What We Believe

We preach CHRIST CRUCIFIED (1 Corinthians 1:23).

What God did in the perfect life and innocent sacrificial death of Jesus Christ has provided salvation for the whole world (2 Corinthians 5:19). Salvation from what? God's just condemnation to eternal death in hell for sin (John 3:18). Saving mankind for an eternal life in heaven with himself is God's ultimate purpose for mankind (Luke 19:10; 1 Timothy 2:4), and this most glorious work has been accomplished by what God has graciously done through the life, death and resurrection of his eternal divine-made-human Son Jesus Christ. "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2).

We preach "REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS" ( Mark 1:15).

God saves each person who trusts in Jesus as their Savior - forgiving all sin, crediting Jesus' righteousness and granting eternal life as a free gift (John 3:16-18). This trust is called "faith" or "believing", which is also a free gift of God (Ephesians 2:8,9) and is worked by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3) through the preaching of the good news about Jesus (Romans 10:17; James 1:18) and through baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Believing in Christ means repenting of sin and trusting in Christ and his work alone for salvation.

We preach ALL OF GOD'S WORD AND ONLY GOD'S WORD AS FOUND IN THE BIBLE (Matthew 28:19,20; Revelation 22:18,19).

All that God commands the people of his world to do (God's law) and all that he has graciously done and promises to do for us (God's gospel) is found in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments alone. God wants his law, summarized in the 10 commandments and expounded throughout Scripture, to be taught in all its fullness (Colossians 1:25). The primary purpose of God's law is to show that all have sinned and are condemned (Romans 3:20). Then God wants his gospel, the good news about what he has done through Christ for the salvation of the world, to be taught in all its fullness (Mark 16:15). The gospel shows that Christ has accomplished everything necessary for man's salvation, and it draws people to believe in Christ and in that way, be saved (John 19:28; John 12:32). Through Spirit-engendered faith, the Christian desires to and is empowered to serve God and his will out of thankfulness for salvation (Romans 12:1). God's will for his people is spelled out in the law part of his Word, which continues to serve as the Christian's guide throughout his life (Micah 6:8).

"This We Believe" - A statement of faith of the members of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

God's Revelation - Creation, Man, and Sin - Christ and Redemption - Justification - Good Works and Prayer

The Means of Grace - Church and Ministry - Church and State - Jesus' Return and the Judgement

Apostle's Creed / Nicene Creed / Athanasian Creed - The three main ancient statements of faith of the Christian Church.

The Lutheran Confessions: Intro - Link - A correct explanation of the Christian faith from the 16th century Reformation.