What Lutherans Believe

With the universal Christian Church, Bethel Lutheran Church in Gurnee, Illinois teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God: the Father, creator of all that exists; Jesus Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan; and the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God’s Word and Sacraments. The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God.

Being “Lutheran”, our congregation accepts and teaches Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformaton of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three short phrases:

Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone

Grace alone

God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly.

Faith alone

By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him.

Scripture alone

The Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.

Adapted from A Week in the Life of The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod, copyright 1996, Concordia Publishing House.

For more information...

An introduction to the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.-- A historicl background and general overview of LC-MS beliefs.

Who is Jesus?? --This document addresses the question by taking a look at the Apostles Creed.

The way of life --A self-guided Bible study that further explores the question, "who is Jesus?".