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ST. PAUL CORE VALUES
The core values of St. Paul Lutheran Church are well established. Since the early 90's the body of Christ at St. Paul has been realizing the power of NEW LIFE which God alone can create. So that this one vision of seeing people come to NEW LIFE might be realized, our core values reinforce and elaborate on this concept.
N - New Living- through the grace of Christ.
Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
E - Explaining our hope in Christ.
1 Peter 3:15 - But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Col. 4:6 - Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
W - Worshiping God in the spirit of New Life.
Hebrews 10:25 - Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Romans 12:1-2 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living Sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. [2] Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
L - Learning Christ’s purpose and power for living.
Acts 2:42 - They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
I - Investing personally in ministry.
1 Peter 4:10 - Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
F - Fellowshiping with others in joy and sorrow.
Galatians 6:2 - Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
E - Extending Christ’s influence in our world.
Acts 2:47 - Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
2 Cor. 5:16-21 - So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. [17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! [18] All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: [19] that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. [20] We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. [21] God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (the denomination of which St. Paul is a part)- would profess the following positions:
1. The entire Bible, which points to Jesus as the Savior, is the inspired and errorless Word of God. It is God's message of love and hope for all people.
2. There is only one true God, who exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. God is the creator of everything that exists.
4. Adam and Eve, our first parents, were originally created by God pure and holy. They lived according to God's will, doing what was pleasing to Him.
5. Adam and Eve, the man and woman God created in the beginning, went against God's will and brought sin into the world. Since that time, all people have been conceived and born in sin.
6. Sin is living out of relationship with God, not living according to God;s will, and thus transgressing His holy will in thought word and deed.
7. People cannot save themselves by their good works or restore themselves to a right relationship with God.
8. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world. He is both true God and true man. He lived to fulfill God's law for us, died on the cross to pay the penalty our sins deserved, and rose from the dead so that we might have eternal life. He ascended into heaven, where he now sits at the right hand of The Father to intercede for us.
9. Because of Jesus' death on the cross, God declares a person just or righteous and forgiven. This happens not because of human effort, but because the justificatin won by Jesus is applied to one who believes in Jesus as Savior.
10. Faith in Jesus is a gift of God, given by the power of the Holy Spirit; thus all the glory belongs to God.
11. The means of grace are the Word, Holy Baptism, and Holy Communion. By these means, the merits of Jesus' perfect life and atoning death are personally conveyed to all who believe in Jesus as their savior.
12. Jesus will come again to take all believers to Himself. On the final day, all the dead will be raised. Those who are stil alive will be bodily transformed. After this, the final judgement will take place. Unbelievers will go into eternal damnation, and believers into eternal life.
13. The true Christian church is made up of all believers of all times who believe in the Triune God and in Jesus Christ as their only Savior.
14. God wants Christians to join with other believers in churches which correctly teach God's Word and administer Holy Baptism and Holy Communion according to the teachings of scripture.
15. Christians are called to tell others that the only way of salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ, and to show their faith by their deeds of love toward others.
from: "What Lutherans Believe," copyright Int'l LLL, used by permission
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