What We Believe
The Bible teaches that there is one true God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:20). The Triune God created all things in six days (Gen. 1-2). The crown of this creation was Adam, who God made to have dominion over His creation, along with the woman, Eve, that made to be Adam’s helpmate. God made man, male and female, in the image of God. They were created to perfectly love God and live according to His will.
Man, no longer has this state of perfection. Adam and Eve sinned (Genesis 3) and in that sin, all of their descendants are also accounted as guilty (Romans 5:12); conceived and born in sin (Psalm 51:5), dead towards God and entirely unable to come to Him on his own (Ephesians 2:1-3).
Because of the great love of God towards His creation, God the Father sent His Son to save us. Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God took on human flesh and blood (Hebrews 2:14) in the womb of the Virgin Mary and was born to live perfectly under God’s divine law, to suffer and die on the cross for the sins of mankind. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, ascended into heaven, and now lives and reigns at the right hand of God the Father. By His death and resurrection Jesus justifies sinners before God by His work entirely. From His seat of power at the right hand of the Father, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to work in the Church through the Word and Sacraments.
The Holy Spirit works in the Church by delivering the righteousness won by Jesus by His holy life and bitter suffering and death. The Holy Spirit uses the means instituted by Jesus during His earthly ministry.
He works through Holy Baptism (Matt. 28:19-20, Mark 16:16) by washing the sinner in the blood of Christ thus regenerating him (Titus 3:5-8) by uniting him with Christ and His death and resurrection (Romans 6:4). This water united with the Word of promise creates faith and truly gives eternal salvation. This is the regular means that Christ has given for saving sinners and bringing them into His Church.
But that Baptism is never alone. Jesus also commands that teaching accompany it (Matt. 28:19-20). Jesus promises to work through the preaching of God’s Word (Luke 10:16). The Holy Spirit works through this preaching by teaching God’s holy will and how sin offends against it (Law), and by then presenting the contrite and sorrowing sinner with the love and mercy of Jesus Christ dying upon the cross in his place (Gospel). Through this preaching of the person and work of Jesus the Holy Spirit is sent. He creates and sustains saving faith through this preaching.
As a last will and testament Jesus gives His Church His very body and blood to eat and drink in His Holy Supper (Matt. 26:26-28). He gives this holy Supper for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus’ words, “This is My body, this is My blood” are what make this Supper what it is. They do not depend on our faith but on His word. Therefore, all who partake of the Supper receive this body and blood (1 Corinthians 11:27). For this reason, Zion Lutheran Church practices closed communion. Only those who believe these blessed words of Jesus receive the benefits of the forgiveness of sins offered in the Supper. Those who do not believe yet still eat and drink do so to their spiritual harm.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to learn more. The purpose of Zion Lutheran Church is to deliver God’s gifts by teaching God’s Word.
