God the Father
God the Father is the Creator of heaven and earth and the giver and sustainer of all life. He created us and all that exists, not because He needed anything from us, but out of His goodness and love.
Though sin has broken our relationship with God and with His creation, the Father did not abandon us. In His love, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to redeem and restore what sin had broken.
Through Jesus, we know the Father as He desires to be known: gracious, merciful, and loving. As His children, we trust Him to provide for us, care for us, forgive us, and keep us in His grace.
Together with Christians throughout the centuries, we confess God the Father as “the Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.”
Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14
Though sin has broken our relationship with God and with His creation, the Father did not abandon us. In His love, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to redeem and restore what sin had broken.
Through Jesus, we know the Father as He desires to be known: gracious, merciful, and loving. As His children, we trust Him to provide for us, care for us, forgive us, and keep us in His grace.
Together with Christians throughout the centuries, we confess God the Father as “the Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.”
Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived without sin and willingly suffered and died on the cross in our place, bearing the judgment our sins deserved.
On the third day, Jesus physically rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven and reigns as Lord over all creation. Through His death and resurrection, Christ has conquered sin, death, and the devil and has opened the way to eternal life.
Jesus is not simply an example for us to follow.
He is our Savior.
John 1:1–14; Romans 5:6–11; 1 Corinthians 15:3–8; 1 Timothy 2:5–6
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived without sin and willingly suffered and died on the cross in our place, bearing the judgment our sins deserved.
On the third day, Jesus physically rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven and reigns as Lord over all creation. Through His death and resurrection, Christ has conquered sin, death, and the devil and has opened the way to eternal life.
Jesus is not simply an example for us to follow.
He is our Savior.
John 1:1–14; Romans 5:6–11; 1 Corinthians 15:3–8; 1 Timothy 2:5–6
Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is fully God together with the Father and the Son.
The Holy Spirit calls us to faith through the Gospel, enlightens us with His gifts, makes us holy through Christ, and keeps us in the true faith.
Through God's Word and Sacraments, the Holy Spirit continues to create, strengthen, and sustain faith in Christ. He gathers believers into Christ's Church and works in us so that our lives increasingly reflect the love of God toward our neighbors.
John 14:26; Romans 10:17; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Titus 3:4–7
The Holy Spirit calls us to faith through the Gospel, enlightens us with His gifts, makes us holy through Christ, and keeps us in the true faith.
Through God's Word and Sacraments, the Holy Spirit continues to create, strengthen, and sustain faith in Christ. He gathers believers into Christ's Church and works in us so that our lives increasingly reflect the love of God toward our neighbors.
John 14:26; Romans 10:17; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Titus 3:4–7
The Bible
We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired and authoritative Word of God.
The Bible is not simply human wisdom about God.
Through Scripture, God reveals who He is, exposes our sin through His Law, and proclaims His saving work in Jesus Christ through the Gospel.
Scripture is the source and standard for what we believe, teach, and confess.
Above all, the Bible points us to Jesus Christ, in whom we have forgiveness, life, and salvation.
Luke 24:27; John 20:30–31; 2 Timothy 3:14–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21
The Bible is not simply human wisdom about God.
Through Scripture, God reveals who He is, exposes our sin through His Law, and proclaims His saving work in Jesus Christ through the Gospel.
Scripture is the source and standard for what we believe, teach, and confess.
Above all, the Bible points us to Jesus Christ, in whom we have forgiveness, life, and salvation.
Luke 24:27; John 20:30–31; 2 Timothy 3:14–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21
The Church
We believe that the Church is more than a building or an organization.
The Church is the community of all who believe in Jesus Christ, gathered by the Holy Spirit around God's Word and Sacraments.
Together, Christians hear God's Word, receive His gifts, confess the faith, pray, encourage one another, and care for their neighbors.
God does not gather His people only for our own benefit. He sends us back into our homes, workplaces, schools, neighborhoods, and communities to love and serve others and to bear witness to the hope we have in Christ.
We seek to live together as people who have first been loved and forgiven by God, sharing that same mercy and love with those around us.
Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 12:12–27; Ephesians 2:19–22; Hebrews 10:23–25
The Church is the community of all who believe in Jesus Christ, gathered by the Holy Spirit around God's Word and Sacraments.
Together, Christians hear God's Word, receive His gifts, confess the faith, pray, encourage one another, and care for their neighbors.
God does not gather His people only for our own benefit. He sends us back into our homes, workplaces, schools, neighborhoods, and communities to love and serve others and to bear witness to the hope we have in Christ.
We seek to live together as people who have first been loved and forgiven by God, sharing that same mercy and love with those around us.
Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 12:12–27; Ephesians 2:19–22; Hebrews 10:23–25
Humanity
We believe that every human being is created by God and that human life has profound dignity and value.
God created humanity in His image and for fellowship with Him. But humanity's rebellion against God brought sin and death into creation. Sin is more than the individual wrong things we do. It is a condition that affects every part of our human nature and separates us from God.
We cannot repair this separation by becoming better people, doing enough good things, or earning God's favor.
We need a Savior. And God has given us one in Jesus.
Genesis 1:26–27; Genesis 3; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12
God created humanity in His image and for fellowship with Him. But humanity's rebellion against God brought sin and death into creation. Sin is more than the individual wrong things we do. It is a condition that affects every part of our human nature and separates us from God.
We cannot repair this separation by becoming better people, doing enough good things, or earning God's favor.
We need a Savior. And God has given us one in Jesus.
Genesis 1:26–27; Genesis 3; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12
Salvation
We believe that salvation is entirely God's gift.
We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone.
