Peace Lutheran Church is a member congregation of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. We accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired and inerrant Word of God, and we subscribe unconditionally to all the symbolical books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (The Book of Concord of 1580) as a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of God. A summary of our central beliefs is outlined below.
What We Believe About the Bible
We believe that the Bible is the written Word of God that has been handed down to us in order to point us to the truth that we are saved from our sin and eternal death by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe that the Bible is completely reliable and without error. In it we learn everything we need to know about God's love and His gifts to us.
"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." -John 20:30-31
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." -2 Timothy 3:16-17
What We Believe About God
We believe that there is only one true God - the Triune God - who exists in three separate but equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God the Father is our maker and the creator of all things. By the Father's word, all things were made, and we are His most beloved creation; we are closest to His heart. The Son is Jesus Christ, who came to earth as the perfect "go-between" between God and humanity. He has redeemed us and is the voice to the Father on our behalf. The Holy Spirit calls us to believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, keeps us in the one true faith, and equips us for living out our faith. He is the whisper in our heart's ear.
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" -John 14:6
"I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth... And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God... And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life..." -Nicene Creed
What We Believe About Sin
We believe that God created a perfect world for us and through our sin we messed it up. Our big and small sins corrupted this world, our lives and destroyed our relationship with God and with each other. However, God didn’t leave things that way. He got involved.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." -Romans 3:23
What We Believe About Salvation
We believe that God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to save us by living the perfect life we couldn’t and taking our punishment on Himself. We believe that we are forgiven and given eternal life only through faith in Christ.
We believe that faith is a gift from God given to us in our Baptism and through hearing God’s word.
We believe that Jesus came not only to save us from our sin, He came to show us how to live. When Jesus was asked to sum up God’s word He said God’s will can be condensed into two commandments: love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind; and love others as ourselves.
"In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him."
-1 John 4:9
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." -Ephesians 2:8-10
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" - Romans 3:23-24
What We Believe About the Sacraments
We believe that God uses certain means to bring His kindness and love to us. Besides the spoken and written Word of God, God comes to us in Baptism and Holy Communion.
We believe that through the waters of Baptism, God forgives us our sin, adopts us as His children, and gives the gift of new life. We affirm the baptism of infants.
We believe that in Holy Communion Jesus is really present, giving us his Body and Blood in, with, and under the bread and wine. In Holy Communion Jesus brings us forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.
"Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'" -Matthew 28:18-20
"Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body.' And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'" -Matthew 26:26-28
What We Expect from our Members
What We Believe About the Bible
We believe that the Bible is the written Word of God that has been handed down to us in order to point us to the truth that we are saved from our sin and eternal death by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe that the Bible is completely reliable and without error. In it we learn everything we need to know about God's love and His gifts to us.
"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." -John 20:30-31
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." -2 Timothy 3:16-17
What We Believe About God
We believe that there is only one true God - the Triune God - who exists in three separate but equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God the Father is our maker and the creator of all things. By the Father's word, all things were made, and we are His most beloved creation; we are closest to His heart. The Son is Jesus Christ, who came to earth as the perfect "go-between" between God and humanity. He has redeemed us and is the voice to the Father on our behalf. The Holy Spirit calls us to believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, keeps us in the one true faith, and equips us for living out our faith. He is the whisper in our heart's ear.
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" -John 14:6
"I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth... And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God... And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life..." -Nicene Creed
What We Believe About Sin
We believe that God created a perfect world for us and through our sin we messed it up. Our big and small sins corrupted this world, our lives and destroyed our relationship with God and with each other. However, God didn’t leave things that way. He got involved.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." -Romans 3:23
What We Believe About Salvation
We believe that God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to save us by living the perfect life we couldn’t and taking our punishment on Himself. We believe that we are forgiven and given eternal life only through faith in Christ.
We believe that faith is a gift from God given to us in our Baptism and through hearing God’s word.
We believe that Jesus came not only to save us from our sin, He came to show us how to live. When Jesus was asked to sum up God’s word He said God’s will can be condensed into two commandments: love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind; and love others as ourselves.
"In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him."
-1 John 4:9
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." -Ephesians 2:8-10
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" - Romans 3:23-24
What We Believe About the Sacraments
We believe that God uses certain means to bring His kindness and love to us. Besides the spoken and written Word of God, God comes to us in Baptism and Holy Communion.
We believe that through the waters of Baptism, God forgives us our sin, adopts us as His children, and gives the gift of new life. We affirm the baptism of infants.
We believe that in Holy Communion Jesus is really present, giving us his Body and Blood in, with, and under the bread and wine. In Holy Communion Jesus brings us forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.
"Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'" -Matthew 28:18-20
"Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body.' And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'" -Matthew 26:26-28
What We Expect from our Members
- To lead a Christian life.
- To attend worship regularly and to receive the Lord’s Supper regularly.
- To actively participate in the mission and ministry of Peace according to the gifts given by God.
- To contribute to the needs of the congregation according to their means, out of love, willingly and regularly.
- To guard against discord aimed at others in our congregation and to conduct themselves according to Matthew 18:15.
