Worship Anew Statement of Faith
About the BIBLE
Everything Lutherans believe comes from the Bible, God’s message of love and hope for all people. The Bible is the written Word of God, handed down to us in order to point us to the truth that we are saved from our sin and eternal death by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe that the Bible is completely reliable and without error. In it we learn everything we need to know about God’s love and His gifts to us.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness … – 2 Timothy 3:16
About GOD
There is only one true God - the Triune God - who exists in three separate but equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” – Deuteronomy 6:4
Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” – 1 Corinthians 8:4
God the Father is our maker and the creator of all things. By the Father’s word, all things were made, and we are His most beloved creation; we are closest to His heart. The Son is Jesus Christ, who came to earth as the perfect “go-between” between God and humanity. He has redeemed us and is the voice to the Father on our behalf. The Holy Spirit calls us to believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, keeps us in the one true faith, and equips us for living out our faith. He is the whisper in our heart’s ear.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit … – Matthew 28:19
About US
We all fall short of God’s expectations because we are all born “sinful” - and we aren’t talking about “sinfully” rich desserts, we’re talking about the serious side of sin. Sin can be summed up as all the things we say, think, do, and don’t do, that fall outside of God’s holy will for our lives and end up separating us from God.
… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God … – Romans 3:23
Sin was brought into world when Satan lured the first people God created (Adam and Eve) into temptation through their own free will and weakness, breaking the perfect relationship between God and us. From that point on, sin became part of our very existence. Because God also demands perfect obedience, our ultimate punishment became death.
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned … – Romans 5:12
Yet God is a loving God whose will is not for us to live in eternal punishment. That’s why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live the perfect life He requires and to become our substitute. Christ never sinned - not even once - and then He took our sin upon Himself and died on the cross, on our behalf. When we believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, He bears our sin and gives us His forgiveness.
“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
About “BEING SAVED”
There is absolutely nothing we can do to “be saved” - Jesus Christ has already done everything necessary. In His death and resurrection, everyone who believes in Jesus as Savior has been brought back into a right relationship with God. That means that, on account of Jesus, everyone who believes is “justified,” or declared innocent by God. God has done justice to the world’s sins; because of Jesus, all who believe are forgiven and will live eternally.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, – Romans 3:23-24
We do not cooperate in our salvation and there is nothing we could ever present to God to make our way into eternal life with Him-not money or even good works. Neither can we really feel it or prove it. We cannot reason our way to salvation, nor can we earn it. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves—Jesus Christ has done it all.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 5:1
About FAITH
It is through faith in Jesus that we receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life - by believing that He has freed us from the guilt, punishment, and power of sin. Faith is a gift worked in us by the power of the Holy Spirit; it doesn’t come to us through anything we are capable of, but through what God does for us. We simply receive what is already being offered out of God’s great love.
For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. – Romans 3:28
About GRACE
Lutherans often refer to grace. The word itself might remind you of the grace period you are given when paying bills - when your debt can be paid without further penalty. God’s grace is even more wonderful; that’s why it’s called “amazing grace.” While we deserved to pay the penalty for our sins, God had a different plan. Christ paid the debt and we receive forgiveness and eternal life from Him that is offered out of unconditional love. That’s why it’s called grace because it is truly undeserved.
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
God has provided tangible ways through which He delivers His grace to those who believe, assuring us that the sins we commit are forgiven for Jesus’ sake. These are called the “means of grace” and are God’s Word, holy Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion). Through these means, God makes Himself known to us in a very personal way: God’s Word reveals His faithfulness and love; Baptism is our rebirth and renewal in Jesus; the Lord’s Supper is our closest communion with Christ as we receive His body and blood.
… he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit … – Titus 3:5
About GOOD WORKS
Since there is nothing we can ever do to earn salvation, we do not do good works in order to be saved; good works are done out of praise and thanks because we are saved. Such good works include, but are certainly not limited to, serving and caring for the needs of others, honoring and giving respect to those in authority, honoring our vows and commitments, and generally doing what is considered by many to be good and right. It’s often said that Martin Luther expressed it this way: God doesn’t need our good works, but our neighbor does.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:10
About LIFE AFTER DEATH
On Judgment Day - we don’t know when - Jesus Christ is going to return. On that day, everyone who has died will be raised and those who are still alive will be bodily transformed. At that time, the final judgment will take place. Those who do not believe will go into eternal damnation in hell and all those who believe in Jesus as Savior will have eternal life in heaven.
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
What does this statement of faith mean for Worship Anew?
Worship Anew is a Recognized Service Organization with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Though independent, we do agree to ensure that our content is in harmony with the doctrine and practice of the LCMS.
We have six pastors who appear regularly on our Worship Anew program and several guest pastors who have been on the program. All LCMS pastors who have been trained at one of our LCMS seminaries. Our pastors preach messages based on God’s Word and centered on Jesus Christ and His saving work.
If not otherwise stated, we use the English Standard Version of the Bible (all the Bible references in this document are ESV).
While all our content is produced in alignment with LCMS beliefs, our content is not exclusively for LCMS Lutherans. We long for all to live a full and abundant life in Jesus Christ and it’s our mission to produce resources that help anyone do just that.
To learn more about the doctrine and practice of the LCMS, please visit lcms.org/about/beliefs.