WE ARE A BIBLE-BELIEVING, CHRIST-CONFESSING CONGREGATION. WE BELEIVE IN THE HOLY TRINITY.
God is the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - three distinct persons in one divine being (the Holy Trinity). In the simplest of terms, Christians believe in one God, but within God are three distinct persons. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are each unique. They relate to each other in a loving eternal unity. Each person is true God. Each are eternal, infinite, all-knowing, all-powerful, all-present, without beginning or end.
The Holy Trinity is a deep, profound reality that can only be understood by faith. Some spiritual realities are beyond our human comprehension. We humbly confess that there is only one God; but within this one divine essence are three distinct, separate persons.
Each person is not a “part” of God, as if the three persons together make up one complete God. But each person is the full God. Nor is each person a different phase, aspect, or manifestation of God. Each person is distinct, uncreated and eternal. There is no perfect analogy of the Holy Trinity anywhere in the realm of nature (although some illustrations can be helpful. For example, water can be a liquid, solid or a gas.) Christians confess the mystery of the Trinity in Unity, and the Unity in Trinity.
WE BELIEVE AND CONFESS THE HISTORIC CREEDS OF CHRISTIANITY.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED: A Creed is a statement of faith, a proclamation of what the Bible teaches. The Apostles’ Creed is not a production of the original 12 apostles, but it contains a brief summary of their teachings. It sets forth the doctrine of the Triune God in a straightforward and memorable way. In its present form, it is of no later date than the third century. It appears that this Creed was first used in connection with Holy Baptism at the churches in Rome. This is the first of the three great ecumenical Creeds, statements of faith that have always been universally accepted by all churches. These include: the Apostles’, the Nicene, and the Athanasian Creed.
THE NICENE CREED: The Nicene Creed is a statement of the orthodox faith of the early Christian Church, in opposition to certain heresies, especially Arianism (which taught that the Son of God was inferior to the Father and was created by the Father and came after him). This and various other false teachings disturbed the Church during the fourth century and concerned both the doctrine of the Trinity and of the person of Christ (who Jesus was in his human and divine natures). Both the Greek and the Latin Churches confessed the Nicene Creed from the fourth century onwards. The Nicene Creed follows the basic structure of the Apostles’ Creed, but the second part which speaks of Jesus Christ is greatly amplified. Christ is “God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made.”
The basic structure of these Creeds shows us how God the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, is the Creator of all things. God the Son became man to suffer and die for us on the cross. And the Holy Spirit is the Lord and Giver of Life. This is the God of the Bible, the Holy Trinity.
This Triune God is absolutely unique and above all. God is love. The Father who created all the universe and humanity by his power, has sent his eternal Son into this fallen creation to reconcile us to himself. The Son of God dies on the cross for our sins and he then rises from the dead to bring us that gift of a new life in God's new creation.
The Holy Spirit works through the Word and Sacraments to create and sustain saving faith. The Spirit of God makes us to be born again. He bestows upon us the power of God's grace in Jesus. The Spirit also works in our life to create the fruits of faith and good works of love and service to others.
WE ARE A CONGREGATION OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH-MISSOURI SYNOD.
Our basic teaching can be summarized in three points: Grace Alone, Faith Alone, and Scripture Alone.
Grace Alone: We are saved by grace alone. Salvation is a free gift. It is not achieved by works or merit. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves because we are all born into this world as sinners. We are spiritually dead in our sins, and we need to be made alive. This regeneration is the wondrous gift which God freely bestows upon lost sinners. We all need to be born again through Holy Baptism and made alive in Christ. The Holy Spirit works through the Word and Sacraments to create and sustain saving faith. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are born again.
Faith Alone: By his suffering and death as our perfect substitute on the cross, Jesus Christ has won the forgiveness of sins for us. God freely bestows forgiveness and eternal life upon all who believe in his Son. We receive this gift by faith alone. Believe it and receive it. Therefore, we put our hope and faith in Jesus because he is our Savior. He is the true Son of God. He is the promised Messiah. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Christ has done everything necessary so that you can have a new and eternal life in God's new creation.
Scripture Alone: The Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine. The Bible is absolutely true, from beginning to end. It is without error or mistakes. God has revealed himself to us in his Word. Therefore, we can confidently believe and trust what God says to us in his Word.
"What is the LCMS?" The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (LCMS) consists of over 6,000 congregations in the USA. We hold a shared confession of the Christian Faith as taught in Holy Scriptures and explained in the Lutheran Confessions, "The Book of Concord." The Book of Concord contains the definitive doctrinal statements of what we believe, teach and confess. The most famous of these books are "Luther's Small & Large Catechisms," and "The Augsburg Confession."
