WHAT LUTHERANS BELIEVE REFORMED LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AMERICA
THE BIBLE
JUNE 13, 2018
FAITH
Everything Lutherans believe
It is through faith in
comes from the Bible, God's
Jesus that we
message of love and hope for
receive the
all people. The Bible is the
forgiveness of sins
written Word of God, handed
and eternal life - by
down to us in order to point us to the truth that we are saved
believing that He
from our sin and eternal
has freed us from
death by the life, death, and
without error. In it we learn
the guilt,
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
everything we need to know
We believe that the Bible is
about God's love and His gifts
punishment, and
completely reliable and
to us.
power of sin. Faith is a gift worked in us by the power of the Holy Spirit; it doesn't
ABOUT GOD
come to us through
There is only one true God - the Triune God - who exists in three separate but equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
anything we are capable of, but through what God does for us. We simply receive what
God the Father is our maker
keeps us in the one true faith,
and the creator of all things.
and equips us for living out
is already being
By the Father's word, all things
our faith. He is the whisper in
offered out of God's
were made, and we are His
our heart's ear.
great love.
most beloved creation; we are closest to His heart. The
There is absolutely nothing we
Son is Jesus Christ, who came
can do to "be saved" - Jesus
to earth as the perfect "go-
Christ has already done
between" between God and
everything necessary. In His
humanity. He has redeemed
death and resurrection,
us and is the voice to the
everyone who believes in
Father on our behalf. The Holy
Jesus as Savior has been
Spirit calls us to believe in
brought back into a right
Jesus Christ as our Savior,
relationship with God. That
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reformed lutheran church of america means that, on account of
remind you of the grace
Jesus, everyone who believes
period you are given when
God has provided tangible
is "justified," or declared
paying bills - when your debt
ways through which He
innocent by God. God has
can be paid without further
delivers His grace to those
done justice to the world's
penalty. God's grace is even
who believe, assuring us that
sins; because of Jesus, all who
more wonderful; that's why it's
the sins we commit are
believe are forgiven and will
called "amazing grace." While
forgiven for Jesus' sake. These
live eternally.
we deserved to pay the
are called the "means of
penalty for our sins, God had
grace" and are God's Word,
We do not cooperate in our
a different plan. Christ paid
holy Baptism, and the Lord's
salvation and there is nothing
the debt and we receive
Supper (Holy Communion).
we could ever present to God
forgiveness and eternal life
Through these means, God
to make our way into eternal
from Him that is offered out of
makes Himself known to us in
life with Him-not money or
unconditional love. That's why
a very personal way: God's
even good works. Neither can
it's called grace because it is
Word reveals His faithfulness
we really feel it or prove it. We
truly undeserved.
and love; Baptism is our
cannot reason our way to
rebirth and renewal in Jesus;
salvation, nor can we earn it.
"For it is by grace you have
the Lord's Supper is our closest
There is nothing we can do to
been saved, through faith-
communion with Christ as we
save ourselves—Jesus Christ
and this is not from yourselves,
receive His body and blood.
has done it all.
it is the gift of God-not by
Lutherans often refer to
works, so that no one can
grace. The word itself might
boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9)."
REFORMED LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AMERICA JUNE 13, 2018