What We Believe

The heart of the Christian faith the Bible teaches has often been summarized by confessional Lutherans with the phrases: Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Scripture Alone.  

By Grace Alone: Our salvation is entirely a gift from God. We are by nature blind, dead, enemies of God (Psalm 51:5).  This is some of the language the Bible uses to make it clear that contrary to what human pride likes to think, we enter this world with no free will of our own when it comes to true faith and fear of God.  That means, we enter this world lost forever with no hope of eternal life in heaven. But God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to live a perfect life for us and suffer the punishment that sin deserves in our place. Jesus Christ died for us and on Easter morning rose from the dead and defeated sin, death and hell. This is entirely a gift from God, as is our ability to come to believe it.  This is why it is ‘by grace we are saved’ (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Grace means an entirely undeserved gift!  While this is humbling to human pride, it is the ultimate source of comfort for the troubled sinner, because our entire salvation from start to finish depends on God!

By Faith Alone: This gift from God, namely the forgiveness of sins, becomes ours when the Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts through the gospel in Word and Sacrament (Romans 10:17).  While we cannot be saved without faith, faith is not a decision that we can make on our own, but faith is also a gift from God (Ephesians 1:4, Ephesians 2:8-9).  Thus, in Holy Baptism, we are made spiritually alive and so it is a gift of the Holy Spirit and not something done by us for God (Ephesians 2:8-9, Acts 2:38-39, Titus 3:4-7).

By Scripture Alone: God’s Word, the Bible, is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, from beginning to end. It is not a book that changes with the passing of time, but is and always will remain the way God speaks to us. The Bible says, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). God’s Word is not simply words on a page that needs to be updated for changing times, but is a faith-creating and faith-sustaining life source.  Indeed God’s Word is the only way God has promised to speak to His people in these last days and the only way He will create and nourish faith.  This is also true of the two sacred acts (sacraments) Jesus has given to His New Testament Church that combine God’s Word with earthly elements: Holy Baptism and Holy Communion (The Lord’s Supper).  Like the Gospel message of the Bible, these sacraments are not mere signs or symbols, but actual means by which God brings His people the forgiveness of sins and gospel assurance.  Therefore, children (and adults) are regularly pointed to their baptisms for daily comfort and power to live as God’s redeemed and baptized children (Romans 6:1-14).

We believe…

What follows below is a more expansive, though not exhaustive summary of key Bible truths taught in our organization.  These are the truths that are not only unapologetically confessed and taught by our congregation, but by our pastors and teachers in the school who serve as ministers (servants) of God’s Word.

The Bible is the true word of God.  It clearly teaches all we need to know in order to obtain our eternal life. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to give and strengthen Christian faith; therefore, we want to hear, learn, and believe its message. (2 Peter 1:21, I Corinthians 2:13, 2 Timothy 3:16, John 10:35, Luke 11:28, John 5:39, Rom. 10:17)

There is only one true God.  In the Bible God reveals himself as three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  This is why he is called “Triune.” These three persons in one God are all God.  They are equal in power, glory, and in every quality.  To deny or ignore one person is to deny all of them.  It is God who created, redeemed, and sanctified us. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, John 5:23, Genesis 1:1, I John 2:2, Romans 15:13)

At the beginning of time, God created heaven and earth and all creatures.  He did this in six regular days—he spoke his almighty word to create all things.  He made everything out of nothing.  Man and woman are God’s special creation. (Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1:31, Exodus 20:11, Psalm 33: 6 & 9, Psalm 124:8, Mark 10:6, Hebrews 11:3)

The first man and woman, Adam and Eve, lost the image of God when they gave in to the temptation of Satan and disobeyed God’s command.  This brought on them the judgment of God.  Since that time all people are conceived and born in sin, desire to do what is evil, and are dead spiritually.  Therefore, we are unable to reconcile ourselves to God by our own efforts and deeds. (Genesis 2:17, Psalm 51:5, Ephesians 2:1, John 3:6, Psalm 5:4, Romans 5:12, I John 3:4, Romans 8: 7 & 8)

The message of the gospel is the good news that a loving God sent Jesus Christ to take away the sins of all people.  The gospel freely offers to all sinners the righteousness that is found in Jesus.  God offers and gives eternal life and salvation to all those who believe in the gospel promises.  Scripture makes it plain that the faith that receives God’s gift is itself a gift from God, worked by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel message.  Because man is born dead in sin, our faith is not by our own thinking or choosing, but a miracle and gift created by the Holy Spirit.  This is why we reject statements such as “I must accept Jesus into my heart,” etc.  (John 1:17, Romans 1:16, Romans 10:17, Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 Corinthians 12:3, John 3:16, Colossians 2:13, Luke 2: 10 & 11, Ezekiel 33:11)

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 the people who are still living and those whom he will raise from the dead.

