the devil. Then He ascended into heaven where He rules in power and glory, until the day when He returns to judge the living and the dead.

Jesus has done everything necessary to accomplish the salvation of all people. Therefore, the Bible's answer to the question, "How can I be saved?" is a very simple one: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). According to Scripture, salvation comes not by "living a good life" or "trying to be a good person," since "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Salvation is a free gift of God, which comes through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

The third and final article of the Apostles' Creed explains how faith in Jesus is possible. The creed concludes: "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."

According to the Bible, we are not able to trust in Jesus by our own strength, power or wisdom. The Holy Spirit, working through the Gospel the Good News about Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scriptures enables us and empowers us to believe.

The Holy Spirit also sustains and strengthens our faith and makes us members of Christ's body, the church. Joining with other believers to hear God's Word and receive His sacraments (baptism and the Lord's Supper), we receive forgiveness for our sins and strength to live lives that are pleasing to God and bring blessing to us and to others. We look forward in hope and eager anticipation to Christ's second coming, when He will bring us and all believers to our true, heavenly home, where the glory and beauty of God's creative work will be fully and perfectly restored.