What We Believe

Our Savior is a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). Our beliefs are:

  • Biblical – Based on the authority of Scripture.
  • Historical – Rooted in the creeds of the ancient church.
  • Confessional – Committed to a standard of teaching outlined in the Lutheran Confessions.
  • Christ-centered – Jesus Christ is at the center of all we preach, teach, and live.

Explanation of Beliefs

A brief explanation of our beliefs is found in Luther’s Small Catechism (a brief guide to the Bible and the Christian faith). Based on Scripture and the Small Catechism, we believe:

  • The Bible is the true Word of God, without error or contradiction and, therefore, is the final authority in all matters of faith and life
    (2 Timothy 3:15-17).
     
  • There is only one true God, who has revealed Himself in three persons (Triune), Father (Creator), Son (Redeemer), and Holy Spirit (Sanctifier) (Matthew 28:19).
     
  • Since Adam’s Fall, all people are conceived and born sinful and are completely incapable of saving themselves by good living. (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:10-12, 23).
     
  • God, motivated by His unconditional love for us, provided for our salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
     
  • Jesus Christ is true God, eternally begotten of the Father, and at the same time true man, born of the Virgin Mary, who lived a perfect life for us, died on the cross for us, rose from the dead for us, now reigns at the right hand of God for us, and will one day come again for us. (John 1:1-3, 14; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Luke 1:26-38; Hebrews 4:15; Romans 5:6-8; 1 Corinthians 15:12-24; Ephesians 1:20-23; 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 17).
     
  • We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone (Ephesians 2:10).
     
  • Faith in Jesus Christ comes by the power of the Holy Spirit as He works through the means of grace – His Word and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper -- through which the blessings and benefits of Jesus’ saving death and resurrection, namely the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation are offered, delivered, and applied to us (John 6:63; Romans 10:17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Matthew 28:19-20).
     
  • Baptism, which is water applied in the Name of the Triune God according to Jesus’ mandate and promise, works rebirth and renewal, delivers and applies the forgiveness of sins, joins the baptized to Jesus’ death and resurrection, and grants salvation to all who believe the promise of salvation attached to Baptism (Matthew 28:19-20; John 3:5; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 5:25-26; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:11-12; 1 Peter 3:21).
     
  • Lord’s Supper is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ given in, with, and under the bread and the wine, for Christians to eat and drink, instituted by Jesus Christ Himself, for the forgiveness of their sins (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
     
  • Good works, prayer, and holiness of life are the fruit of faith in Christ, not the cause of faith or salvation (John 15:5; Hebrews 11:16).
     
  • Christians are called to live for Jesus, seeking to serve and honor Him in all facets of life. Life cannot be divided into compartments where Jesus is not present, for He is the author and Lord of all of my life. To know Him is the only way to know what true life is all about, and serving Him is life’s greatest privilege (Colossians 2:6-7; Ephesians 5:1-8; Galatians 5:16-25).

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