The short answer…
We believe that Jesus Christ is Lord – the King and Savior the world so desperately needs. Through His perfect life, sacrificial death on the cross, and bodily resurrection on the third day, He has forgiven sin, defeated death, and won salvation for all people – gifts that are freely offered to all people and which are received by faith (trust) in Jesus and what He has done.
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
– Philippians 2:10-11 (ESV)
The longer answer…
With Christians around the world, Hope Lutheran Church is a gathering of people who confess faith in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In harmony with the historic Creeds of the Christian Church, we confess that…
God is the maker and sustainer of everything that exists.
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
– Genesis 1:1 (ESV)
That the eternal Son of God took on human flesh through his conception by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary in order to be our rescuing Lord. He has redeemed us from sin, evil, death, and our spiritual enemy the devil through His perfectly faithful life, death, and resurrection. He is exalted in the position of all authority and honor at the Father’s side, and He will return as King and Judge of all.
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
– Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV)
God the Holy Spirit has been sent into the world to bring the human race to new life through faith in Jesus the Son. The Spirit breathes this new life into us through the good news of what God has done for us in Jesus – good news that comes to us through Word of God and the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Ultimately, the Holy Spirit will complete His work in our lives when He raises us from the dead, freed from all sin and weakness, to be like Christ. On that day, the day of Christ’s return, the heavens and the earth will also be remade to be the place where God and His people will live together in joy and love forever.
[Jesus said,] “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”
– John 15:26 (ESV)
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
– Revelation 21:1, 3-4 (ESV)
There is certainly much more that can be said about what we believe! Hope Lutheran Church is a member congregation of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Our denomination’s website has further resources you can explore to learn more about the particulars of what we confess to be true.
Ultimately, we believe that Jesus Christ is the hope of the world, and that He is God’s answer to all pain, sadness, and evil. And we believe that you are meant to know Him and to share in His life!
