Beliefs

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Beliefs

We believe…	Therefore we value...
In the Triune God-the loving Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who wants all people to have life with Him through faith in Jesus.	Loving all people in His Name
In Jesus Christ as the world’s only Savior (God created us in His image, for perfect relationship with him and through Him with one another. But sin has separated us from God and from one another. Jesus restores us in this relationship.)	Sharing Jesus
In the Bible as being God’s inspired, true Word to all people through which He reveals Himself and His will to all, the Holy Spirit working through this Word to convict people of sin and bring them into a faith relationship with Jesus Christ through which alone we have life with God.	Biblical teaching/learning Transformed Lives
That Baptism and Holy Communion, through the Word (the promise) of God which is tied to them, are also means through which the Holy Spirit works to give, seal and strengthen faith, empowering people to do good and loving works.	Baptism/Holy Communion
That the purpose of our lives is to worship God in all things, and to share His love in fellowship with each other and in acts of loving service to all.	Celebratory/joyful worship Acts of love
The church is one body of believers in Christ, established by God through His Word and Sacraments (Baptism and Holy Communion) toaccomplish His work in the world.	The Family of Christ (The unity of the body in the bonds of peace.) Being missional servants

St. Matthew Lutheran Church is a church focused first and foremost on the Gospel – the Good News – of Jesus Christ. The Gospel declare to us that God is not far away from us, has not abandoned us, and is not angry towards His people. Rather God, through His Son Jesus Christ, is shown to be merciful, forgiving, loving, and deeply committed to humankind in a personal way.

The focus of our teaching is from the Holy Bible which we confess is the inspired Word of God. It is the Bible that dictates all of our teaching and practice. We believe the Bible’s main purpose is to show us Jesus and that through Jesus we have eternal life. (John 20:21-22) Our sermons, studies, and every day speech are filled with the Good News of God’s love in Jesus and are rooted in the Bible, the Word of God.

St. Matthew teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God: the Father, the Creator of all that exists; Jesus Christ, the Son of God from eternity, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again on Easter morning in the ultimate victory over death, sin, and Satan; and the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God’s Word and Sacraments. The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God.

Being “Lutheran,” St. Matthew accepts and teaches the Bible based teachings that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16^th century. The teaching of Martin Luther can be summarized in three short phrases: Grace Alone, Scripture (the Bible) Alone, Faith Alone.

Grace Alone

God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him, and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly. We are save by God’s grace - His undeserved love – alone, solely by what Jesus has done for us.

Faith Alone

By His suffering and death on the cross as the just substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for all people. This forgiveness and life – relationship with God restored – is received by all those who believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. God, the Holy Spirit, through the word of the Gospel, works in people the gift of faith through which life and forgiveness is received. We are saved through faith alone.

Scripture Alone

The Bible is God’s inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian teaching and doctrine.

St. Matthew is a “confessional” congregation. We hold to the Lutheran Confessions contained in the Book of Concord as the correct interpretation and presentation of Biblical teachings and doctrine. These statements of belief were put into writing in the 16^th century by all the Lutherans as a witness and declaration of agreement in what they believed. “I am the Lord, I change not.” Malachi 3:6

Send mail to webmaster questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: 1/04/2009

Send mail to webmaster questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 1/04/2009