We Believe
At Hope we find ourselves inserted in the grand narrative of God’s redemptive plan for humanity. From the dawn of creation to the present day, God has been at work, especially in the work of love of His Son, Jesus Christ. We see ourselves as part of this larger story—a story that begins with God’s creation of the world, continues through the fall of humanity into sin, and culminates in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As followers of Christ, we are invited to participate in God’s ongoing work, joining hands with our brothers and sisters in faith to proclaim the good news of salvation to the ends of the earth. In embracing our identity as part of the people of God, we recognize both the privilege and the responsibility that comes with being part of His family and such a special narrative. Through loving God and loving our neighbour we seek to honor God’s story and contribute to its unfolding in the world today.
We hold firmly to Biblical teachings according also to the interpretation of our Lutheran Confessions and Theological tradition. Here’s Confessional Lutheranism in 10 key topics:
1. Scripture Alone (Sola Scriptura)
- The Bible is the sole, infallible source of Christian faith and practice. It is the final authority in all matters of doctrine and spiritual life.
2. Justification by Faith Alone (Sola Fide)
- Justification(Salvation) is received through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by works. Justification, or being declared righteous by God, is a gift given through faith.
3. Grace Alone (Sola Gratia)
- Salvation is entirely by God’s grace, not earned or deserved. God’s grace is freely given through Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection.
4. The Person and Work of Christ
- Jesus Christ is true God and true man, who lived a sinless life, died on the cross for the sins of humanity, and rose from the dead. His work is the only means of reconciliation with God.
5. The Sacraments
- We uphold two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion). These are means of grace, through which God imparts forgiveness, life, and salvation.
6. The Law and the Gospel
- The Law reveals human sin and God’s righteous demands, while the Gospel announces the good news of salvation through Christ. Proper distinction between the two is crucial.
7. The Doctrine of the Church
- The Church is the community of believers where the Word is preached and the Sacraments are rightly administered. It is the body of Christ on earth, composed of all who have faith in Him.
8. The Priesthood of All Believers
- Every Christian has direct access to God through Christ and is called to serve in the Church. However, Confessional Lutherans also maintain the importance of the pastoral office for preaching, administering the sacraments, leading and serving the local congregation in its mission and work.
9. Original Sin and Human Nature
- All humans are born sinful, inheriting original sin from Adam. This sinfulness affects every aspect of human nature, making divine grace through Christ necessary for salvation.
10. The Hope of Christ’s Return
- We eagerly anticipate the glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will come again in power and glory to take us to New earth and New Heavens. In anticipation of His coming, we live with hope and expectation, faithfully proclaiming the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
The Augsburg Confession
The Augsburg Confession (1530) is the primary confession of faith for Confessional Lutherans. It outlines essential Lutheran doctrines, emphasizing the need for unity in the truth of Scripture. Click here to read it
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The Scripture IS the Word of God
We affirm the Holy Scriptures as the inspired and infallible Word of God, containing all things necessary for salvation and faith. Grounded in the Old and New Testaments, we embrace the Bible as the authoritative source of divine revelation, guiding us in matters of doctrine, faith, and practice. Through its pages, we encounter the living God and His divine plan of redemption of Humanity in His Son, Jesus Christ.
We believe in the Triune God
We affirm the doctrine of the Trinity, acknowledging one God in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In awe of the mystery of God’s triune nature, we worship Him as the Creator, Redeemer, and Comforter. We worship the Father as the Creator and sustainer of the universe, the Son as the Redeemer and Savior of humanity, and the Holy Spirit as the Sanctifier and Comforter of believers.
Jesus’ Christ
We firmly believe in the Jesus Christ, fully divine and fully human, born of the Virgin Mary, who underwent genuine suffering, crucifixion, death, and burial. His purpose was to reconcile humanity with the Father and to serve as the ultimate sacrifice, not only for original sin but for all the sins of mankind (John 1:29). He descended into hell and triumphantly rose again on the third day. Following this, He ascended into heaven, where He now reigns at the right hand of the Father, holding dominion over all creation. We also affirm our faith in His imminent return, when He will judge both the living and the dead.
Salvation by Grace Alone
Humanity has fallen into sin and needs salvation. This happens by the unmerited grace of God, freely bestowed upon humanity through faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Salvation is a gift, not earned through human effort, but received by faith in Christ alone.
We proclaim the Gospel of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Salvation is a gift freely given by God, not earned or deserved by human works. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we receive forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life, solely by His atoning sacrifice on the cross.
Sacraments as Means of Grace
We celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Supper as instituted by Christ Himself. In Baptism, we are inserted into the family of God, and in Holy Supper, we partake of Christ’s body and blood with the bread and the wine. In Baptism, we are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, reborn as children of God and heirs of His kingdom. In the Lord’s Supper, we receive the true body and blood of Christ with the bread and the wine for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of our faith.
The Church
The Church was never intended to be an individual practice but a collective engagement. We are a community united in our shared faith in Jesus Christ. As members of the body of Christ, we support and encourage one another, striving to live out our faith in love and service to others.
We confess the one, holy, catholic(universal), and apostolic Church, consisting of all believers in Christ throughout the world and across time. As members of the body of Christ, we are called to live in unity and love, bearing witness to the Gospel in word and deed. We gather as the community of faith to worship God, proclaim His Word, and celebrate the sacraments, recognizing the diversity of gifts and ministries within the body.
We believe in the efficacy of the means of grace—Word and Sacrament—as the primary ways through which God communicates His grace and salvation to His people. Through the preaching of the Word and the administration of the sacraments, the Holy Spirit works to create and sustain faith, nurture believers in their spiritual growth, and equip them for lives of discipleship and service.
Finally, we await with eager expectation the glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will come again in power and glory to judge the living and the dead. We anticipate the day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and God will be all in all.
“God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” — John 3:16 (ESV)
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