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Lutheran Beliefs - p. 1
Nearly 500 years ago, the Christian church was corrupted by many false teachings. A man named Martin Luther led people back to the teachings of the Bible. His work, and that of his friends, is called the Reformation. Through Luther, God restored the church to purity of doctrine and a new life of faith in Christ.
The teachings of a truly Lutheran Church are based on the words written by the prophets of the Old Testament and the apostles of the New Testament. The Bible tells us about Jesus Christ.
On this and the following pages are succinct explanations regarding some of the beliefs of the Lutheran Church.
The Bible (2Peter 1:21, 1Corinthians 2:13, 2Timothy 3:15-16, John 5:39; 10:35, Luke 11:28)
The Bible is the true word of God. It is inspired by the Holy Spirit. This means that God breathed into the writers the exact thoughts and words they were to write.
As a result, every statement in the Bible is the truth. One part of the Bible explains another. It is the only guideline for the faith and life of Christians. We are to read and study it diligently. It clearly teaches all we need to know to obtain our eternal salvation.
 The Triune God (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, John 5:23, Genesis 1:1, 1John 2:2)
There is only one true God. This God is invisible, holy, eternal, and has all power and wisdom. In the Bible, God reveals himself as three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
These three persons in one God are all God. They are equal in power, glory and in every other quality. To deny or ignore one person is to deny all of them. It is God who created, redeemed, and sanctified us.
God the Father
(Matthew 28:19, John 4:24; 20:17, Leviticus 19:2, Malachi 2:10, Exodus 34:6-7, Romans 8:32)
God the Father is one of the three persons who are the Triune God. God is a spirit. This means he cannot be seen or confined to one place. He is called Father because he is the Father of Jesus Christ and of all who believe in Jesus. He created all things. He is holy, loving, and just. He continues to take care of all creation and all human beings.
Jesus Christ (1John 5:20, Matthew 1:23, Ephesians 1:7, Galatians 3:13, Hebrews 4:15, Romans 1:4)
Jesus Christ is the savior of everyone. He is the eternal Son of God, equal to the Father and the Holy Spirit. He is also the son of the Virgin Mary. He became man to redeem all people.
Taking our place, he lived a perfect life keeping the law of God for us. He also died as our innocent substitute on the cross to pay a price sufficient for everyone's sin. After rising from the dead, Jesus ascended into heaven. On the Last Day, he will judge all people who are still living and those whom he will raise from the dead.
The Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4, 2Corinthians 13:14, Psalm 139:7-8, Job 33:4, Ephesians 3:16)
The Holy Spirit is true God equal to God the Father and God the Son. He has names and characteristics which belong only to God. The Holy Spirit creates faith in our hearts through the gospel. He also keeps us in the faith and motivates us to do good works.
An Open Invitation
St. John Lutheran Church in Libertyville is dedicated to spreading the entire truth of God as found in the Bible.
We invite you to stop by for worship or contact our pastor to discuss the questions and/or concerns on your mind. You'll find us to be open and honestly interested in conveying how God's word fits into our lives.
St. John Lutheran Church
501 W. Park Ave. (Rt. 176)
Libertyville, IL 60048
847.362.4424
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