What We believe

Emmaus Lutheran Church is a confessional Lutheran congregation. This means that we acknowledge the Bible to be the true Word of God and the only authoritative revelation from God, which He has given to us for all matters of doctrine and life. We therefore subscribe to the Christian Book of Concord, a collection of documents which summarize the teaching of the Bible as a basis for Christian unity. We emphasize the responsibility of every Christian to learn from the Bible, hearing the Scriptures read and preached in the divine service, and teaching God's Word in the home. Through the words of the Bible, God has revealed that salvation and eternal life are given to all people who believe in Jesus as the savior of the world. This hope is the source of our joy and our motivation for lives of virtue and love.

The Small Catechism is a brief explanation of Christianity that explains our beliefs from the words of the Bible, "as the father should teach them in a simple way to his household". You can read it online here, or stop by the church building to get a copy.

Standing with the Holy Prophets and Apostles, with the ancient Church Fathers and the Reformers, we believe, teach, and confess:

There is one God who exists from eternity past in the three persons of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. This God is the creator of all things and is active in sustaining all which He has created.

After creating the heavens and the earth, God created man to have fellowship with Him and with other people. He created Man and Woman in His image, righteous and undying. Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, sinned and broke their fellowship with God and have caused themselves and all their posterity to be corrupted by the stain of sin. Now man is unable by his own powers to seek God or love Him.

Because God loved us while we were still sinners and hostile to God, the Father sent the Son to take on humanity. Jesus is God from eternity and also truly man, born of the Virgin Mary. He taught while He lived as a man on earth, fulfilling all the promises of God which gave to the prophets. He gave Himself over to be executed on a cross, sacrificing Himself and receiving the punishment for the sins of all mankind. On the third day He rose again from the dead in His body, visited and taught again before ascending into heaven where He reigns over all things until He returns to judge the living and the dead.

Throughout the texts of Scripture, God has given us commands and instructions which we are meant to follow. The Law has a threefold use, first to teach us that we have sinned and need a savior, second to produce civil order, and third to teach believers how they may do good works before God.

Because Jesus has paid the debt of sin which we owe and made the way by which man may have peace with God, He is able to offer free and full forgiveness to all who trust in Christ. His forgiveness is a free gift which God gives us by His grace through faith. All who believe in Christ will be raised immortal at His return and join Him in the new heavens and earth for all eternity.

Since Christ has ascended into heaven, He has sent God the Holy Spirit to call, gather, and enlighten believers from every nation and people on earth. The Church is made up of all believers of all time who trust in Christ for their salvation. The Holy Spirit gathers congregations of Christians in particular places around the teaching of the Word which we also call churches. For the benefit of these congregations, for the preaching, teaching, and the administration of the sacraments, God has instituted the office of pastor.