To learn more, visit the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod website by clicking the link below. This website offers a comprehensive overview of the LCMS. It describes what we believe and teach. It also describes what we do in mission work and human care, both here and around the world.
God is the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - three distinct persons in one divine being (the Holy Trinity). In the simplest of terms, Christians believe in one God, but within God are three distinct persons. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are each unique. They relate to each other in a loving eternal unity. Each person is true God. Each are eternal, infinite, all-knowing, all-powerful, all-present, without beginning or end.
The Holy Trinity is a deep, profound reality that can only be understood by faith. Some spiritual realities are beyond our human comprehension. We humbly confess that there is only one God; but within this one divine essence are three distinct, separate persons.
Each person is not a “part” of God, as if the three persons together make up one complete God. But each person is the full God. Nor is each person a different phase, aspect, or manifestation of God. Each person is distinct, uncreated and eternal. There is no perfect analogy of the Holy Trinity anywhere in the realm of nature (although some illustrations can be helpful. For example, water can be a liquid, solid or a gas.) Christians confess the mystery of the Trinity in Unity, and the Unity in Trinity.
WE BELIEVE AND CONFESS THE HISTORIC CREEDS OF CHRISTIANITY.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED: A Creed is a statement of faith, a proclamation of what the Bible teaches. The Apostles’ Creed is not a production of the original 12 apostles, but it contains a brief summary of their teachings. It sets forth the doctrine of the Triune God in a straightforward and memorable way. In its present form, it is of no later date than the third century. It appears that this Creed was first used in connection with Holy Baptism at the churches in Rome. This is the first of the three great ecumenical Creeds, statements of faith that have always been universally accepted by all churches. These include: the Apostles’, the Nicene, and the Athanasian Creed.
THE NICENE CREED: The Nicene Creed is a statement of the orthodox faith of the early Christian Church, in opposition to certain heresies, especially Arianism (which taught that the Son of God was inferior to the Father and was created by the Father and came after him). This and various other false teachings disturbed the Church during the fourth century and concerned both the doctrine of the Trinity and of the person of Christ (who Jesus was in his human and divine natures). Both the Greek and the Latin Churches confessed the Nicene Creed from the fourth century onwards. The Nicene Creed follows the basic structure of the Apostles’ Creed, but the second part which speaks of Jesus Christ is greatly amplified. Christ is “God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made.”
The basic structure of these Creeds shows us how God the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, is the Creator of all things. God the Son became man to suffer and die for us on the cross. And the Holy Spirit is the Lord and Giver of Life. This is the God of the Bible, the Holy Trinity.
This Triune God is absolutely unique and above all. God is love. The Father who created all the universe and humanity by his power, has sent his eternal Son into this fallen creation to reconcile us to himself. The Son of God dies on the cross for our sins and he then rises from the dead to bring us that gift of a new life in God's new creation.
The Holy Spirit works through the Word and Sacraments to create and sustain saving faith. The Spirit of God makes us to be born again. He bestows upon us the power of God's grace in Jesus. The Spirit also works in our life to create the fruits of faith and good works of love and service to others.
WE ARE A CONGREGATION OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH-MISSOURI SYNOD.
Our basic teaching can be summarized in three points: Grace Alone, Faith Alone, and Scripture Alone.
Grace Alone: We are saved by grace alone. Salvation is a free gift. It is not achieved by works or merit. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves because we are all born into this world as sinners. We are spiritually dead in our sins, and we need to be made alive. This regeneration is the wondrous gift which God freely bestows upon lost sinners. We all need to be born again through Holy Baptism and made alive in Christ. The Holy Spirit works through the Word and Sacraments to create and sustain saving faith. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are born again.
Faith Alone: By his suffering and death as our perfect substitute on the cross, Jesus Christ has won the forgiveness of sins for us. God freely bestows forgiveness and eternal life upon all who believe in his Son. We receive this gift by faith alone. Believe it and receive it. Therefore, we put our hope and faith in Jesus because he is our Savior. He is the true Son of God. He is the promised Messiah. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Christ has done everything necessary so that you can have a new and eternal life in God's new creation.
Scripture Alone: The Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine. The Bible is absolutely true, from beginning to end. It is without error or mistakes. God has revealed himself to us in his Word. Therefore, we can confidently believe and trust what God says to us in his Word.
