What do we Believe, Teach, and Confess?

Introduction

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for your interest in the beliefs and teachings of our church.

Often, new acquaintances talk with each other to learn about who they are, what they've experienced and where they come from. This brochure is part of that conversation.

We want you to get to know us, we want you to know who we really are. And as our acquaintance grows we hope you'll feel more and more comfortable in your relationship with us.

So here we are with a brief, but essential sharing of our deepest beliefs.

Where do we come from?

Our "home town" is God's word, the Bible. We base our teachings on what the Bible teaches us, believing the Bible to be the very words of God.

We realize that many churches claim to be based on the Bible, and that even terrible things have been done with the supposed support of the Bible. Yet, even though God's book has been badly abused, we're still proud of, thankful for, and committed to, the Bible as God's revelation, holy and inerrant in its original writings.

We do believe that there is a recognizable difference between a true Biblical foundation and a faked Biblical foundation, one that can be demonstrated and recognized.

Our second home is the confessional Lutheran Reformation. We are a Lutheran Church because we believe that of all the religions and denominations in the world, Lutheranism reflects and presents the truths of Holy Scripture in the most faithful and accurate way.

What about our family?

We believe that we are children of the living God. We believe that there is only one true God, who is uniquely, but accurately describe as being "triune," that is he is one God in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). We believe that all other gods are fakes, even though they may seem profoundly influential.

This true God can be acknowledged simply by looking at nature. Its profound beauty and intricate designs demonstrate the presence, design and power of a Creator. He can also be recognized through a person's conscience. The approval or disapproval of the conscience is the faint voice of God declaring his endorsement or displeasure of attitudes and actions.

But since both nature and the conscience are easily misunderstood, we also believe that the true God makes himself known most fully in the Holy Scriptures of the Christian religion. In those pages, the Triune God makes himself clearly knowable and approachable.

What about our home?

We believe that the Triune God made this world through what is known as creation. With his unimaginable divine powers, he created the entire universe in 6 normal days. This incredible power and action demonstrates his awesome nature, his rightful ownership of all things, and the nature of the respect and honor due him.

Who are we as a human race?

We believe that at the beginning of time the first two people were created in God's image; not a physical, intellectual or emotional likeness, but a likeness that imitated and reflected God's own holiness and righteousness. Adam and Eve were created with a free will and moral purity.

But in the course of time Adam and Eve exercised their free will to choose to do evil. They distrusted and disobeyed God. Since that time all people have been born without spiritual free will and in moral, ethical and charitable bankruptcy. Not only did every succeeding human being lack the moral purity of God's image, but each was and is so bent on evil that St. Paul would describe the natural human being as someone who, by his very nature, hates God (Romans 8:6-8). Obviously, then, the human race has a deep need for reconciliation with its Creator.

What about Jesus Christ?

We believe that Jesus Christ is really and completely God Almighty, as well as being really and completely a human man. We believe that when Jesus, the "God-Man" came to this earth, he set aside the use of his divine powers for the most part and lived as a mere human being, just like you and me.

We believe that the whole time that Jesus was on earth he was doing two basic things for mankind:

On the one hand, Jesus was doing everything that God wanted us to do, perfectly. He always obeyed what his heavenly Father wanted him to do, in his heart, mind and body. On the other hand, Jesus received and endured all the punishments that each person deserves from God for being disbelieving and disobedient. We see this suffering most clearly in his death on the cross.

In doing these two basic things Jesus became the Substitute for every single human being and thus provides the holiness and the sinlessness that God requires of all people. Through faith in Jesus Christ the image of God, the holiness and righteousness lost by Adam and Eve, is restored again.

We believe that Jesus literally rose from the dead, i.e. his dead body literally came alive again after being dead for 3 days. When Jesus rose from the dead he guaranteed that every last sin has been forgiven and that he has power even over death and hell. The resurrection of Christ is the foundation of the Christian religion, guaranteeing that everything God demands of us Jesus Christ provides for us.

What about sin?

Sin is a real condition that infects every single human being, regardless of age, gender, religion, nationality, race or philosophy. Sin is described in the Bible as distrusting or disbelieving God and expresses itself in actions or attitudes of disobedience. The punishment for sin is both physical and spiritual death. Sin makes God angry and he has promised to call every sinner to account.

What about forgiveness of sins?

We believe that because Jesus lived for us and endured the punishments that we should have received from God, all sins have been forgiven. To enjoy the peace and joy of an acquitted conscience, one simply trusts or believes that the holy life Jesus lived and the punishments Jesus received were lived and received for me as an individual. When I recognize and believe that Jesus did all his work for me, then I can know that my sins are truly forgiven and God really does love me (John 3:16).

True forgiveness is a free gift from God and requires nothing on the part of those who crave it. If real forgiveness depended first on an improvement of life or a cessation of sin no one would ever be forgiven because no one ever stops sinning in this life. Forgiveness of sins is a completely free and gracious gift of God given to sinful people.

What about death?

We believe that while people die for a variety of external reasons, the primary reason why people die is sin. Because everyone sins, everyone dies a physical death.

When people die, their bodies remain on this earth (usually either buried or cremated), but their souls are sent by God either to heaven or to hell, depending on the condition of their souls at death. If they trust Jesus as their Substitute and Savior from sin, they go to heaven. If they trusted in someone or something else, or in nothing at all, God sends their souls to hell. The gracious mercy of Christ's forgiveness and love comforts the dying, and assures peace between them and God. Without Christ any comfort offered or accepted is counterfeit and ineffective.

What about the end of the world?

We believe that Jesus ascended into heaven shortly after he rose from the dead. We also believe that he will come back again to judge all people for the way they have lived their lives. If their lives reflect a disbelief in God's promises and efforts made through his Son, Jesus Christ, God will punish them for an eternity in hell. If their lives reflect a belief in his promises and efforts made through his Son, he will bless them with eternal life.

These are some of our most essential beliefs. For more information regarding the teachings of Atonement and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, please check out "This We Believe."  This pamphlet gives more insight into our beliefs as well as Scriptural passages for your own investigation.