St. John's is one of over 6.100 congregations of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).  With the universal Christian Church, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God:

* the Father, Creator of all that exists;
* Jesus Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins

   of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over

   death and Satan; and
* the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God's Word and Sacraments.

The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God.

Being "Lutheran," our congregations accept and teach Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three short phrases:

                                 Grace alone,  Faith alone, Scripture alone.

Grace alone
God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly.

Faith alone
By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him.


Scripture (Word) alone
The Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.

 
                                            Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura

We believe, teach and confess that:

   All mankind is sinful from conception (Psalm 51:5) and unable to reconcile themselves to God by any human efforts (Ephesians 2:1; Romans 3:9-18).

   All mankind is saved only by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, who has atoned for all sins on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9).

   Jesus Christ, true God and true man, is the only Savior of the world, as it is written: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”  (Acts 4:12)  

   The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the inspired, inerrant, infallible, written Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16, Psalm 119:105).

   The waters of Holy Baptism work forgiveness of sins, deliver from death and the devil, and give eternal salvation to all who receive this mark in the name of the Triune God (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38).

   The body and blood is truly present in, with and under the bread and wine in the Sacrament of the Altar. This Sacrament brings forgiveness, life and salvation to all who faithfully partake. We also affirm that in order to partake in this Sacrament one must be baptized, able to examine themselves and share in a common confession (Matthew 26:28, Acts 2:42).

   There is only one God – the triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit – “one God in three persons and three persons in one God.”

   God created the world in six 24-hour days (Genesis 1).

   The stories of creation, the flood, Moses, Jonah and all figures described in Holy Scripture were real historical events and people.

   God created the institution of marriage as the lifelong union of one man and one woman (Genesis 2:2-24; Matthew 19:5-6).

   Sexual acts outside of marriage (heterosexual forms of sexuality, living together outside of marriage, homosexual behavior, and pornography) are sinful and counter to the will of God (Hebrews 13:4; Romans 1:24–27; I Corinthians 6:9-20; I Timothy 1:10). We lovingly respond to such behavior with the same love and concern as all other sins, calling for repentance and offering forgiveness in the Good News of Jesus Christ when repentance occurs.

   We uphold the sanctity of human life from conception until natural death (Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:4).

   Jesus shall return one day visibly and bodily to judge all people. Those who believe in Jesus will live forever, while unbelievers will be condemned to an eternity in damnation (Mark 13:26; John 5:27-29).