Who is God?
God is the Holy Trinity, one God in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments and confessed in the Three Ecumenical Creeds, namely, the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14)
Who is God the Father?
He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, and together with the Son proceeds the Holy Spirit. It is out of the will of the Father that all things visible and invisible are created, as the Son and the Holy Spirit were present at creation and brought about His will. (Genesis 1:1-3; John 1:1-3)
Who is God the Son?
Jesus Christ as the eternally begotten Son of the Father, He is also God. The second person of the Trinity entered the course of human history to be become a human man. He, who is without sin, comes in order to be our sacrifice for sin and so reconciles us by His death upon the cross and resurrection on the third day to God, His Father. Christ Jesus will return on the last day, all the dead will be raised, Christ will give eternal life to those who believe in Him, and eternal damnation to those who do not receive Him by faith. (John 3:16; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Philippians 2:8; 2 Corinthians 5:18; 2 Timothy 4:1)
Who is God the Holy Spirit?
He is equal to the Father and the Son, as He proceeds from them both together. It is by His power and presence that we come to believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord through the hearing of the Word of Christ. To keep us in this faith, He uses the Word of God and the Sacraments instituted by Christ to strengthen us and preserve us in the Church until we die or Christ’s return. (John 15:26; Galatians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Ephesians 1:13)
What is the Word of God?
The Word of God is the Lord’s complete revelation found in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. God’s Word is rightly divided by the law and the promises. Through the law comes the knowledge of our sins; the ways in which we have gone against God’s will and have deserved His judgment. These laws are summed up in the Ten Commandments. The promises of God’s Word are those that pertain to Christ and salvation through Him. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Timothy 2:1)
What is sin?
Sins are when we transgress or violate God’s command and Word as found in the Ten Commandments. All people possess original or inherited sin from their parents. This means that we are without the ability to fear and love God—we are spiritually blind and dead and need the Holy Spirit to do so. Actual sins are those that we commit daily, through our thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. All human beings are guilty of sin from conception to death, except our Lord Jesus Christ, who is without sin, and He pays for the sins of humanity. (Genesis 3:17; Psalm 51:5; 1 John 1:8-10; Hebrews 4:15)
What is Baptism?
By washing children and adults with water into the triune Name, our sins are forgiven, and we are made partakers of Christ and salvation. In baptism, we and all our sins have been crucified and died with Christ so that a new person daily emerges with Christ by repentance and faith as we should walk with Him in the newness of life. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21; Titus 3:5-8; Romans 6:3)
What is the Lord’s Supper?
This is the Sacrament of our Lord’s body and blood given for Christians to eat and drink for the forgiveness of their sins. We take Christ at His word that His true body and blood that was given and shed on the cross and raised to life again is present in, with, and among the bread and wine. (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25)
Why Closed Communion?
Since the time of the Apostles and in accordance with Christ’s Word, we practice closed communion for the sake of the soul who receives the Lord’s Supper with us, as Scripture is clear: those who are unexamined and unprepared eat and drink unworthily to their detriment. (1 Corinthians 11:27-30)
What about Confession?
The office of the Keys is that special authority given to the Church by Christ. That by His command the Church through the Office of the Holy Ministry forgives sins of all Christians who repent and believe in Christ. Also, the Church binds the sins of those who do not repent until they repent of their sins and turn to faith in Christ. This is carried out on Sunday through confession in the Divine Service and in private confession and absolution, which is available by appointment with our Pastor. (John 20:22-23)
What is the Book of Concord?
We believe that the Christian Book of Concord of 1580 and all its documents are true because they are a correct exposition of the Holy Scriptures. You can read the Book of Concord here https://bookofconcord.cph.org/
How do I become a member of your church?
Please reach out to our Pastor, and he will help with any other questions and begin instruction with you.
For More Information:
The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod’s official website is www.lcms.org.
The Iowa-East District of the LCMS’ website is: lcmside.org.
St. John's and Grace Evangelical Lutheran Parish 