The Creed

35. The true God is “three-in-one” or triune. He exists as three distinct persons-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, yet there are not three Gods, but only one God.
36. Jesus Christ was and is God from eternity, and as God’s Son he participated in the creation of the universe. Whoever does not worship Jesus does not worship the true God. Jesus said, “He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him” (John 5:23).
37. The Holy Spirit is also worshiped as God, coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Son. He is not just a spiritual force, but a distinct person of the triune God. The church confesses in its ancient creeds that God the Father is not begotten of anyone, God the Son is eternally begotten of the Father, and God the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.
38. The true God is beyond our understanding in magnificence and greatness, and he deserves our unrestrained, whole-hearted praise and worship. The Bible says that God is spirit, and that he is infinite, eternal, unchangeable, almighty, all-knowing, everywhere present, holy, just, faithful, good, loving, and forgiving.

Creation and Preservation

39. Everything in the universe, visible and invisible, was created out of nothing by God in six normal days by his almighty word. As we see the wonders of the universe, from galaxies to atoms and from majestic mountains to the marvels of the human body, we are led to praise the Lord who made them all.
40. The theory of evolution, promoted as an explanation for the origin of all things, is contrary to the Bible. It presents a different worldview that cannot be harmonized with the clear teaching of the Bible that God created a mature earth with Adam and Eve as real human beings, and that everything in the beginning was “very good.”
41. Human beings are the most important creatures in God’s world. Humans are distinctly different from animals, since they were created in the image of God, they have immortal souls, and they are accountable to God for the way they live. It is for human beings that God designed his plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.
42. God gave the world to human beings to use and to rule in ways that would give him glory. We are free to enjoy the resources of the world as blessings given by God for our good, but we should do so in a responsible way, knowing that we are accountable to God for our stewardship.
43. The Lord is not distant from his created world and unconcerned about it. Rather, he is actively involved in preserving and governing the universe in all matters large and small. He sets up and deposes rulers, and no sparrow falls to the ground apart from his will.
44. The Lord has large numbers of powerful spiritual beings called angels who serve him in heaven and on earth. It is a comfort to know that these angels are sent especially to protect and help believers in Jesus, and that they are watching over us all the time.
45. Shortly after creation, some angels rebelled against God. Their leader was Satan, who is also called the devil. These evil spirits continue to oppose God and everything that is good.
46. When Adam and Eve were tempted by the devil and fell into sin, God’s world, which was originally perfect in every way, was thoroughly corrupted. Now the world is far different from the original creation. Affected by sin, the world and everything in it is subject to decay and trouble, and all living creatures die.
47. We should not be surprised when we see evil in the world. God has said that evil will continue until judgment day, when at last evil will be separated from good for all eternity. God is never responsible for sin and evil. He allows it, as he patiently governs the world in the interest of saving people from every generation.
48. As we have hardships of any sort-disease, disability, war, famine, harsh weather, lack of money, or mistreatment by others because of our race or social status, we know that God promises to use all things for the good of his believers. With faith in God’s promises, we can take up our crosses and continue to do good. We know that God will soon give relief to believers in the glory of heaven.
49. Christians can expect to be persecuted for their faith, as is happening in many countries today, for example where secularism or Islam is prominent. We know that God will protect and bless believers in those circumstances, providing strength and boldness to confess his saving name.

