We believe that the Bible is, from front to back and word for word, God’s message to all people. We believe that the Bible reveals God’s wonderful plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, God’s one and only Son. We believe God is a Trinity: that is, one God and three persons of the God-Head – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We know that personally that we are not perfect (not by a long shot!), and that we are, in fact, a sinner from day one of life. We trust that we are forgiven, accepted, and saved by God, not by “trying to be good” but solely, only because of what Jesus has done for us. We trust Jesus as Savior, that Jesus is truly God and that Jesus also became true man and came to earth to earn our salvation; that Jesus, as the God-man, obeyed all of God’s rules (the Ten Commandments) perfectly, without sin, for us, and that Jesus suffered and died on a cross, willingly taking God’s punishment for us and our sins. Jesus rose again defeating death, so that we too may live! We know and believe that Jesus did all of this simply because he loves you and me. We believe that Jesus Christ rose bodily from the dead victorious over sin, over death, and over Satan and that He now rules as Lord over all things. We believe, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that we share that victory for Jesus now and forever. We believe that the Holy Spirit actively works in our lives to bring us to faith and keep us in faith through God’s Word, the Bible, and God’s promises connected to the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We are free to live a life of joy, thanks, peace, and hope each day because of Jesus We share the love of Jesus with everyone, not out of pride, but in humble love, which is shown in word and action.

Copyright 2005-2006 © Bethlehem Lutheran Church