"What is the LCMS?" The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (LCMS) consists of over 6,000 congregations in the USA. We hold a shared confession of the Christian Faith as taught in Holy Scriptures and explained in the Lutheran Confessions, "The Book of Concord." The Book of Concord contains the definitive doctrinal statements of what we believe, teach and confess. The most famous of these books are "Luther's Small & Large Catechisms," and "The Augsburg Confession."
To learn more, visit the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod website by clicking the link below. This website offers a comprehensive overview of the LCMS. It describes what we believe and teach. It also describes what we do in mission work and human care, both here and around the world.
"AN OVERVIEW OF MARTIN LUTHER'S REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH"
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Let us take a look Luther’s Reformation. We begin with the year that Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg. The year was 1517. Luther was an Augustinian monk and a professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg in Germany. Luther was also a pastor who was concerned about the spiritual life of his parish.
Most of his congregation had become involved in the buying of indulgences. An indulgence was a release from the punishment that was due to a person because of sin. In the medieval church, it was thought that Christ only suffered for part of our sins. You had to earn forgiveness for the rest.
One way to merit forgiveness was through works of penance. These works had special merit, and they included: Saying specific prayers, going on a pilgrimage, viewing relics, earning indulgences, performing masses for the dead, honoring the saints, becoming a monk or nun, and so on.
Then, there was also purgatory, a place you go after you die. Since it is impossible for us to merit forgiveness for all the sins we commit, purgatory is necessary. Here, you are punished for your sins. You are purged and made clean. Then, you can enter heaven. But realize, this process of purgatory can take thousands of years to complete.
Indulgences were a release from some of these punishments (both earthly and in purgatory). At first, indulgence could only be earned through special works of merit.
Later, they became something you could purchase for yourself with money. Then, it became something you could buy for other people. You could actually help your relatives and loved ones get out of purgatory quicker. Indulgences become very popular, and they began to raise a lot of money for the church. All throughout Germany, indulgences were being sold. Luther was troubled by all of this.
He was a young professor of theology and as he was preparing for his many lectures, he intensely studied the Scriptures. Luther studied the Word of God and he learned the Bible inside and out. He observes what he sees going on in his parish, and he compares all of these current practices in his church to what the Scriptures teach. And Luther says, “Houston, we have got a problem. Something is not right here.”
Therefore, Luther writes the 95 Theses as topics for scholarly debate and discussion. He says, “This is something that we need to talk about openly. We need to reform what is wrong in our church.” The 95 Theses declare that indulgences, purgatory and masses for the dead are contrary to what the Bible teaches. All of this contradicts not only the Scriptures, but common sense as well. For example, Luther said in one of the Theses, “If the pope has the power to release sinners from the punishment for sins, why doesn’t he just empty out purgatory out of the goodness of his heart?”
The 95 Theses are quickly printed and published. They spread throughout Germany and then all of Europe. They ignite a firestorm of controversy. Many people say, “Luther is right.” Others say, “He has no right to question the teachings of the church.” Luther then begins to write pamphlets and books that explain and defend his position. His thinking clarifies and he begins to address other corrupt teachings and practices.
All of these books spread throughout Europe. During this time, Luther is called to a private meeting with a special cardinal who was sent to Germany from Rome. The cardinal told Luther to knock it off and shut up. “Either you cease and desist, or we will put you on trial for heresy. This is your only and final warning.” Luther refuses to back down. He argues his case in a powerful and convincing way. He says, “It didn’t use to be like this in the church. Study your church history. We need to get back to what the church used to be and stop all these abuses.”
Luther said, “All of these indulgences are misleading the people. They are leading them away from Christ. They are putting their trust in all these things instead of Jesus. If we can save ourselves, why did the Son of God have to die on the cross? This is an insult to Christ when we teach that he didn’t pay the price for all of our sins. How can we say we earn forgiveness? Either Christ is the Savior or we are.”
Martin Luther was a brilliant thinker. As a monk, he knew the whole system of medieval Roman Catholic theology inside and out. As a scholar, he knew the complete history of the early church. As a pastor, he knew the Bible by heart. Luther argued his case so powerfully, even the cardinal sent from Rome said, “You know, he’s got a point. But still, we are not allowed to question the power and authority of the church.” And this was the case for many of the religious authorities. They sensed that something needed to be done, but they also felt that it was wrong to question official church teaching. It could also be dangerous.
It helped that Luther was fearless in this regard. He was not afraid of the threats that were made against him. And the threats continued to pile up. Rome was not at all interested in ending this very lucrative practice of selling indulgences. They were more interested in finally ending this public discussion Luther started.
Luther was finally summoned to a special assembly called by Emperor Charles the Fifth, the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, which covered most of Europe. All the authorities of the government and church gathered in the German city of Worms. The year was 1521.
