from the Constitution of the
ELCA
1. This church confesses the Triune God, Son, and Holy Spirit.
2. This church confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
and the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all
who believe:
- Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate, through who
everything was made and through whose life, death, and resurrection
God fashions a new creation
- The proclamation of God’s message to us as both
Law and Gospel is the Word of God, revealing judgment and
mercy through word, deed, beginning with the Word in creation,
continuing in the history of Israel, and entering in all
its fullness in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
- The canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments
are the written Word of God. Inspired by God’s Spirit
speaking through their authors, they record and announce
God’s revelation centering in Jesus Christ. Through
them God’s Spirit speaks to us to create and sustain
Christian faith and fellowship for service in the world.
3. This church accepts the canonical Scriptures of the Old
and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative
source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life.
4. This church accepts the Apostles’, Nicene and Athanasian
Creeds as true declarations of the faith of this church.
5. This church accepts the Unaltered Augsburg Confession
as a true witness to the Gospel, acknowledging as one with
it. In faith and doctrine all churches that likewise accept
the teachings of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.
6. This church accepts the other confessional writings in
the Book of Concord, namely, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession,
the Smalcald Articles and the Treatise, the Small Catechism,
the Large Catechism, and the Formula of Concord, as further
valid interpretations of the faith of the Church.
7. This church confesses the Gospel, recorded in the Holy
Scriptures and confessed in the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran
confessional writings, as the power of God to create and sustain
the Church for God’s mission in the world.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day He rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten,
begotten not made,
of one being with the Father.
Through Him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
He came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
He became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered death and was buried.
On the third day He rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son He is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
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