What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of St. Matthew Lutheran Church based on the foundational truths taught in the Bible. We are a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).

We believe that God is Triune. There is one eternally existing divine God who has three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We believe that in the beginning, God created all things. He is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise.  God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom,  justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:11)

We believe that humans, both male and female, were created in God's image for His glory. The first humans, Adam and Eve, were created without sin and appointed as caretakers of the rest of God's creations. We believe that humankind was created holy but fell into sin (the Fall) and that all people have sinned.

We believe that the punishment for sin is earthly and eternal death. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

We believe that God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to reconcile us back to Him and to suffer the punishment for our sin by dying on the cross. Jesus lived a life without sin and willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for our transgressions. We believe that on the third day Jesus rose from the grave and now, by grace, offers as a free gift the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life through faith in Him. That is why salvation can be found in Christ alone.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

We believe that our faith is shown in the life we live and the good we do, and so we are to follow the Ten Commandments and live in the fruit of the Spirit. The Church is meant to be the visible body of Christ, sent into the world to glorify God and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. We believe that prayer is an essential and powerful part of the Christian life and even though we are recreated in the likeness of Christ, we still sin and are in constant need of forgiveness.

We believe that Jesus Christ is coming again to judge all people and that all those who have died will be raised from the dead. We believe that those who have truly believed in Christ will be raised to life in glory without sin or flaw and will have eternal life in heaven, while those who do not believe will suffer eternal punishment in hell.
"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." (John 3:36)

We believe that in the Lord's Supper, we receive Christ's body and blood in, with, and under the bread and the wine for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith. "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26: 26-28)

We believe that in Baptism God creates saving faith through the power of His word and the work of the Holy Spirit.
"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19)