At the Diet of Worms, Luther publicly appeared before all the powers that be. He thought, “Here’s my chance to discuss the issues we all face.” But there was to be no discussion or debate. Luther was simply asked two questions. A cardinal points to a table filled with Luther’s writings. He asks, “Are these your writings?” Luther says, “Yes.” Then, the cardinal says, “Do recant and renounce all of these writings? Will you admit that you are wrong and stop all of this nonsense?”
Luther answered, “I cannot do that. I know what the Scriptures teach. I can’t go against the Word of God or my conscience. Unless you can show me where I am wrong, I refuse to recant. I will base my faith on the Bible and not on the teachings of men, who often are wrong. Here I stand. I can do no other.” The emperor was shocked and the religious authorities were amazed. In the confusion that followed, Luther is quickly whisked away to a safe refuge. After the Diet of Worms, the emperor declared Luther to be an outlaw. That meant that he was wanted, dead or alive. However, Luther’s prince in Wittenberg, Frederick the Great, had already taken him secretly to a safe and remote place, a castle called the Wartburg. Luther would spend almost a year here, living undercover.
During this time, Luther did something that changed everything forever. In 1522, Luther translated the New Testament into German. Up until this time, the Bible was only in Latin. Luther said the Bible should be in the language of the people. It should be available to anyone in their own language. Everyone should read for themselves what the Bible plainly teaches. Everyone should be able to discover the truth of God’s Word.
Luther also said that the worship service and the celebration of Holy Communion should be in the language of the people. Until then, the entire service was in Latin, a language most people were unfamiliar with. Luther taught that everyone should be able to understand the liturgy. Furthermore, the people should also be able to understand and sing the hymns in their own language. Until then, choirs sang the Latin hymns. Therefore, Luther began to translate and even write hymns for the people to sing. Many of his most famous hymns were written during this time.
After Luther finished translating the New Testament into German, he began work on translating the Old Testament as well. This took longer, and Luther enlisted the help of several famous Hebrew scholars. By 1534, the German Bible would be completed. It would be printed and distributed throughout Europe.
After his stay at the Wartburg, Luther returned to Wittenberg and he continued his work under the protection of Frederick the Great. By this time, many other regions and princes had joined Luther’s Reformation. All of Europe was being swept up by the rising tide of reform and renewal.
Now Luther did something that shocked a lot of people. In 1525, Luther got married to Katherina von Bora, a former nun. When he was asked, “How can a priest get married?” Luther replied, “Nowhere in the Bible does it say that a pastor cannot get married. Even Peter and the apostles were married. How can the papacy forbid priests, monks and nuns to get married, when nowhere in the Bible is that forbidden?”
By now, the Reformation was progressing rapidly. Luther continued to teach at the university. He wrote extensively on faith and good works, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, the distinction between law and gospel, the Christian life, government and society. He also wrote many commentaries on books of the Bible and published numerous sermons.
Among Luther’s most famous works was a little book we still use today. The Small Catechism was written in 1529 to help everyone to understand the basic teachings of the Bible. This is Christianity 101 and it is something everyone needs to learn and take to heart. If you are going to take your stand on the Word of God, you need to know what you believe and how it all fits together. You need to discover what the Bible teaches for yourself.
While Luther was doing all this work, Emperor Charles the Fifth was trying to decide on how best to proceed. The Reformation was spreading all throughout his empire and it was causing endless controversy and division. Finally, he agreed to have one more attempt at trying to resolve these religious differences. He would allow the Lutherans to present their case. There would be no threats, no trials and no arrests.
Therefore, the Diet of Augsburg took place in 1530. The Lutherans presented to the emperor the Augsburg Confession, a classic statement of what the Bible teaches. The Augsburg Confession contains both a statement of what the Lutherans believed and a listing of abuses to be corrected. In a clear and precise way, the Augsburg Confession makes the case that Martin Luther’s teachings were a return to the traditional Christianity of the apostolic church. This is classic Trinitarian, Nicene Creed Christianity. We are saved by grace alone, through faith in Christ alone.
The Son of God pays the price for all of our sins (and not just some of them). Christ does everything necessary for the salvation of lost sinners. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”
The Son of God does what we could never do. In Christ, God himself defeats the power of sin, death and hell. Because of the death and resurrection of Christ, we have a place in heaven waiting for us. Salvation is a gift. When we die, we go directly to be with the Lord in heaven and not purgatory. “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”
Faith receives this gift. We trust in Christ as our Savior. All glory be to God for the gift of his Son! We are saved totally by grace. Everlasting life is a free gift given to undeserving sinners. The Holy Spirit calls us by this gospel message. He enlightens us with his gifts and creates saving faith in our hearts. The Holy Spirit enables us to confess Christ. He also sanctifies all believers and keeps them in the faith. By the Spirit’s power, we now do good works and obey the teaching of Christ.
