WHAT WE BELIEVE

1. The  Bible, which is the inspired  Word of God, points people to Jesus as their Savior. It is God's message of love and hope for all people.

2. There is only one God, who exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  This God is our creator, redeemer, and sanctifier.

3. Adam and Eve, the man and woman God created in the beginning, disobeyed God's will and brought sin into the world. Since that time, all people have been conceived and born in sin.

4. Sin is living out of relationship with God, and  transgressing his commandments in thought, word and deed.

5. People cannot restore themselves to a right relationship with God by their own good works or human efforts.

6. God sent His only-begotten Son, Jesus, into the world to save us.  He lived to fulfill God's law for us, died on the cross taking the punishment our sins deserved, and rose from the dead so that we might have eternal life.

7. Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, God declares people just or righteous and forgiven. The justification won by Jesus is applied to all those who put their faith in him as their Savior.

8. Faith in Jesus is itself a gift of God, given by the Holy Spirit.

9. The means of grace are the Word of God, Holy Baptism, and Holy Communion. By these means, the Holy Spirit works to bring people to faith in Jesus and keep them in faith.

10. Jesus will come again at the end of time to take all believers to Himself.   Unbelievers will go into eternal punishment, and believers into eternal life.

11. The true Christian church is made up of all believers of all time and place who trust in Jesus as their only Savior.

12. Christians are sent on a mission to tell others about Jesus, and to put their faith into action by their deeds of love and service.

COMMUNION STATEMENT:

We welcome to the Lord's Table all baptized and instructed Christians who believe that Christ is really present in this sacrament, offering us his true body and blood given and shed for the forgiveness of our sins.