WHAT WE BELIEVE
What we believe and teach is rooted in God's perfect Word - the Bible. Because we know it never changes, we know we can find rest and peace in it.
THE BIBLE
The Bible tells how a compassionate and righteous God has repaired the broken relationship between himself and his corrupted human creation. (See John 3:16-17)
As a Christian church, our basic mission is to set forth this truth plainly without adding nor subtracting from it. (See 2 Corinthians 4:2)
We believe the Bible to be the inerrant, inspired Word of God. The men who wrote the books did so by divine inspiration. That is, God moved the men who wrote the Bible, putting into their minds the very thoughts and words which they wrote. We believe this for the following reasons:
- Christ testified that it is so.
- Biblical prophecy has been fulfilled.
- The Bible proves its divine power in our hearts.
Related Bible Passages
- All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16
- [Jesus said]… this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled. Matthew 26:56
- [Jesus said]… for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:20
- You must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21
- For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
The Old Testament covers the period of time before Christ (approximately 2500 to 430 BC). The New Testament covers the life of Christ and the early church (approximately 6 to 95 AD). Each testament is divided into books. Each book typically has a single author. Each book has been divided into chapters and verses. Therefore, John 3:16 refers to the book of John, chapter 3, verse 16.
Moses and the prophets wrote the Old Testament in Hebrew. The apostles and evangelists (missionaries) wrote the New Testament in Greek.
- When studying a passage of Scripture, remember to do the following:
- Take note of the book in which it is found. What is its genre and main purpose? What is its place in history?
- Look at the verses before and after the passage in order to keep the truth of the passage in sync with the words around it.
- Always ask, “What is the passage saying?” before you ask, “Does this answer my question or please my reasoning?”.
- Look for other passages in the Bible which speak to the same subject in order to help in understanding the truth of your original passage. (Let Scripture interpret Scripture.)
SUMMARY OF THE BIBLE
The story begins with creation. God created a perfect world. Humankind was the crown of that creation; a close intimate relationship existed between God and his people. That close relationship was ruined when people choose to rebel against God’s authority. Sinfulness spread quickly throughout all creation. Its effect was devastating. But God promised to repair the fallen state of humankind.
At this point, the global perspective of the Bible shifts to focus on a single man and his descendants. Through Abraham and the nation of Israel, God promised to fulfill his plan of salvation. Initially, Abraham’s descendants grew into a nation as a slave-race in Egypt. But God personally led them out of Egypt and established them in the land of Canaan (modern-day Palestine). Throughout this period, the Israelites often rebelled against God’s authority. God responded with patience, mercy, and sometimes punishment, yet he always remained true to his promises.
God’s plan for salvation reaches a climax 1500 years after the Israelites were established in Canaan, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. This son of a Jewish carpenter conducted a walking ministry in which he taught how the promises of God would be fulfilled. He spoke with authority and performed miracles. He pointed to himself as the promised Messiah, the Christ, a sacrificial lamb whose death would atone for the sins of all humanity. After a brief three-year ministry, he was executed on a cross by Jewish leaders and the Roman authorities.
On the third day after his death, God raised Jesus to life, a testament to his identity as the Messiah. Jesus appeared to many of his disciples in the next forty days. Before ascending into heaven, he gave them the mission of spreading the news of God’s salvation, which they have done in both written and spoken word. The teachings of Jesus, as recorded by his disciples, comprise the New Testament portion of the Bible. (The books of Moses and the prophets make up the Old Testament.) In summary, the message is this: whoever places their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior will share in his victory over sin and death. Whoever rejects Christ, rejects the forgiveness of God.
- The earth and the universe were created by God.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. - The crown of God’s creation was humankind. A close and loving relationship existed between God and people.
Genesis 5:1 When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. - By humankind’s disobedience, the relationship between God and people was ruined. All people became inherently sinful, and sin tainted every part of God’s creation.
Romans 5:12 Sin entered the world through one man and death through sin and in this way death came to all men because all sinned. - God’s sense of justice required punishment for sin, while his love for people required a means of salvation.
Exodus 34:6 The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished. - God’s plan for the salvation of people was to send a substitute to take their punishment. Essentially, God himself bore the punishment for human sinfulness in the person of Jesus Christ. Fully human and fully God, Jesus lived a perfect righteous life and suffered an innocent death to redeem (buy back) humanity.
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. - People are incapable of earning salvation for themselves. Works and good deeds cannot cover their debt of sin.
Ephesians 2:18 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not of yourselves – it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. - All who believe in Christ as their Savior receive the forgiveness he has earned for them. Those who reject Christ reject God’s forgiveness.