The Augsburg Confession also teaches that the authority of the church is to be found in the Bible alone. The Scriptures are the norm and rule of our faith. We base what we believe on the Word of God, not on human decrees and teachings. Humans often make mistakes, the Bible does not. We need to teach what the Bible proclaims. Period. End of story.
Article by article, the Augsburg Confession explains what the Lutherans were teaching to the people of Germany. When Emperor Charles heard this Confession read aloud, he realized that the Lutherans were committed to their faith. They were not going to back down.
After the Augsburg Confession, Luther would continue his work until his death. The daily stress and strain, and his incredible workload, would take their toll on Luther’s health. He would develop heart problems, kidney stones, and struggle with bouts of depression. Yet, he continued to teach, write and guide those pastors and congregations who joined the Reformation movement, which was spreading across both Germany and Scandinavia.
In 1546, Luther complained of chest pains and shortness of breath. He became quite ill, and his family and friends gathered around him. On his deathbed, Luther prayed, “Into your hands, Lord, I commit my spirit. You have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth. I thank you that you have given to me, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, whom I have preached and confessed and taught to others.”
And then, at the very end, Luther whispered to his friends, “It is true. We are all beggars.” And with this, he died. He was buried near the pulpit in the Castle Church in Wittenberg, buried near the spot where he had nailed the 95 Theses to the church door 29 years earlier.
In those 29 years, Martin Luther launched a worldwide movement, which continues until today. We are privileged to be sons and daughters of the Reformation. Let us pray that we may be found faithful to God’s Word. Let us continue to glorify Christ and praise our Father in heaven. Let us continue to confess and teach that we are saved by grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen!
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Let us take a look Luther’s Reformation. We begin with the year that Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg. The year was 1517. Luther was an Augustinian monk and a professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg in Germany. Luther was also a pastor who was concerned about the spiritual life of his parish.
Most of his congregation had become involved in the buying of indulgences. An indulgence was a release from the punishment that was due to a person because of sin. In the medieval church, it was thought that Christ only suffered for part of our sins. You had to earn forgiveness for the rest.
One way to merit forgiveness was through works of penance. These works had special merit, and they included: Saying specific prayers, going on a pilgrimage, viewing relics, earning indulgences, performing masses for the dead, honoring the saints, becoming a monk or nun, and so on.
Then, there was also purgatory, a place you go after you die. Since it is impossible for us to merit forgiveness for all the sins we commit, purgatory is necessary. Here, you are punished for your sins. You are purged and made clean. Then, you can enter heaven. But realize, this process of purgatory can take thousands of years to complete.
Indulgences were a release from some of these punishments (both earthly and in purgatory). At first, indulgence could only be earned through special works of merit.
Later, they became something you could purchase for yourself with money. Then, it became something you could buy for other people. You could actually help your relatives and loved ones get out of purgatory quicker. Indulgences become very popular, and they began to raise a lot of money for the church. All throughout Germany, indulgences were being sold. Luther was troubled by all of this.
He was a young professor of theology and as he was preparing for his many lectures, he intensely studied the Scriptures. Luther studied the Word of God and he learned the Bible inside and out. He observes what he sees going on in his parish, and he compares all of these current practices in his church to what the Scriptures teach. And Luther says, “Houston, we have got a problem. Something is not right here.”
Therefore, Luther writes the 95 Theses as topics for scholarly debate and discussion. He says, “This is something that we need to talk about openly. We need to reform what is wrong in our church.” The 95 Theses declare that indulgences, purgatory and masses for the dead are contrary to what the Bible teaches. All of this contradicts not only the Scriptures, but common sense as well. For example, Luther said in one of the Theses, “If the pope has the power to release sinners from the punishment for sins, why doesn’t he just empty out purgatory out of the goodness of his heart?”
The 95 Theses are quickly printed and published. They spread throughout Germany and then all of Europe. They ignite a firestorm of controversy. Many people say, “Luther is right.” Others say, “He has no right to question the teachings of the church.” Luther then begins to write pamphlets and books that explain and defend his position. His thinking clarifies and he begins to address other corrupt teachings and practices.
