What we believe

Ascension Lutheran Church and School follows the teaching of the Holy Scripture, firmly accepting the Bible as God’s inerrant Word, teaching and confessing the truth proclaimed by God through His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. 

Ascension is a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. We are guided in our interpretation of the Scriptures by the Lutheran Confessions as contained in the Book of Concord, to which we unconditionally subscribe.

More specifically, here's what we believe:

About God

Holy Scripture reveals one God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The three persons are equal in power, authority, and majesty. 

Genesis 1:1-27; Psalm 90:2; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14

About the God the Father

God the Father is the Eternal Father of God the Son. God the Father has made us and all creatures. He provides for all by giving us what we need for this body and life. 

Genesis 1:1-2:3; Psalm 33:6-9; Job 10:10-12; Job 38:36; Psalm 36:6-7; Psalm 145:15-16

About the God the Son

Jesus Christ is the Son of God the Father from eternity.  He became man when He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary. As God and Man He lived a holy life fulfilling God’s Law for us.  He bore our sin for us and redeemed us with His holy precious blood and His innocent suffering and death.  He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven . He will return on the Last Day to judge the living and the dead. 

Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; John 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11

About God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity.  The Holy Spirit creates and sustains faith in the believer. He works through the Means of Grace (The Word of God and the Sacraments) as He calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth. 

Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 1:16; Romans 10:17, John  20:22-23

About the Bible

“The Bible gathers together the writings of God’s chosen prophets and apostles over a period of more than a thousand years. Through the Holy Spirit, God Himself gave these writers the thoughts and words they recorded (verbal inspiration), such that the Bible is God’s Word. For this reason, the Scriptures are both infallible (incapable of error) and inerrant (containing no mistakes). Holy Scripture is therefore entirely reliable and gives us everything we need to know and believe for Christian faith and life.” (SC-Pg. 46)

2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 30:5

About Baptism

Baptism is the sacred act by which we are brought into the kingdom of God through the washing of water and the Word. “In Baptism, God puts His saving name on us and is truly present to bless us with all His gifts as His children and heirs.”  In Baptism God “works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.”

Matthew 28:19-20; Ephesians 5:25-26; Romans 6:3-5;Titus 3:5-7

About the Lord’s Supper

“It is the true body and blood of our Lord  Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.”  By this sacramental eating and drinking those who believe receive Christ’s true body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. He who eats and drinks without faith does so to his own judgement.  Thus, we practice “Closed Communion” to assure that one might not receive the sacrament to his detriment. Therefore, we ask that visitors speak with a pastor before receiving the sacrament.

Matthew 26:26-27; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26; Romans 16:17

More information about our communion practices. 

About Salvation by Grace

Because of our inherited sin we need to be saved from what we are and what our actions deserve. Salvation is found in our Savior, Jesus Christ. By His death on the cross and resurrection He paid the penalty of all sin and guilt. He has fully endured and appeased the wrath of God toward all people. We are saved by the grace of God. Because of His undeserved love for us, He provides salvation through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. We can only receive this salvation as the gift of God that it is. The Holy Spirit creates faith in us and bestows the forgiveness that Jesus has earned for us.  

Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; John 15:5-16; Romans 3:20-26; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:17; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 6:11

About Mankind

Man was created in the image of God, holy and sinless. The first humans, Adam and Eve were specially created by God. However, in the Garden they fell into sin.  All people are now born sinful and unable to believe in God or please Him in any way. Because of the inherited sin we are naturally opposed to God and His will for us. Sin thus condemns us to death and outside of salvation through Jesus Christ there is no hope. 

Genesis 1:27; Romans 5:12-21; Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:1-5; Luke 19:10; John 3:1-21; Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15