(I John 5:20, Matthew 1:23, Ephesians 1:7, Galatians 3:13, Hebrews 4:15, Romans 1:4, Acts 10:42)

God judged all sinners righteous in his sight when Jesus Christ died on the cross for us.  God declared everyone free from the guilt and punishment owed for our sins.  The sinner receives this free gift of forgiveness, not by doing good deeds, but only by faith.  A person is justified when he or she believes in Christ and his redemptive work.  Such faith, just like forgiveness, is a gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8 & 9, 2 Corinthians 5:19, Romans 3:22-24, Romans 3:28, Romans 4:5, Mark 16:16)

Baptism is a holy act instituted by Christ.  Using water and God’s Word, it offers and gives the forgiveness of sins, spiritual life, and eternal salvation.  It is a Sacrament meant for young and old, including children. We are by nature sinful, from conception, and thus infants also need the spiritual rebirth brought through baptism. (Matthew 28:19, John 3:5 & 6, Titus 3:5, Mark 10:14, Acts 22:16, Mark 16:16)

Holy Communion is a holy act instituted by Christ.  Together with bread and wine we receive Jesus’ true body and blood.  In this special meal, Jesus gives the forgiveness of sins, strengthens our faith, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe. (Matthew 26: 26-28, I Corinthians 10:16, I Corinthians 11:27 & 28, I Corinthians 10:17)

Christians, empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit, will conform their lives to the Word and will of God, out of love and thanks to God for salvation and all blessings, and to witness their faith to others. (I Thessalonians. 4:7, Gal. 5:16, I Corinthians. 10:31, I Peter 2: 9-10) However, since we still have an old sinful nature living within us, our Christian life is filled with much sin and weakness while in this world (Romans 7:14-25).  Therefore, believers continually confess their sins and receive forgiveness freely given through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ for comfort and for strength to live as God’s redeemed people (Romans 8:1, Romans 6:1-14).  

Human life is the gift of a gracious God. Our life is a time of grace during which we have the opportunity to learn the way of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Only God has the right to take the life he has given. Life begins at conception and ends when the soul leaves the body.

(Acts 17:25,26; Isaiah 55:6; 2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Psalm 31:15; Exodus 20:13; Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5)

Marriage is the union of one man and one woman. It is a partnership in which the man is the loving head. Marriage is established by God. It is a holy relationship not to be broken. A married person sins if he or she divorces without a biblical reason. Before God, no divorce is valid except in cases of fornication or desertion. The tendency to consider marriage as unimportant results in great harm to the family, the church, and the nation.  (Genesis 2:18; Ephesians 5:24,25; Hebrews 13:4; Matthew 19:9; 1 Corinthians 7:15; Psalm 51:10)

God clearly teaches us to have compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity with others (Col 3:12-14). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture or the doctrines of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and Peace Lutheran School.

God created human sexuality and gender at creation when he tells us that “male and female he created them” (Gen 1:27). These two distinct, complementary genders are God’s design for people as they relate to one another in matters dealing with human sexuality, marriage, and gender (Gen 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of God’s creative action and design for the individual (Psalm 139:13-14; Jeremiah 1:5).

God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5). We believe that any form of intimate sexual activity outside of God’s prescribed marriage bond is sinful and offensive to God (I Cor 6:9-10; Heb 13:4).

God forgives all who confess and turn away from their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-20; 1 John 1:9). 

Learning More…

If you would like more information regarding what we believe, please refer to the website of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod at www.wels.net.  We also strongly encourage you to attend a Bible Basics Class taught by our pastors.  These free courses last about 10 weeks and study the basic teachings of the Bible that we believe, confess and teach at Peace Lutheran Ministries.   Please reach out to one of our pastors for questions and more information here.