Beliefs  

Our Congregation

Grace Lutheran Church has been sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ in SW Calgary since 1950.  We have been at our present site since 1982.  The purpose of our congregation is to share the love and will of God with all people, especially the Good News of free salvation in Jesus Christ.  The Lutheran Church is a confessing church and we believe that . . .

The Holy Bible

is the Word of God, written by men who were moved by God the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:15-17); therefore the Bible is without error and is the source and norm of all we believe and teach.

God

We believe that God is ONE God (Deuteronomy 6:4) and that He has revealed Himself in THREE distinct persons (Matthew 3:13-17):  the Father, our creator and preserver; the Son, Jesus, who is both God and man, and our only Saviour; the Holy Spirit, who creates faith in our hearts and enables us to live a God-pleasing life. Father, Son and Holy Spirit – three distinct persons in one being.  This is truly a mystery above and beyond human reason.

Humankind

was created by God in God’s own image (perfect and in perfect relationship with God – with a rational soul - holy, righteous and eternal). Humankind lost this perfection through sin.  (Genesis 1:27, 3:19) Adam and Eve, of their own choice, disobeyed God, were no longer perfect, and thus separated themselves from their perfect Maker.  Life, even in this beautiful creation, is no longer as God intended.  Death entered the world – for humankind was no longer in perfect relationship with God.  Imperfect (sinful) parents have ever since given birth to imperfect (sinful) children, and so are in need of God’s grace and salvation…

Sin

Sin is breaking the law of God (1 John 3:4).  There are two kinds of sin:  original (inherited) sin (Psalm 51:5); and actual (thoughts, words and deeds) sin (Matthew 15:19).  Man is subject to death and eternal damnation by reason of the guilt that is attached to sin.

Jesus Christ

is the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Son of man.  God, purely out of unconditional love and mercy, bought back humankind by sending His Son, Jesus, who willingly gave His life up to death on the cross for the sins of all people. Jesus had to be God in order to fulfill His mission, yet he had to be human to take the place of human beings. This, too, is a mystery.  Jesus lived the life humankind should have lived, but could not because of sin; Jesus then took human sin on himself and provided his perfect life to cover over our own.  By His resurrection from death He defeated Satan and sin forever.  Jesus' resurrection shows that God was satisfied with the work of Christ (John 3:16, 1 John 2:2, Romans 4:25). God has promised that everyone who believes in Jesus will have eternal life as a free gift.

Faith

is not a human decision, but a God-given gift of trust; it is receiving Jesus Christ as one’s personal Saviour and trusting Him alone for salvation.  The Holy Spirit creates and sustains such faith in the hearts of people through the hearing of the Gospel message – the message of Jesus Christ (Psalm 31:14, John 17:3, James 1:21, Ephesians 2:8-9).

The Church

We believe the church established by Christ is the whole number of believers in Christ, for only believers are members of the true church.  Jesus Christ is its one and only foundation (Ephesians 2:19-22) and Head (Colossians 1:18). The church is found wherever the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached and the sacraments are administered according to their institution.

The Sacraments

are sacred acts instituted by God Himself in which there are visible elements connected to a promise made by God in which He offers and seals to people the forgiveness already won on the cross by Jesus Christ.  The Lutheran Church recognizes Baptism and Holy Communion as sacraments.  When Baptism is administered to infants or adults, according to the command of Christ, God offers His grace and forgiveness of sins (Acts 22:16).

In the Lord's Supper, all communicants really receive Christ's body and blood with the bread and wine.  Those who recognize the real presence of Christ's body and blood receive the sacrament for the forgiveness of sins.  Those who do not recognize the real presence of Christ's body and blood eat and drink judgment upon themselves (1 Corinthians 11:24-29).  Since God says, "Let a man examine himself and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup," each communicant is urged to take to heart the following statements: I am truly sorry for my sins, I trust the atoning sacrifice of Jesus for forgiveness and eternal life, I recognize that I receive Christ's body and blood with the bread and wine, and I resolve to dedicate my life to Jesus Christ in worship, witness and service - also by turning away from my own sin.

Second Coming of Christ

We believe Christ will return visibly to earth (Acts 10:42) on the last day (Mark 13) to judge the world (Acts 10:42).  The believers will go to heaven to be with God forever (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).  The unbelievers will go to hell, eternally separated from God (Matthew 25:32, 46).

Resurrection and Everlasting Life

We believe on the last day, believers in Christ will rise from the dead, their souls reunited with their earthly bodies and glorified by Christ (John 14:29; 17:24).

Lutheran Church – Canada

is the church body to which we belong.  It is made up of congregations across Canada who walk together according to a common confession of faith and work together to accomplish what Christ has commanded:  to share the Good News of Jesus in our own homes, community and elsewhere.  We joyfully support the work and spread of the Church in Calgary, across Canada and around the world.