Living Word is a confessional Church.
We hold God’s Word to be the only authority for Christian teaching and conduct. Christians are called by Christ to believe all of Scripture, even the parts that are difficult, if not impossible, for humans to understand (Revelation 22:18-19). In order to distinguish the proper teaching of Scripture from those who teach falsely, we unequivocally hold to the Book of Concord.
The Book of Concord is the proper teaching of the Christian faith as handed down by our Lord Jesus to His Apostles and recorded in Holy Scripture. Throughout the history of the Church, errors have crept in. These must be recognized and discarded since false teaching destroys faith. The Book of Concord clearly sets forth the true teaching of the Christian faith on the basis of Scripture so that we may more easily recognize the errors that still arise within the Church.
I invite you to browse the link below. If any questions arise during your reading, feel free to contact Pastor Frey.
- God – There is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4) and three distinct persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in the one God (Matthew 28:19).
- Sin – Because of Adam’s fall (Genesis 3), all people are born dead in sin (Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:1), enemies of God (Romans 8:7), and unable to come to God on their own (John 3:6).
- Jesus – The one person of Jesus has two natures, God and man (Luke 1:35). Everything Jesus did He did as true God and true man (1 Corinthians 2:8).
- Salvation – Jesus took our sins upon Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21), suffered the wrath of God in our place (Isaiah 53:5), conquered death by His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20), and opened heaven to all who believe in Him (Mark 16:16).
- The Ministry – The Office of the Ministry is ordained by God (John 20:21-23) for the preaching of the Gospel and administration the Sacraments (1 Corinthians 4:1).
- Faith – Faith receives all the blessings that God gives (Romans 4:5).
- Good Works – Good works do not save or add to salvation in any way (Romans 3:28), but they naturally flow forth from faith (John 15:5).
- The Church – The Church consists of all believers of every time and place (Ephesians 5:23).
- Holy Baptism – Baptism is a rebirth by the Holy Spirit through which God gives salvation (John 3:5).
- Holy Communion – Jesus’ true Body and Blood are truly present, distributed, and received by all who eat the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-28).
- Return of Christ – Christ will visibly (Revelation 1:7) return on the Last Day to raise all the dead (Acts 24:15), take all believers to heaven, and send all unbelievers to hell forever (Matthew 25:46).
- Inspiration – The Bible is God’s Word given by the Holy Spirit through men for the salvation of men (2 Timothy 3:16-17).