John 3:16 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.
LAW & GOSPEL
The Law is God’s rule for human behavior: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37, 29 The Law is further defined in the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Christ. God’s Law requires a life perfectly free from sin in thought, word, and deed–an impossible requirement for anyone to meet, since the fall of Adam and Eve into sin.
The Law defines the punishment for sin: death in this life and eternal damnation (separation from God). The Law leaves no hope for humankind to escape God’s just punishment for sin.
The Law paints a hopeless picture for all humankind. Ever since the fall of Adam and Eve into sin, we are all born inherently sinful. The requirement of perfect obedience is unmeetable. God’s Law does three things:
- It shows us our sin and the need for a Savior.
- It partially checks the coarse outbreak of sin.
- It tells us what is pleasing to God.
The doctrine of Law is a difficult and disturbing message. On hearing it, some people reject the Bible and God’s message altogether. But by giving us his Law, God shows us our need for salvation and leads us to a proper perspective for receiving the gospel message. The following truths, clearly stated in the Bible, lead us from sin to salvation.
- We are all inherently sinful. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
- No one can earn their way into heaven. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather through the law we become conscious of sin. Romans 3:20
- One sin has the same consequences as thousands of sins. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. James 2:10
- No sin is so great that it cannot be forgiven. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
- We can’t earn forgiveness, but God gives it to us out of grace (undeserved love). For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not of yourselves–it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:18
The Gospel is fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation for humankind. God sent a substitute to take the punishment for the sin of all humankind. Jesus Christ, true God and true man, lived a life perfectly free from sin. By his death on the cross, he suffered the punishment meant for humankind. For all who believe in Christ as their Savior, God covers their sin with the righteousness of Christ. Those who reject Christ reject God’s forgiveness.
How is a person saved? By simple sincere belief in the Gospel message–that the sacrificial life and death of Jesus Christ completely covers the debt of sin for humanity. The following truths, clearly stated in the Bible, are the essential points of the Gospel.
- All people are sinful, deserving of God’s punishment, and unable to save themselves.
You were dead in your transgressions and sins. Ephesians 2:1 - God loves us so much that he sent his own son to save us.
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. John 3:16 - The payment for our sins is entirely due to Christ’s sacrifice.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 - A person does absolutely nothing to earn or deserve their salvation.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not of yourselves– it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 - In order to receive the salvation earned by Christ, a person must believe and trust in the Gospel message. Belief encompasses acknowledging one’s own sinfulness, being sorry for one’s sins, and trusting in the salvation earned by Christ’s death on the cross.
If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 - A person does not receive credit for making the decision to believe, since their belief is only possible by the work of the Holy Spirit.
No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3
- Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law. Romans 3:20
- God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
- For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Romans 3:28
- I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. Romans 1:16
GOD
The Nature of God
The Bible emphasizes God’s loving, compassionate, and forgiving nature, but also maintains his perfect righteousness, or morality, which cannot tolerate evil. In the entire biblical record of God’s interaction with people, obviously there is much to be studied pertaining to the characteristics of God. There are also many questions about God’s nature that are left unanswered, including aspects which are stated to be beyond our comprehension.
This brief synopsis focuses on what the Bible emphasizes as the important characteristics of God.
- God is loving, compassionate, and merciful toward people. He is also holy and righteous, and, therefore, requires just punishment for sin. The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished. Exodus 34:6
- God has an earnest desire to repair the fallen state of humankind. In spite of our inherent sinfulness, he loves us. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9.
AND
God our Savior…wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Timothy 2:4 - God knows each one of us intimately; he sees all our thoughts and actions. O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Psalm 139:1-3
- God is a single entity who has made himself known in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, The Lord is one. Deuteronomy 6:4.
AND
Jesus answered…I and the Father are one. John 10:30.
AND
Now the Lord is the Spirit… 1 Corinthians 3:17 - God possesses infinite power and wisdom, existing beyond the bounds of time and space. The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power. Job 37:23.
AND
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29
Two thousand years ago… In the small, conquered province of Palestine… The impoverished remnant of a Jewish nation is chafing under the rule of the Roman empire…
In this setting, the 30-year-old son of a carpenter began a walking ministry that lasted only a few short years.
He spoke of the fulfilment of Jewish scripture, pointing to himself as the centerpiece of century-old promises. He spoke of God’s love with authority that amazed his followers and critics. He performed miraculous healings. He avoided politics. And he so enraged the established religious leaders that they plotted his death and succeeded in having the Roman authorities execute him. He was killed at age 33.
