Joy Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

As such, our beliefs are both Confessional and Evangelical. Being Confessional means we are not theological innovators.  We believe, teach and confess nothing more and nothing less than what the Scriptures themselves teach and what Christians throughout the ages have always believed.  Our Confessions include the three ancient creeds: Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian.  Additionally, we subscribe to the Book of Concord of 1580 as a correct exposition of Scriptural teaching.
 

Being Evangelical springs from our determination to put the evangel, literally the “Good News” of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world, at the heart and core of everything we believe, teach, and confess.  
 

Being Confessional and Evangelical is expressed in our beliefs:
 

HOLY SCRIPTURE

We teach that the Holy Scriptures differ from all other books because the holy men of God who wrote them wrote only that which the Holy Spirit communicated to them by inspiration.  Since they are the Word of God, they contain no errors or contradictions but are the truth.  The Holy Scriptures form the foundation of faith and are the sole source from which all teaching proclaimed within the Church must be taken (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; John 10:35; Ephesians 2:20).
 

GOD

We teach the Holy Trinity, that the one true God is the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, three distinct persons, but of one and the same essence, equal in power, equal in eternity, equal in majesty (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Colossians 2:9; Matthew 28:19).
 

MAN & SIN

We teach that God created man in His own image, that is, in true knowledge of God and in true righteousness and holiness (Genesis 1:26-27; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10).
 

We furthermore teach that sin came into the world by the rebellion of the first man, as described in Genesis 3.  Through this falling away from God, not only the first man, but also his offspring have lost the original knowledge, righteousness, and holiness.  Thus, all men are sinners at birth, dead in sin, inclined to evil, and subject to God’s judgment.  We also teach that men are unable to reconcile themselves to God through their own works (Romans 5:12-18; Ephesians 2:1-3). 
 

JESUS CHRIST

We teach that the eternal Son of God assumed a human nature like ours, yet without sin.  Jesus Christ is therefore, “true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary.”  The purpose of this incarnation was that He might fulfill the Law, suffer the penalty of sin as mankind’s Substitute, and reconcile the whole world to God (Galatians 4:4-5, 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
 

FAITH

We teach that faith in Christ is the only way for men to be forgiven their sins and reconciled to God.  Faith is not a work of man, but a gift of God that lays hold of the forgiveness offered (Acts 10:43; John 3:16-18, 36; Romans 4:16).
 

JUSTIFICATION

We teach that all of the Holy Scripture’s teachings on the love of God for sinners is summed up in the doctrine of justification.  God justifies, that is, counts as righteous and acceptable, all who believe and rely on the fact that, on account of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection their sins are forgiven (Romans 5:19, 4:25, 3:23-24, 28).
 

MEANS OF GRACE

We teach that God offers and extends the spiritual blessings secured by Christ, namely the forgiveness of sins and associated treasures, through the means of grace ordained by Him.  These means are the Word of the Gospel, and the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These means accomplish what the Holy Scripture attributes to them: The Word applies the grace of God, works faith and regenerates man. Baptism remits sin and is therefore a washing of regeneration and renewal.  In the Lord’s Supper the Lord is really present as He says, “This is my body; This is my blood.”  Where the Lord is present His gift of forgiveness of sins is given and received (Romans 10:17; 1 Peter 1:23; Acts 2:38; Titus 3:5; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32).
 

GOD’S MISSION

We teach that when a man is given faith in Christ he is entrusted with the mission of God, which is the salvation of all men.  Christians have the Gospel to advance the ministry of reconciliation and implore others to receive the forgiveness of Christ and be reconciled to God (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20). 

You can find out more about beliefs and practices of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod here.