All of these books spread throughout Europe. During this time, Luther is called to a private meeting with a special cardinal who was sent to Germany from Rome. The cardinal told Luther to knock it off and shut up. “Either you cease and desist, or we will put you on trial for heresy. This is your only and final warning.” Luther refuses to back down. He argues his case in a powerful and convincing way. He says, “It didn’t use to be like this in the church. Study your church history. We need to get back to what the church used to be and stop all these abuses.”
Luther said, “All of these indulgences are misleading the people. They are leading them away from Christ. They are putting their trust in all these things instead of Jesus. If we can save ourselves, why did the Son of God have to die on the cross? This is an insult to Christ when we teach that he didn’t pay the price for all of our sins. How can we say we earn forgiveness? Either Christ is the Savior or we are.”
Martin Luther was a brilliant thinker. As a monk, he knew the whole system of medieval Roman Catholic theology inside and out. As a scholar, he knew the complete history of the early church. As a pastor, he knew the Bible by heart. Luther argued his case so powerfully, even the cardinal sent from Rome said, “You know, he’s got a point. But still, we are not allowed to question the power and authority of the church.” And this was the case for many of the religious authorities. They sensed that something needed to be done, but they also felt that it was wrong to question official church teaching. It could also be dangerous.
It helped that Luther was fearless in this regard. He was not afraid of the threats that were made against him. And the threats continued to pile up. Rome was not at all interested in ending this very lucrative practice of selling indulgences. They were more interested in finally ending this public discussion Luther started.
Luther was finally summoned to a special assembly called by Emperor Charles the Fifth, the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, which covered most of Europe. All the authorities of the government and church gathered in the German city of Worms. The year was 1521.
At the Diet of Worms, Luther publicly appeared before all the powers that be. He thought, “Here’s my chance to discuss the issues we all face.” But there was to be no discussion or debate. Luther was simply asked two questions. A cardinal points to a table filled with Luther’s writings. He asks, “Are these your writings?” Luther says, “Yes.” Then, the cardinal says, “Do recant and renounce all of these writings? Will you admit that you are wrong and stop all of this nonsense?”
Luther answered, “I cannot do that. I know what the Scriptures teach. I can’t go against the Word of God or my conscience. Unless you can show me where I am wrong, I refuse to recant. I will base my faith on the Bible and not on the teachings of men, who often are wrong. Here I stand. I can do no other.” The emperor was shocked and the religious authorities were amazed. In the confusion that followed, Luther is quickly whisked away to a safe refuge. After the Diet of Worms, the emperor declared Luther to be an outlaw. That meant that he was wanted, dead or alive. However, Luther’s prince in Wittenberg, Frederick the Great, had already taken him secretly to a safe and remote place, a castle called the Wartburg. Luther would spend almost a year here, living undercover.
During this time, Luther did something that changed everything forever. In 1522, Luther translated the New Testament into German. Up until this time, the Bible was only in Latin. Luther said the Bible should be in the language of the people. It should be available to anyone in their own language. Everyone should read for themselves what the Bible plainly teaches. Everyone should be able to discover the truth of God’s Word.
Luther also said that the worship service and the celebration of Holy Communion should be in the language of the people. Until then, the entire service was in Latin, a language most people were unfamiliar with. Luther taught that everyone should be able to understand the liturgy. Furthermore, the people should also be able to understand and sing the hymns in their own language. Until then, choirs sang the Latin hymns. Therefore, Luther began to translate and even write hymns for the people to sing. Many of his most famous hymns were written during this time.
After Luther finished translating the New Testament into German, he began work on translating the Old Testament as well. This took longer, and Luther enlisted the help of several famous Hebrew scholars. By 1534, the German Bible would be completed. It would be printed and distributed throughout Europe.
After his stay at the Wartburg, Luther returned to Wittenberg and he continued his work under the protection of Frederick the Great. By this time, many other regions and princes had joined Luther’s Reformation. All of Europe was being swept up by the rising tide of reform and renewal.
Now Luther did something that shocked a lot of people. In 1525, Luther got married to Katherina von Bora, a former nun. When he was asked, “How can a priest get married?” Luther replied, “Nowhere in the Bible does it say that a pastor cannot get married. Even Peter and the apostles were married. How can the papacy forbid priests, monks and nuns to get married, when nowhere in the Bible is that forbidden?”
By now, the Reformation was progressing rapidly. Luther continued to teach at the university. He wrote extensively on faith and good works, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, the distinction between law and gospel, the Christian life, government and society. He also wrote many commentaries on books of the Bible and published numerous sermons.