Redemption

50. Before the world began, God in love planned and prepared a way to redeem fallen people from sin. God’s plan of salvation involved sending his Son Jesus to earth to serve as a redeemer and mediator. In the Old Testament God repeatedly promised the coming of Christ to save the world. The New Testament reports how Christ came, revealed God to all human beings of all time, and accomplished salvation.
51. At the appointed time, Christ, the second person of the triune God, took on a human nature just like ours only without sin, when he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Ever since, he has been both God and man in one person. As true man he was able to live, suffer, and die as our substitute. As true God his work has saving power for all people.
52. To redeem all mankind from sin, death, and hell, Jesus first of all needed to keep the law of God perfectly in our place. Jesus did this, never once sinning in thought, word, or action. He possessed a perfect righteousness that is credited to our account before God. We call this Christ’s active obedience.
53. Jesus also needed to pay the penalty owed for the sins of all people of all time. Jesus did this by dying on the cross. The cross is the preeminent symbol of the Christian faith, because on the cross Jesus endured the agony of hell as our substitute. Because Jesus as the God-man took the punishment we deserved, we no longer need to be punished for our sins. We call this Christ’s passive obedience.
54. On Easter Sunday, Jesus gloriously rose from the dead with body and soul. Sunday has been the primary worship day for Christians and Easter has been the preeminent Christian festival, because the resurrection of Christ is the victorious high point in God’s plan of salvation. The resurrection proves that the atoning work of Jesus was accepted by God the Father and salvation was truly accomplished.
55. The atoning work of Christ was for all people of all time. When God raised Jesus from the dead, God justified the entire world of sinners. God forgave the sins of all and declared all to be righteous, because Jesus made the payment for all. This truth, called universal or objective justification, gives each of us the certainty that our sins are paid for and we are indeed redeemed.
56. The fact that Christ made the payment for the sins of the world does not mean that all people will be saved. The saving work of Christ is personally received through faith. We have personal or subjective justification as we are moved to believe in Christ. Those who do not trust in Christ, for whatever reason, forfeit Christ’s redemption and remain in their sin under God’s condemnation.
57. We no longer see Jesus walking among us visibly on earth, because on the fortieth day after his resurrection he ascended into heaven. Jesus is now receiving the praise of the hosts of heaven, and the Bible says that he is sitting at the right hand of God. This means that he is ruling all things in the universe together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, as he is invisibly present everywhere.
58. When Jesus lived on earth as the God-man, he did not always make full and constant use of his divine characteristics according to his human nature. He got tired, and he needed to eat and drink, just like one of us. But now in heaven, he is not limited in the use of his full divine power and glory.
59. The true Christian faith always has Jesus Christ at its center, because it is through the work of Christ that we are reconciled with God and will live forever with God in heaven. Like the Bible, the true Christian faith is Christ-centered.
60. All religions do not lead to the same God since there is no way to come to the Father apart from Jesus Christ. The Christian faith is inclusive in that all people are redeemed by Christ, and everyone in every nation is invited to come and embrace him in faith. The Christian faith is exclusive in that there is no other way on earth to be saved.

Sanctification

61. Since human beings are spiritually dead by nature, they are not able to believe in Christ by themselves. Saving faith is created, preserved, and strengthened entirely and only by the Holy Spirit.
62. The Holy Spirit uses the gospel in the Word and sacraments to do his work. The Word and the sacraments of Baptism and Lord’s Supper are called the means of grace because they are like pipelines through which the forgiveness of sins won by Christ comes from God to us. We do not expect the Holy Spirit to work apart from these means of grace.
63. Our conversion and salvation are fully and completely by God’s grace-God’s undeserved love for sinners. We contribute nothing. This truth separates Christianity from all other religions, since all other religions depend on human works to one degree or another. It is comforting to know that our salvation does not depend on our own merits, but entirely on God and the completed work of Christ.
64. Those who are saved have been chosen by God for salvation purely by his grace. This election to salvation in eternity reinforces that salvation is due to God’s grace alone and not our own efforts. According to the Bible there is no predestination to condemnation for anyone. God wants all to be saved, so those who do not believe have only themselves to blame for their unbelief and punishment in hell.
65. When people come to faith in Christ, they have a new self that hates sin and is eager to live a holy life filled with good works. This new life of sanctification flows from a heart that knows it has been justified by grace and desires to thank God.
66. With godly living, Christians can give a powerful witness to others and attract them to the one and only true God. We as Christians can view our circumstances in life as a calling or vocation from God, in which God wants us to serve others in love.
67. Believers never reach perfection in this life because they continue to have a sinful nature. Still, God wants them to grow in sanctified living, abounding in good works. Through the power of his Word, God breaks the control of sin in our lives. As believers we struggle every day with our sinful nature, but we find forgiveness and help in Christ as we repent of our sin.
68. For believers, the law of God revealed in the Bible serves as a guide for sanctified living. Since our consciences can become dull, especially in an immoral society, we need the law of God to instruct us in how to please God.
69. In matters neither commanded nor forbidden by the Word of God, there is Christian freedom. We are to exercise this freedom, however, always with a concern for others, so that we do nothing to lead anyone into sin.
70. The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers to equip them for service to others. In the early church, the Holy Spirit also gave special charismatic gifts such as miracles and speaking in tongues, which were associated with the apostles. There is no evidence in Scripture that we should expect the continuation of these charismatic gifts today.
71. It is possible to fall from faith in Christ. Daily repentance and a return to the grace and power of our baptism is necessary as long as we live. The first of Luther’s Ninety-five Theses says: “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent,’ he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” As we use the means of grace, we trust God’s promise that he will preserve us in the one true faith.

