Lutherans believe – that God created the universe in six literal days, just as his Word tells us. He also created the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, in his own image in order to live in a relationship with him. God is the author of marriage that he designed to be between one man and one woman for life. Lutherans believe – that Adam and Eve doubted and rebelled against God. Their act of disobed
ience had the effect of pushing a self-destruct button on God’s perfect creation. Their relationship with God, with one another, and with God’s creation was broken. It would be the same story for every person in every generation after Adam and Eve. The Bible calls this broken relationship “sin.” The word “sin” is also used in the Bible to describe the symptoms of our broken condition – such as lying, greed, etc. The world’s only hope for rescue was God’s promise of a Savior that he gave to Adam and Eve and continued to renew throughout each generation after them. Lutherans believe – Jesus Christ is the Savior that God had promised. Jesus came down from heaven to become our Substitute. He took the punishment for all sin for all people of all time on himself when he died on the cross of Calvary. God raised him from the dead, demonstrating that his sacrifice was sufficient. Lutherans believe – that it is through faith in Jesus as Savior that a person receives the gift of all that Jesus earned by his cross and empty tomb. Faith is the power to receive God’s gift of forgiveness and new and eternal life. Faith is the complete work of God the Holy Spirit from beginning to end. Faith is created by the Holy Spirit by means of God’s Word which shows us our sin, as well as, the good news of God’s love in Jesus Christ. Lutherans believe – that the Bible is the source of knowledge about God and the way in which he speaks to us today. The Bible was written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and so is true and without error from Genesis to Revelation. Lutherans believe – that the church is all those who have come to faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Good Shepherd carries the name of Lutheran not because it believes in Martin Luther, but because it believes, as Luther did, in the Word of God. If we are asked what a Lutheran is, we can offer no better answer than this – A Lutheran is a Christian who strictly keeps to the letter of Scripture. The purpose of the church is to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ and to go and make disciples of others. Lutherans believe – that water baptism is important because God commands it and has attached his promise to it. Baptism is the means by which God the Holy Spirit connects a person to Jesus Christ and marks him/her as his own child. Baptism is described in Scripture as an action that God performs and is not dependent on a person’s age. Along with baptism, God has also commanded what we call the Lord’s Supper in which Jesus gives his body and blood “in, with, and under” the bread and wine. Lutherans believe – that Jesus will return one day, just as he promised, as Judge. Everyone who has received by faith the salvation that Jesus Christ earned by his cross and empty tomb will live forever with God.