Jesus willingly took our sins upon Himself and died in our place. On the cross, He received the judgment our sins deserved. Through His resurrection, He defeated death and gives forgiveness and eternal life. We do not earn salvation through good works, religious devotion, or becoming worthy enough for God. Christ has already accomplished everything necessary for our salvation.
Faith simply receives what Jesus has already won and freely gives.
John 3:16; Romans 3:21–28; Ephesians 2:8–10; Titus 3:4–7
We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone.
Jesus willingly took our sins upon Himself and died in our place. On the cross, He received the judgment our sins deserved. Through His resurrection, He defeated death and gives forgiveness and eternal life. We do not earn salvation through good works, religious devotion, or becoming worthy enough for God. Christ has already accomplished everything necessary for our salvation.
Faith simply receives what Jesus has already won and freely gives.
John 3:16; Romans 3:21–28; Ephesians 2:8–10; Titus 3:4–7
The Means of Grace
We believe that God does not leave us wondering where His grace can be found.
He comes to us through His Word and Sacraments, delivering the forgiveness and salvation Jesus won for us on the cross.
In Baptism and the Lord's Supper, God's Word is joined to visible, earthly elements. Through these gifts, God creates and strengthens faith and gives exactly what He promises: forgiveness, life, and salvation.
We also treasure Confession and Absolution, in which Christ's forgiveness is spoken personally and directly to the sinner.
God's grace is not merely something we remember. It is something He continues to give.
He comes to us through His Word and Sacraments, delivering the forgiveness and salvation Jesus won for us on the cross.
In Baptism and the Lord's Supper, God's Word is joined to visible, earthly elements. Through these gifts, God creates and strengthens faith and gives exactly what He promises: forgiveness, life, and salvation.
We also treasure Confession and Absolution, in which Christ's forgiveness is spoken personally and directly to the sinner.
God's grace is not merely something we remember. It is something He continues to give.
Baptism
We believe that Baptism is God's gracious work for us.
Baptism is not simply a symbol of our commitment to God. It is water joined to God's Word and command.
Through Baptism, God gives forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, gives new life, and joins us to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Because Baptism rests on God's promise rather than our ability to understand or choose it, we baptize people of all ages, including infants. We live each day remembering who God has declared us to be in Christ: His baptized and beloved children.
Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 2:38–39; Romans 6:3–5; Titus 3:4–7; 1 Peter 3:21
Baptism is not simply a symbol of our commitment to God. It is water joined to God's Word and command.
Through Baptism, God gives forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, gives new life, and joins us to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Because Baptism rests on God's promise rather than our ability to understand or choose it, we baptize people of all ages, including infants. We live each day remembering who God has declared us to be in Christ: His baptized and beloved children.
Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 2:38–39; Romans 6:3–5; Titus 3:4–7; 1 Peter 3:21
Communion
We believe that Jesus Christ instituted the Lord's Supper on the night when He was betrayed.
In Holy Communion, we receive bread and wine together with the true body and blood of Jesus Christ, given and shed for us for the forgiveness of sins.
We do not attempt to explain away Christ's words, "This is My body" and "This is My blood." We trust His promise. In this Sacrament, Christ comes to us personally with His gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation. Through it, He strengthens our faith and unites us with Him and with one another.
Because Scripture teaches that receiving the Lord's Supper is also a public confession of our shared faith, Bethlehem practices Communion in accordance with the teaching and fellowship of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. If you are visiting Bethlehem, we are genuinely glad you are here. Before receiving Communion, we invite you to speak with our pastor or an elder. They would be happy to answer your questions and help you understand what we believe about this precious gift.
Matthew 26:26–28; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17; 1 Corinthians 11:23–29
In Holy Communion, we receive bread and wine together with the true body and blood of Jesus Christ, given and shed for us for the forgiveness of sins.
We do not attempt to explain away Christ's words, "This is My body" and "This is My blood." We trust His promise. In this Sacrament, Christ comes to us personally with His gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation. Through it, He strengthens our faith and unites us with Him and with one another.
Because Scripture teaches that receiving the Lord's Supper is also a public confession of our shared faith, Bethlehem practices Communion in accordance with the teaching and fellowship of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. If you are visiting Bethlehem, we are genuinely glad you are here. Before receiving Communion, we invite you to speak with our pastor or an elder. They would be happy to answer your questions and help you understand what we believe about this precious gift.
Matthew 26:26–28; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17; 1 Corinthians 11:23–29
Confession & Absolution
Christians do not have to pretend that we have everything together.
We sin. We fail God and one another. And God calls us to confess our sins honestly. But confession does not end with our failure. Because Jesus died and rose for us, God forgives.
In Absolution, Christ's forgiveness is spoken directly and personally to us: Your sins are forgiven.
We trust this promise not because our confession was perfect or because we have made ourselves worthy, but because Christ has already paid for every sin on the cross.
This is the heart of the Christian life: daily repentance and daily forgiveness, returning again and again to the grace of God given to us in Jesus.
Psalm 32:1–5; John 20:22–23; 1 John 1:8–9
We sin. We fail God and one another. And God calls us to confess our sins honestly. But confession does not end with our failure. Because Jesus died and rose for us, God forgives.
In Absolution, Christ's forgiveness is spoken directly and personally to us: Your sins are forgiven.
We trust this promise not because our confession was perfect or because we have made ourselves worthy, but because Christ has already paid for every sin on the cross.
This is the heart of the Christian life: daily repentance and daily forgiveness, returning again and again to the grace of God given to us in Jesus.
Psalm 32:1–5; John 20:22–23; 1 John 1:8–9