Jesus himself never wrote down any of his teachings. The disciples who carried on after his death didn’t have the benefit of mass media. Yet at the turn of the year 2000, nearly 2 billion people described themselves as followers of Jesus Christ.
In dealing with the “sect” of Jesus’ followers after his death, a Jewish leader gave this advice: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourself fighting against God. Acts 5:38
SACRAMENTS
While on earth, Jesus instituted two sacred acts that provide and assure us of God’s forgiveness. Through God’s Word in connection with earthly elements, the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper (or Holy Communion) confer to us the blessings of forgiveness, salvation, and the strength to lead God-pleasing lives.
What does the word “baptize” mean?
To apply water in a ceremonial manner.
Where did Jesus command baptism?
Matthew 28:19-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
What does it mean to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
To become a member of God’s family and an heir of salvation.
What blessings does baptism offer?
Forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation.
What gives baptism the power to bestow these blessings?
The Word of God.
Related Bible Passages
- Galatians 3:26-27 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
- Ephesians 4:3-6 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called to one hope when you were called–one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
- Acts 2:38 Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away.
- Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.
- Ephesians 5:25-26 …just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.
While on earth, Jesus instituted two sacred acts that provide and assure us of God’s forgiveness. Through God’s Word in connection with earthly elements, the sacraments of the Lord’s Supper (or Holy Communion) and baptism confer to us the blessings of forgiveness, salvation, and the strength to lead God-pleasing lives.
Where did Jesus command the Lord’s Supper?
Matthew 26:26-28 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take and eat; this is my body. Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
What earthly elements are involved in the Lord’s Supper?
Bread and wine.
What communion (common union) takes place in the Lord’s Supper?
Together with the earthly elements, Christ gives us his body and blood. His body (given into death) is present with the bread. His blood (which was shed for us) is present with the wine just as he said.
What blessing is bestowed through this sacrament?
The forgiveness of sins
What is required of a person who partakes of the Lord’s Supper?
Faith in the promise that Christ’s body and blood were shed for the forgiveness of their sins (because the power of the sacrament lies in those words). Anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body and blood of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Therefore, those who receive the Lord’s Supper ought to examine themselves to determine if they have a believing heart. The important questions are:
- Do I believe I am a sinner and feel truly sorry for my sins?
- Do I believe in Jesus as the Savior from my sins?
What makes the Lord’s Supper more than a mere memorial to Christ’s death?
Jesus made clear that this was the establishment of a “new covenant” between God and humankind, whereby Christ’s sacrifice paid in full the debt of humanity’s sins. As such, it assures us of God’s forgiveness and our salvation, independent of any merit on our part.
Related Bible Passages
- Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 1 Corinthians 10:16
- In him (Jesus Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. Ephesians 1:7
- In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:25-29
MY LIFE
How does knowing God impact my life?
The Bible truly contains the world’s greatest love story. God’s plan for the salvation of humankind culminates in God himself coming to earth, taking on the lowly form of a first century Jew named Jesus, and suffering an innocent death to pay the debt of sin for all people, thus satisfying his own requirement for justice.
Why would God do this when he could have simply wiped out his sin-tainted creation and started over? Jesus gave this statement of explanation to Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.
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. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Christian love, which was first demonstrated by God through Jesus, is so important that Jesus explicitly commanded that it be reflected by those who believe in him.
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
The Apostle Paul further defined the concept of Christian love in his letter to the church at Corinth. Note that love is described not as feelings, but as actions.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
The Bible, a message straight from the creator of the universe, explains the meaning of life as no other source can. Here’s how the Bible answers three important questions we all ask.
- I am a wonderful creation of God. See Psalm 139.
- I am someone worth more than all the gold and silver in the world.
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:18-21
- I am a precious child of God.
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26-29
- I am here to find God.
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: To An Unknown God. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, We are his offspring. Acts 17:22-28
- I am here to make a difference.
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16
- I am here to lead others to God.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
- I am going where God will be with me.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20
- I am going where God will work for my good.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
- I am going to heaven where all will be good.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new! Then he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. Revelation 21:1-5
Have more questions?
Feel free to contact our Pastor who can answer more of your questions about our beliefs and how it relates to you.
254-773-0688
Pastor@tlctemple.org
Or…
Trinity Lutheran Church is part of a larger, world-wide synod of like-minded churches called the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). Our Synod website is an excellent source of information regarding our beliefs and doctrinal differences with other denominations.
https://wels.net/about-wels/what-we-believe/
https://www.understandchristianity.com/