What We Believe

The Bible says, "For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved" (Romans 10:10). For this reason, we at Trinity Lutheran Church & School believe:

 

• the only true God is the triune God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 44:6). The only true God is one God in three persons. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 3:13-17) Jesus said: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).
• that God reveals Himself to people through His Word. Jesus said of the Old Testament, "These are the Scriptures that testify about me" (John 5:39).
• that both the Old and New Testament, in their original form, were given by inspiration of God and are therefore without error. God the Holy Spirit moved the authors of the Bible to write his Word. These authors "spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21).
• that God created the world in six 24-hour days: "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them" (Exodus 20:11).
• that Adam and Eve were created in the holy image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), but lost that righteousness in the Fall - not only for themselves, but for all humanity. St. Paul wrote to the Romans: "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12).
• that in order to rescue fallen mankind, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world, clothed in human flesh, true God and true man in one person (Isaiah 7:14, John 1:14). By the righteousness of Jesus and his suffering and death, the entire world has been redeemed. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3:16-17).
• the entire world was declared to be righteous in Christ when He rose from the dead. It is by faith alone that this righteousness of Christ becomes the personal possession of the sinner (Ephesians 2:8-9). "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law" (Romans 3:28).
• God has established means of grace by which he announces and gives the forgiveness of sins and the sure hope of everlasting life. These means are the Gospel in the Word of God (Romans 10:17), Baptism (1 Peter 3:21) and the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-28).
• that being brought to faith in Christ is solely and alone the work of God and the Holy Spirit. "No one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3).
• that good works are necessary fruits of faith in the life of a Christian, but do not earn eternal life for the sinner (Matthew 5:16).
• that there is one, holy, Christian Church on earth which consists of all who believe in Christ as their Savior. The church may be found wherever the Word of God and his Sacraments are being used properly (Matthew 18:20).
• that on the last day, Christ will return to judge all people (Hebrews 9:28, John 5:22). All who have died will be raised (John 5:28-29). Those who believe will be with Him in heaven, while those who rejected Him will be in hell (Matthew 25:46).