Among Luther’s most famous works was a little book we still use today. The Small Catechism was written in 1529 to help everyone to understand the basic teachings of the Bible. This is Christianity 101 and it is something everyone needs to learn and take to heart. If you are going to take your stand on the Word of God, you need to know what you believe and how it all fits together. You need to discover what the Bible teaches for yourself.
While Luther was doing all this work, Emperor Charles the Fifth was trying to decide on how best to proceed. The Reformation was spreading all throughout his empire and it was causing endless controversy and division. Finally, he agreed to have one more attempt at trying to resolve these religious differences. He would allow the Lutherans to present their case. There would be no threats, no trials and no arrests.
Therefore, the Diet of Augsburg took place in 1530. The Lutherans presented to the emperor the Augsburg Confession, a classic statement of what the Bible teaches. The Augsburg Confession contains both a statement of what the Lutherans believed and a listing of abuses to be corrected. In a clear and precise way, the Augsburg Confession makes the case that Martin Luther’s teachings were a return to the traditional Christianity of the apostolic church. This is classic Trinitarian, Nicene Creed Christianity. We are saved by grace alone, through faith in Christ alone.
The Son of God pays the price for all of our sins (and not just some of them). Christ does everything necessary for the salvation of lost sinners. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”
The Son of God does what we could never do. In Christ, God himself defeats the power of sin, death and hell. Because of the death and resurrection of Christ, we have a place in heaven waiting for us. Salvation is a gift. When we die, we go directly to be with the Lord in heaven and not purgatory. “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”
Faith receives this gift. We trust in Christ as our Savior. All glory be to God for the gift of his Son! We are saved totally by grace. Everlasting life is a free gift given to undeserving sinners. The Holy Spirit calls us by this gospel message. He enlightens us with his gifts and creates saving faith in our hearts. The Holy Spirit enables us to confess Christ. He also sanctifies all believers and keeps them in the faith. By the Spirit’s power, we now do good works and obey the teaching of Christ.
The Augsburg Confession also teaches that the authority of the church is to be found in the Bible alone. The Scriptures are the norm and rule of our faith. We base what we believe on the Word of God, not on human decrees and teachings. Humans often make mistakes, the Bible does not. We need to teach what the Bible proclaims. Period. End of story.
Article by article, the Augsburg Confession explains what the Lutherans were teaching to the people of Germany. When Emperor Charles heard this Confession read aloud, he realized that the Lutherans were committed to their faith. They were not going to back down.
After the Augsburg Confession, Luther would continue his work until his death. The daily stress and strain, and his incredible workload, would take their toll on Luther’s health. He would develop heart problems, kidney stones, and struggle with bouts of depression. Yet, he continued to teach, write and guide those pastors and congregations who joined the Reformation movement, which was spreading across both Germany and Scandinavia.
In 1546, Luther complained of chest pains and shortness of breath. He became quite ill, and his family and friends gathered around him. On his deathbed, Luther prayed, “Into your hands, Lord, I commit my spirit. You have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth. I thank you that you have given to me, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, whom I have preached and confessed and taught to others.”
And then, at the very end, Luther whispered to his friends, “It is true. We are all beggars.” And with this, he died. He was buried near the pulpit in the Castle Church in Wittenberg, buried near the spot where he had nailed the 95 Theses to the church door 29 years earlier.
In those 29 years, Martin Luther launched a worldwide movement, which continues until today. We are privileged to be sons and daughters of the Reformation. Let us pray that we may be found faithful to God’s Word. Let us continue to glorify Christ and praise our Father in heaven. Let us continue to confess and teach that we are saved by grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen!
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Our Mission:
Our mission is to receive and share the GRACE OF GOD through worship, education, witness and service.
