WHAT WE BELIEVE

Saint Paul's Lutheran Church is affiliated with the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, a body of Christian believers that numbers some 2.5 million members.  We call ourselves "Lutheran" because we believe, teach, and confess the Bible-based doctrines of Martin Luther, the 16th century pastor, theologian, and reformer of the church.  The teachings of Dr. Luther and his fellow reformers can be summarized in the following three mottoes:

GRACE ALONE ~ FAITH ALONE ~ SCRIPTURE 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.  Click here to learn more about grace.

FAITH ALONE

By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them.  Those who hear this good news and believe it have the eternal life that it offers.  God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him.  Click here to learn more about faith.

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 doctrine.  Click here to learn more about the Bible.

MORE LUTHERAN FAITH RESOURCES

This following are several additional resources that will help explain the faith that we at Saint Paul's confess.  Please note that links marked with will take you to PDF files.  You must have Adobe Reader installed on your computer to view or print these documents.  

• The Ecumenical Creeds are the three ancient creedal statements that have a universal acceptance as true summaries of the biblical witness.
• The Augsburg Confession is the first official declaration of the Lutheran faith.
• About the Augsburg Confession is a brief overview of this important document of faith.
• The Small Catechism is Martin Luther's indispensable booklet of basic Christian doctrine.
• Frequently Asked Questions About the Book of Concord is a Q & A document on the Lutheran confessions. 
• The Litany is an ancient prayer of the church that is an extension of the Kyrie ("Lord Have Mercy").
• The "What About" Series is a set of 29 pamphlets that explains Lutheran beliefs.
• What Lutherans Believe is a 15-point summary of the Christian faith.
• Facts About Lutheranism is a short article about Lutheran history and beliefs.
• Closed Communion Resources is a list of links to essays and Bible studies on closed communion.
• Lutheran Worship:  2000 and Beyond is a discussion of the Lutheran theology of worship.
• Racism:  A Christian Response is an official LCMS statement that outlines what Scripture says about the sin of racism.