Beliefs

In 1527 Dr Martin Luther wrote the small catechism, a basic summary of the most important teachings in the Bible. These are divided into six chief parts, and these make up the central teachings of the Lutheran Church.

The chief parts are:

1. The Ten Commandments
2. The Apostle's Creed
3. The Lord's Prayer
4. Baptism
5. Confession and Absolution
6. The Lord's Supper

The following are the biblical texts (and creed) that are contained in the Small Catechism. For Luther's explanation of these texts, click here.

The Ten Commandments
1. You shall have no other gods.
2. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
3. Remember the sabbath to keep it holy.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not murder.
6. You shall not commit adultry.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's house.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or maidservant, his ox or donkey,or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

The Apostle's Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
   who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
   born of the Virgin Mary,
   suffered under Pontius Plate,
   was crucified, died and was buried.
   He descended into hell.
   The third day He rose again from the dead.
   He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty.
   From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
   the holy Christian church,
   the communion of saints,
   the forgiveness of sins,
   the resurrection of the body,
   and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
   hallowed be Thy name,
   Thy kingdom come,
   Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
   Give us this day our daily bread;
   and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;
   and lead us not into temptation,
   but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Baptism
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" [St Matthew 28:19].

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" [St Mark 16:16].

"He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying" [Titus 3:5-8].

"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" [Romans 6:4].

Confession and Absolution
"The Lord Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven'" [St John 20:22-23].

The Lord's Supper
The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: "Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me." In the same way also he took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." [This is a compilation of the accounts of the Lord's Supper from St Matthew 26:26-28; St Mark 14:22-24; St Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26]

This is an archive from Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller

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