Core Beliefs
The following are the core beliefs of St. Paul Lutheran Church based on the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God, which is our only norm for faith, life, and practice. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.
Salvation
Eternal salvation is granted by grace, through faith, in Jesus Christ alone, apart from works of the Law.
God
There is one eternally existing God who has three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise.
Jesus
Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, the redeemer of the world, and is our prophet, priest and king. He is the Son of God who has authority in heaven and on earth, and yet was born of the virgin Mary. He was crucified, died, was buried, and has physically risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and will return again.
Humanity
Humans, both male and female, were created in God's image for His glory. Adam and Eve, the first humans, were put in the Garden of Eden by God to work and keep it.
The Fall
When Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, they ceased to be what they were made to be and became distorted images of God. As a result, all of humanity is completely depraved and is unable to do anything to benefit their salvation, making all completely dependent upon God for their salvation.
Redemption
Jesus Christ came to reconcile us with God. He lived a life without sin and willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for our transgressions. God raised him from the dead and now, by grace, offers as a free gift eternal life to all who follow Christ, by faith, as their Lord and Savior. That is why salvation can be found in Christ alone.
The Church
The Church is meant to be the visible body of Christ, sent into the world to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and glorify God.
Baptism
Jesus gave his disciples, and all who follow after them, the authority to go into all the world, and to all nations, and baptize in the name of the Triune God. And since infants too are included as part of "all nations," we practice what the Bible proclaims: infant baptism.
The Lord's Supper
We take Jesus at His word: that He is truly present, in the Supper that bears His name, in the bread and wine, which is His body and blood, to forgive us of our sins, strengthen faith in Him, and provide us an opportunity to proclaim His death until he comes.
The Resurrection
Jesus Christ will return one day, judge both the living and the dead, and usher in the fullness of God's kingdom in the New and Restored Creation.