Our Values:
1. We believe that we have a specific mission given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:16-20)
2. We believe God’s truth is revealed in His inspired and inerrant Word. (2 Peter 1:20-21; Isaiah 55:10-11)
3. We believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 Corinthians 2:2)
4. We believe we should demonstrate good works and the fruit of the Spirit which is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. (Galatians 5:22-23; Matthew 7:16)
5. We believe that every Christian is called by God to live a life of eternal significance and is uniquely gifted for service in God’s kingdom. (Romans 12:1, 1 Peter 4:10)
6. We believe integrity, not popularity, is God’s standard for faithful service in His Kingdom. (Isaiah 51:7-8; Galatians 1:10)
7. We believe that God is honored when we strive to do our best for Him. (Ecclesiastes 9:10, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 2 Peter 1:5-11)
Our Vision:
1. Worship the Lord in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24, Hebrews 10:23-25)
2. Honor the Lord with Biblical and culturally relevant teaching. (2 Timothy 4:1-5)
3. Inspire God’s people to share their faith naturally and eagerly. (Acts 4:19-20; 1 Peter 3:15)
4. Provide a variety of opportunities for Christians to grow spiritually through the regular study of God’s Word. (1 Peter 2:1-2; Hebrews 6:1-3)
5. Honor the Lord with music and song, praising Him with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. (Psalm 33:1-4)
6. Provide Christian care and counseling to help carry each other’s burdens. (Galatians 6:2, Matthew 25:34-36)
7. Provide excellence in the Christian education of our youth and children. (Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 4:4-7)
8. Encourage, train, and equip our young people to live faithful lives in their adulthood. (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10; 1 Timothy 4:12)
9. Reach out beyond our community and support mission endeavors near and far. (Luke 12:47-48; Luke 24:46-47)
10. Identify and equip spiritual leadership among lay servants in our congregation. (Ephesians 4:11-12; 2 Timothy 1:6-7)
11. Maintain our facilities as good stewards of God’s gifts and blessings. (Haggai 1:4-5; James 1:17)
12. Provide opportunities for Christian fellowship, mutual encouragement and service to others. (Hebrews 10:23-25)
We seek to:
1. To be faithful in regular worship, prayer, and participation in the sacraments established by God for the spiritual uplifting and encouragement of His people. (Exodus 20:8, Hebrews 10:25, 1 Corinthians 11:26)
2. To be faithful in regular Bible Study, both personal and corporate. (Luke 11:28, 1 Peter 2:2-3; Hebrews 6:1-3, Hebrews 13:17)
3. To be faithful in the financial support of the Lord’s work. (Malachi 3:8-12, Matthew 23:23, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15)
4. To be faithful in living lives of eternal significance. (James 1:23-25, Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Our mission is to receive and share the GRACE OF GOD through worship, education, witness and service.
Our Values:
1. We believe that we have a specific mission given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:16-20)
2. We believe God’s truth is revealed in His inspired and inerrant Word. (2 Peter 1:20-21; Isaiah 55:10-11)
3. We believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 Corinthians 2:2)
4. We believe we should demonstrate good works and the fruit of the Spirit which is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. (Galatians 5:22-23; Matthew 7:16)
5. We believe that every Christian is called by God to live a life of eternal significance and is uniquely gifted for service in God’s kingdom. (Romans 12:1, 1 Peter 4:10)
6. We believe integrity, not popularity, is God’s standard for faithful service in His Kingdom. (Isaiah 51:7-8; Galatians 1:10)
7. We believe that God is honored when we strive to do our best for Him. (Ecclesiastes 9:10, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 2 Peter 1:5-11)
Our Vision:
1. Worship the Lord in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24, Hebrews 10:23-25)
2. Honor the Lord with Biblical and culturally relevant teaching. (2 Timothy 4:1-5)
3. Inspire God’s people to share their faith naturally and eagerly. (Acts 4:19-20; 1 Peter 3:15)
4. Provide a variety of opportunities for Christians to grow spiritually through the regular study of God’s Word. (1 Peter 2:1-2; Hebrews 6:1-3)
5. Honor the Lord with music and song, praising Him with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. (Psalm 33:1-4)
6. Provide Christian care and counseling to help carry each other’s burdens. (Galatians 6:2, Matthew 25:34-36)
7. Provide excellence in the Christian education of our youth and children. (Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 4:4-7)
8. Encourage, train, and equip our young people to live faithful lives in their adulthood. (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10; 1 Timothy 4:12)
9. Reach out beyond our community and support mission endeavors near and far. (Luke 12:47-48; Luke 24:46-47)
10. Identify and equip spiritual leadership among lay servants in our congregation. (Ephesians 4:11-12; 2 Timothy 1:6-7)
11. Maintain our facilities as good stewards of God’s gifts and blessings. (Haggai 1:4-5; James 1:17)
12. Provide opportunities for Christian fellowship, mutual encouragement and service to others. (Hebrews 10:23-25)
We seek to:
1. To be faithful in regular worship, prayer, and participation in the sacraments established by God for the spiritual uplifting and encouragement of His people. (Exodus 20:8, Hebrews 10:25, 1 Corinthians 11:26)
2. To be faithful in regular Bible Study, both personal and corporate. (Luke 11:28, 1 Peter 2:2-3; Hebrews 6:1-3, Hebrews 13:17)
3. To be faithful in the financial support of the Lord’s work. (Malachi 3:8-12, Matthew 23:23, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15)
4. To be faithful in living lives of eternal significance. (James 1:23-25, Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