The Church

72. All believers in Jesus throughout the world are part of the holy Christian church-the true spiritual family of God who will inherit heaven. But only God knows for sure who the members of this church are, since faith cannot be seen. Wherever the means of grace are used, we expect this church to be present, since the Holy Spirit uses the gospel in the means of grace to create faith.
73. God wants all believers to be part of a Christian congregation-a “visible” church, where the faith of believers is built up through God’s Word and sacraments. The Christian faith ordinarily is not meant to be practiced by individuals in isolation. It is to be practiced together with other believers in Christ.
74. God wants believers to belong to a visible church that holds to all the teachings of God’s Word. When there is full agreement in biblical doctrine, God’s Word instructs us to practice church fellowship with joint worship, joint prayer, and joint church work. It is a violation of God’s Word to practice church fellowship with those who persist in false teaching.
75. The work of the church is to preach the gospel for the salvation of souls that are perishing. It is not the work of the church to fix all of the world’s social problems. The church cannot guarantee results in its work, since the success of gospel preaching is always in the hands of God. The church simply strives to share the gospel as widely and fully as possible.
76. On the heart of believers is a burning desire to spread the good news of salvation in Jesus to people of all nations, languages, and races. It is thrilling to see how God has allowed the gospel to spread around the world. It is a privilege to participate in worldwide mission work through our prayers, personal service, and financial support.

The Last Things

77. When human beings die, their souls leave their bodies and do not remain in this world. The souls of believers go immediately to be with the Lord in heaven. The souls of unbelievers go immediately to be with the devil and the evil angels in hell. There is nothing in the Bible about soul sleep, reincarnation, or purgatory.
78. At the end of time, Jesus will return in power and glory on judgment day. He will bring the world to an end, and he will judge all people, living and dead. On the basis of the Bible, we do not expect a thousand years, earthly reign of Christ or a special rapture of believers prior to judgment day.
79. On the Last Day, there will be a resurrection of all the dead, and the souls of all who have died will be reunited with their bodies. The bodies of believers will be glorified like the body of Christ, able to live with God forever in the new heaven and new earth. Unbelievers after judgment day will suffer torment in hell with both body and soul forever.
80. The promise of eternal life gives a splendid, solid hope to believers in Jesus. We have something marvelous to look forward to! The Bible promises that life in the kingdom of glory will be free from all pain, trouble, and sin. There will be glory and indescribable joy in the presence of the Lord for all eternity.
81. No one knows the day or hour of Christ’s second coming. He has promised to return when people do not expect him, like a thief in the night. But since the biblical signs of the end have been adequately fulfilled-signs like war, famines, earthquakes, persecution of Christians, and the preaching of the gospel to all nations, we understand that Jesus could come at any time.
82. The imminent return of Christ gives urgency to our life of faith and our sharing of the gospel with others. God has promised many things, but he has not promised that there will be a tomorrow.