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What We Believe

What do Lutherans believe?

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

A Lutheran is:
  • A member of the larger body of Christ including all followers of Jesus.
  • Completely reliant on the grace of God for salvation
  • Baptized once for the forgiveness of sin and regularly receives the sacrament of Holy Communion
  • Claimed by God, marked with the cross of Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit
  • A servant within his/her family, church and community
A Lutheran believes:
  • There is one God made known in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (the Trinity)
  • God the Father created and sustains all things
  • God the Son died on a cross to free us from sin and guilt to new life
  • God the Spirit lives within and around us calling us to follow each day
The Bible is the inspired word of God:
  • The Bible tells the story of God’s relationship with God’s people
  • The Bible is not a rule book but a “living word” that calls us to radical change
  • The Bible is accepted as the primary and authoritative witness to the church’s faith. 
  • The Bible affirms that all people have worth and dignity because we are all created in God’s image
The Essence of Lutheranism:
  • We are saved by the grace of God alone—not by anything we do (Galatians 2:15-16)
  • Our salvation comes through faith alone—we only need to trust God made known in Christ.
  • The Bible is the norm for faith and life—the true standard by which teachings and doctrines are judged.
The Sacraments:
  • Lutherans accept two sacraments as God-given means of grace—Baptism and Holy Communion.
  • In Baptism, God freely offers his grace and lovingly incorporates us into his Church.
  • In Holy Communion, we receive the bread and the wine—the body and blood of our Lord.
  • This gift is itself the real presence of God’s forgiveness and mercy.