What does it mean to be Lutheran?
In short, Lutherans are Christians.
We believe that God the Father created the world. We believe that Jesus Christ, true Son of God, and true man, is the world's Savior from sin, death, and the power of the evil one. He alone won Life for us by His perfect life, death, and resurrection from the dead.
Trinity Lutheran Church is affiliated with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, a Bible-centered, Christian Church dedicated to bringing the good news of God's love to all people, regardless of their circumstances or station in life.
The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God: The Father (Creator of all things); Jesus Christ, His Son (who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and rose to life again in the one victory over death and Satan); and the Holy Spirit (who creates faith through God's Word and the Sacraments). These three Persons of the Trinity are co-equal and co-eternal. They are the one, true God.
Since Trinity is a Lutheran congregation, we accept and teach the Bible, God's Holy Word to all mankind. The Lutheran church confesses those things we receive in God's Word. Our “confession” can be summarized in three short phrases:
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. We are saved by God's grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ alone, and not as a result of any effort or contribution on our part.
​Faith alone: By His suffering and death as our substitute, Jesus Christ alone obtained forgiveness and eternal life for us. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life Christ won for us. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him alone.
Scripture alone: The Bible alone is God's inspired Word. The Bible is without error. In it God reveals His Law (what He expects of mankind and what we should and should not do according to His good and gracious will) and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ (what He has done for all people even though we do not deserve it). The Bible is the sole rule for Christian teaching and practice.
Further Reading
Click through to the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod site for more information.