Beliefs

St. John Lutheran Church is a congregation of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), a network of more than 6,000 congregations around the United States.

Below is a short summary of some of our foundational beliefs.

The Triune God

There is only one God: the Holy Trinity (three distinct Persons in one divine Being). Holy Scripture reveals Him as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is holy, good, just, gracious, faithful, eternal, unchanging, almighty, all-knowing, and omnipresent. He is love.

Jesus Christ

Jesus is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity — true God, begotten of the Father from all eternity, and also true Man, born of the virgin Mary. He is the promised Messiah, the Savior of sinners, the Lamb of God who was crucified and then raised to new life on the third day.

God’s Word

The Bible (a.k.a. Holy Scripture) is God’s Word, written by prophets and apostles under inspiration of the Holy Spirit. From Genesis to Revelation, God’s Word is completely truthful, infallible, inerrant, reliable, efficacious. The Old Testament promises the coming Messiah. The New Testament reveals this Messiah as Jesus Christ. We unapologetically believe, teach, and confess all of God’s Word.

Creation and the Fall

God created (out of nothing) everything that exists in six 24-hour days. The crown of His creation is man and woman, created in His image. Adam and Eve, our first parents, disobeyed God and brought sin, brokenness, and death into this world. Apart from Jesus Christ, we are spiritually blind, dead, and enemies of God.

Justification

Sinners are justified — declared righteous — by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. This righteousness cannot be purchased, earned, or merited. It is a gift. Jesus paid for humanity’s sin in full on the cross and freely delivers His forgiveness, life, and salvation to sinners in the means of grace.

The Church and Office of the Ministry

The Church is the bride of Christ, the assembly of all who believe in Jesus Christ. Christians gather around their Lord to receive His gracious gifts in Word and Sacrament. Our Lord established the Office of the Ministry and calls men into it to preach the Gospel purely and administer the Sacraments according to His institution.

The Means of Grace

Our Lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world. He won salvation for all through the shedding of His blood. This forgiveness, life, and salvation is distributed to sinners through God’s holy Word and Sacraments. These are the means through which the Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies.

Holy Lives

Christians are simultaneously sinner and saint. Sinner by nature, saint by God’s grace. Redeemed by Christ, we are called to lives of holiness and godliness. We strive never to take part in this world’s evil, but to set our minds on things above, live from Christ’s gracious gifts, and put to death

Jesus’ Second Coming

On the Last Day — the timing of which only God knows — Jesus Christ will bodily return with all His angels. He will raise the dead, gather all believers to Himself, perfect them, and take them to heaven to spend eternity in His presence. In contrast, all unbelievers will suffer eternally in hell.

See the tab “Christ’s Gifts” to learn more about Baptism, Absolution, Communion, and Pastoral Care.

“If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31

St. John Lutheran Church