What are Angelica’s Lutheran Beliefs and Practices?
Being “Lutheran”
Our congregation accepts and preach the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone.
SOLA GRATIA
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.
SOLA FIDE
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.
SOLA SCRIPTURA
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.
Who is Jesus?
For more than 2,000 years people have asked this question. We were not present when Jesus lived on this earth, but in the Bible we have the record of His birth, life, death on the cross, and resurrection. Through the study of the Bible, you can seek the answer to this age-old question.
What does “Synod” mean?
The word “Synod” in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod comes from Greek words that mean “walking together.” The term has rich meaning in our church body, because Angelica voluntarily chooses to belong to the Synod. Though diverse in our service, our congregation holds to a shared confession of Jesus Christ as taught in Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.
Angelica’s congregation is confessional. Our congregation believes the Lutheran Confessions are a correct interpretation and presentation of biblical doctrine.
Contained in The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, these statements of belief were transcribed and shared broadly by church leaders during the 16th century. Luther’s Small Catechism contains essential summaries of our beliefs, while the Augsburg Confession gives more detail about what Lutherans believe.
“What About?” Series
“What About?” is a series of 27 pamphlets, written by former Synod President Rev. Dr. A.L. Barry, that address doctrinal topics, moral issues and concerns in the church to help Christians grow in their understanding of these important questions.
Truths of the Bible
We invite you to attend our Church where you will hear these great truths of the
Bible:
- GOD…God is “Lord of heaven and earth, who has made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth.”
- MAN…Man was created an intelligent, moral being, with body and soul; created holy and innocent; of his own free choice he fell into sin, thus separating himself from God.
- SIN…Sin is every transgression of the Divine Law, and man is subject to death and eternal damnation by reason of the guilt of sin.
- REDEMPTION…God in his mercy, redeemed mankind from sin through the substitutionary life and death of Jesus Christ, Who paid the penalty for the guilt of the entire world; and by His resurrection from the dead, Christ was declared the Redeemer of all men.
- FAITH…All who, penitently and in faith, accept Jesus Christ as the one and only Savior, have been forgiven and declared righteous in the sight of God, and made heirs of salvation.
Martin Luther’s Seal
Dr. Martin Luther’s seal expresses his theology and his faith. He designed
it himself.
- In the center is a black cross indicative of Christ’s dreadful sacrifice on the cross for every sinner who ever lived.
- The cross is in the center of a red heart, to show that faith causes love, joy and peace to grow in the human heart.
- The red heart is on a white rose (Luther’s favorite flower) because white is the color of angels and blessed spirits.
- The white rose is against a blue-sky background to symbolize the Christian’s hope for the coming joys of heaven.
- The seal is enclosed in a gold ring, showing that the bliss of heaven is unending.