1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
We strive for doctrinal purity. We are determined to teach only what is ‘of God’ that is, teachings that are recorded in the Bible, which is God’s Word.
We call ourselves Lutheran to show that we hold to the Scriptural teachings of Grace alone, Faith alone, and Scripture alone.
Here are some examples of what the Bible teaches, and thus what we teach in contrast to many groups, including some “Lutheran” churches.
Bible Teaching |
False Teaching |
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The Way to Heaven
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| Jesus is the only way to heaven. Those who die without faith in Him are eternally lost in Hell. | Sincere followers of non-Christian religions may get to heaven, even without believing in Jesus. | |
| Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. | ||
The Bible |
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The Bible is the Inspired Word of God in its’ entirety. It is without error or contradiction |
The Bible is a book written by fallible men and therefore subject to error. |
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| 2 Peter 1:21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. | ||
Creation |
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The one almighty God created the world and everything in it, including man, in six ordinary days. |
All things have come into being by a process of evolution. Man has evolved from lower life forms. |
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| Exodus 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. | ||
Church Fellowship |
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Every teaching (doctrine) of the Bible is given by the one true God and is thus important. God has directed us to fellowship only with those whom teach only what the Bible teaches. If someone is not in unity of doctrine we should not fellowship with him. |
Some of the teachings in the Bible are unclear or unimportant.Therefore, Christians may worship with groups or individuals who support teachings that are contrary to the Bible. |
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| Romans 16:17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; |
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Original Sin |
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That all people are born sinful. There is in the heart of every single person, including babies, the inclination to sin not the inclination to be righteous and holy. We are completely corrupt, unable in our sinful state to earn salvation or favor with God. |
That people and babies are naturally good. They have the ability to earn salvation and favor with God on their own. When they are sinful or evil it is because circumstances and society have made them that way. |
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Genesis 8:21 the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, Psalm 51:5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. |
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