Saint Paul's Lutheran Church
The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
1407 West Church Rd. Beecher, Illinois 60401 (708) 946-2050
We believe in the Triune God: the Father, creator of all that exists; Jesus Christ, the begotten Son of God, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of the world, and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over sin, death, and the devil; and the Holy Spirit, who creates faith in human hearts through God’s Word and Sacraments. The three persons of the trinity are co-eternal.
Being “Lutheran,” means that our congregation accepts and teaches that all Scripture of the Bible is the inspired and inerrant word of God, and it is the only source for establishing the doctrine of the Church. The teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the Reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century are upheld as a true and faithful exposition of God’s inspired Word. The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three short phrases:
Grace alone! Faith alone! Word alone!
Grace alone—Romans 3:24
God loves the people of the world, even though they rebel against Him and turn away from His love. He sent Jesus, His
Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly from sin,
death, and the devil. This is grace, that God first loved
us when we were still far from Him.
Faith alone—Romans 3:22
Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life on the Cross, for all who believe in Him.
God creates faith in Christ in all believers and gives
us forgiveness through Him.
Word alone—2 Timothy 3:16-17
The entire Bible is God’s inerrant and infallible Word to
humanity.In it He reveals His Law and Gospel of salvation in
Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm of all Christian doctrine.
For more than 2,000 years people have asked the question, “Who is Jesus?” We believe, confess, and teach that Jesus is exactly who the Bible, and He Himself said He is, namely the Son of God.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:1–5, 14 (ESV)
We were not present when Jesus lived on this earth, but in the Bible we have the record of His birth, life, death on the cross, and resurrection. The study of the Holy Bible will enable you to seek out the answer to this age-old question.