- The prophetic and apostolic writings of the Old and New Testaments differ from all other books in the world in that they are the Word of God. They are the Word of God because the holy men of God who wrote the Scriptures wrote only that which the Holy Spirit communicated to them by inspiration. Since Holy Scriptures are the Word of God, it goes without saying that they contain no errors or contradictions, but that they are in all their parts and words the infallible truth. Including those parts which treat of historical, geographical, and other secular matters.
- We furthermore teach regarding the Holy Scriptures that they are given by God to the Christian Church for the foundation of faith. Hence the Holy Scriptures are the sole source from which all doctrines proclaimed in the Christian Church must be taken and therefore, to the sole rule and norm by which all teachers and doctrines must be examined and judged.
- On the basis of the Holy Scriptures we teach the article of the Holy Trinity as: one true God, (the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit), three distinct persons, but of one and the same divine essence. These distinct persons are equal in power, and majesty, each person possesses the one divine essence in its entirety. We hold that any teachers and communions who deny the doctrine of the Holy Trinity are outside of the Christian Church.
- The Triune God is the God who is gracious to man. All people, since the Fall, are dead in sin, and inclined only to evil. But through the suffering, death and resurrection, Christ made satisfaction for the sins of the whole world. Meaning in Christ's merit and in Christ alone, can one be freed from the bondage of sin, atoned, and justified before the sight of God. This is when, for Christ's sake, through faith, we believe that Christ suffered and died for us and that for His sake our sins are forgiven and wherever the forgiveness of sins are offered there is also life and salvation.
- Our confession of faith is set forth in the Book of Concord in the year 1580. These confessions are not a rule of faith beyond, and supplementary to Scripture, but a confession of the teachings of Scripture over those who deny these teachings.
The Sacraments
The Sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated on the first and third Sunday of each month and on Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Easter, Pentecost, and some minor festivals. As Missouri Synod-Lutherans, we believe the sacrament of Holy Communion “is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink”. (Luther’s Small Catechism). The Sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated with those who are in confessional fellowship in the Missouri Synod - Lutheran Church. If you desire to participate in this fellowship, please speak with the pastor. The Sacrament of Baptism is administered to infants and adults after conferring with the pastor.
Catechesis and the Life of the Church
Redeemer Lutheran Church centers its life giving and life sustaining activity within the Divine Service. It is there in which "... our Lord speaks and we listen. Faith that is born from what is heard acknowledges the gifts received through Word and Sacrament with eager thankfulness and praise. Music is drawn into this thankfulness and praise, enlarging and elevating the adoration of our gracious giver God. Saying back to Him what He has said to us, we repeat what is most true and sure. Most true and sure is His name, which He put upon us with the water of our Baptism. We are His. This we acknowledge at the beginning of the Divine Service. Where His name is, there is He. Before Him we acknowledge that we are sinners, and we plead for forgiveness. His forgiveness is given us, and we, freed and forgiven, acclaim Him as our great and gracious God as we apply to ourselves the words He has used to make Himself known to us." (Lutheran Worship)
Catechesis is a manner in which the Body of Christ, the Church, continues to be strengthened and edified by the gracious will of God as testified to us in the Holy Scriptures. Knowing this, we do not worship and confess many gods, but only the one true God who has revealed Himself to us through His Son Jesus Christ. Catechesis enables the Church to continue to acknowledge the one true God in one mind and confession, one baptism and faith, in whom we give all glory and praise to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.
© Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2009
