What we believe

As a congregation of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod and with the Universal Christian Church, bethlehemSCV teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God: the Father, creator of all that exists; Jesus Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan; and the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God’s Word and Sacraments. The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal – one God.

 

We accept the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th Century – summarized in three short phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone.

GRACE ALONE…

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.
 
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

 

FAITH ALONE…

By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have eternal life. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

 

SCRIPTURE ALONE…

The Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)