St. Matthew Lutheran Church is a Bible-centered Christian Church. We believe the Bible is the holy and errorless Word of God as it claims to be in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The Bible tells the story of our salvation as well as God's will for our lives. We understand the words of Scripture as God intended them. If there are verses which seems unclear to us, we let "Scripture interpret Scripture". That is, we look to other verses in the Bible which speak about the same issue to clarify the verses which seem unclear to us. By letting God explain his own words, we remove the element of human interpretation.
We Believe All People are Sinful
We believe that all people are sinful from the moment they are conceived (Psalm 51:5) and that the punishment for sin is death (Romans 5:12; 6:23). Because of our sin, there is nothing that we can do to please God "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
We believe that God does not want us to "try hard" or to "make our best effort" to live a good and decent life. Instead, Jesus says, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). In other words, trying hard is not good enough. God demands absolute perfection.
We Believe Jesus Christ is our Savior
We believe that since no one could achieve such perfection because of their sin, God sent his one and only Son Jesus into the world to be our Savior from sin and death, "that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). God exchanged our sin for Jesus' holiness "so that we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
We believe that Jesus is the God-man, 100% God and 100% human being. He is the Son of God who was born of the virgin Mary. He was born into this world to keep God's law perfectly in our place (Matthew 5:17) and to suffer and die for the sins of the entire world (1 John 2:2).
We believe that Jesus rose from the dead with a glorified body on Easter morning. This resurrection serves as powerful, divine proof that God has forgiven all sin for the sake of Jesus.
We believe that because of what Jesus has done, God has justified (declared "not guilty") the entire world freely by his grace (undeserved love) for the sake of Jesus (Romans 3:24).
We Believe We are Saved by Faith in Jesus Christ
We believe that all who trust in Jesus as their Savior have eternal life (John 3:16,36). Only those who refuse to trust in Jesus as their Savior will endure eternal death (Mark 16:16).
We Believe the Triune God is the Only True God
We believe that there is one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4), who has revealed himself in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). However, we do not have three Gods, but one God. The ancient Christian church used the word "triune" (three in one).
We Believe Christians Do Good Works
We believe that Christians produce good works not to merit or earn anything from God (something they cannot do anyway). Instead Christians produce good works because that's what Christians naturally do, in the same way that an apple tree produces apples (John 15:1-8). Good works are "fruits of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-25) Good works do not produce Christians, but Christians produce good works.
We Believe the Resurrection of the Dead Will Happen on Judgment Day
We believe that Jesus will return on the Last Day and judge all people. "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16). We reject any teaching of a "thousand year" reign of Christ on earth. Jesus said very plainly, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36).
We Believe the Sacraments are a Means of God's Grace
We believe that in Holy Baptism God is making a commitment to us. In baptism he promises us the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. We baptize infants because they need these promises as well, since they are sinful from birth and sometimes die as a result (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12).
We believe that in Holy Communion Jesus gives us his true, natural body and blood under the bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:26-28). Even unbelievers receive his body and blood in this Supper, although it is to their judgment (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).
For more information on The Lord's Supper, please refer to a series of articles distributed by NPH (Northwestern Publishing House). >> CLICK HERE
For a more detailed explanation of what churches like ours in the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) believe, please clickhereto download a more detailed explanation in Adobe PDF format.
I am currently doing a Bible study by Beth Moore on "Jesus, the One and Only". She has stated that Ezekel 28:11-17 portrays aspects of the origin and nature of Satan. The notes in the NIV state that this particular Scripture is speaking of the King ruling Tyre. Which is correct? Thu, 3 Jul 2008 09:33:59 CDT
When I am at work, I listen to classic rock music on the radio. I like the sound of classic rock while working, as do many of my co-workers. However, some of the songs talk about sinful things. I also listen to a christian radio program at lunch time. The radio talk show host believes christians should not be listening to rock music. He says that christians should only be doing things that give glory to God. And he says that listening to rock music on the radio does not give glory to God. Am I s... Thu, 3 Jul 2008 09:31:59 CDT
I'm not certain if this has been asked before, but would you be able to direct me to some literature about fellowship between members of your denomination and others? I have good friends in your denomination, and I wonder sometimes what they're association with me is considered to be by the rest of the WELS.I do not believe myself to be unsaved,and am part of two different, and very Biblical churches, one in the Church of God, Cleavland Tenn. and the other a member of the Western Conference of t... Wed, 2 Jul 2008 10:02:03 CDT
A close friend and I were discussing doubt. He wrote me:
See, I just don't get where doubt ends and unbelief begins. All anybody has to do is read something other than Robert Ludlum to conclude that there is just no fathomable way of every truly convincing oneself of the veractiy of Biblical texts. So once one reaches the point of thinking, "Boy, I just don't know if this is true," how much further do they have to go in order to be considered an unbeliever? Do they have to come out and annou... Wed, 2 Jul 2008 10:01:50 CDT
Some churches, notably Baptists, insist that sinners need to pray to accept/decide for accepting salvation from God. We know, however, that salvation is a free gift apart from works, including the necessity of praying a "Sinners' Prayer." A person apart from faith in Jesus is spiritually dead and cannot decide to come to life. "But the Holy Spirit has called us through the Gospel,..." (Luther's Sm. Cat.)
Yet, I would think someone older than an infant, who comes to faith through the hearin... Tue, 1 Jul 2008 17:32:34 CDT
Could you please tell me 3 or 4 passages that say of Jesus claiming that he is God...
The one passage that comes to mind is the passage where he says, "before moses was, I AM." I don't know where that one is.
Also could you please give me a good way of answering the point where in John Jesus is praying to God the Father. I am speaking with some Mormons and I want to tell them that Jesus is in fact God. They use John to prove that Jesus is not God.
Thanks Tue, 1 Jul 2008 17:32:21 CDT
God protected Sara(i/h) from being fully assimilated into Pharaoh's & Abimilech's respective harems to "preserve the purity of the Savior's ancestress" (People's Bible Gen. p.126). I realize that when Abimilech sent for Sarah God had just promised that Sarah would give birth within a year so I guess my question pertains more to the episode with Pharaoh. If it was important for her to remain pure, wouldn't it follow that Abram should also remain pure? Why didn't God keep Abram from following thro... Tue, 1 Jul 2008 17:32:09 CDT
Google Kevin Carter's photo of a starving child crawling towards a food camp in Sudan in 1994. This picture haunts me - how could God let this happen to this child (and all the others)???
I tried to attach this picture for you but cant attach files to this email.
Please give me an answer. How can God let this happen? I know we're all born sinful but this is extreme Tue, 1 Jul 2008 17:31:58 CDT
CHRISTIAN FAITH FELLOWSHIP church does indeed seem to have a large memebership and growing. While I don't want to presume anything, I have heard that the pastor of that church almost demands offerings and adds a great deal of humiliation to his tactics. ALthough I have been a WELS member for over 16 years with no intentions of joining this church, I think you would do a great service to those people out there that may view this church and others like it that as a gateway to make money.Please exp... Mon, 30 Jun 2008 06:56:27 CDT
