Living Water Lutheran Church teaches the historic Christian faith. The Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed, developed by the ancient church as clear summaries of the Christian faith, summarize our beliefs today. The Book of Concord, a collection of 16th century Lutheran statements of faith, contains the official confessions of the Lutheran church and offers an in-depth look at what we believe. As a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, a more streamlined summary of our faith may be found in This We Believe. The following bullet points provide a simple summary of what we believe and teach at Living Water:
- We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, his unchanging and unerring message to all people of all times. (2 Timothy 3:16)
- We believe that there is only one true God. He has revealed himself as “Triune,” that is, three in one – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19; Genesis 1:26; Deuteronomy 6:4; John 10:30)
- We believe that God created people holy and without sin (Genesis 1:27). The first human beings, by their own decision and actions, brought sin into the world and the whole human race. (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12)
- We believe that sin is in all people by nature (Psalm 51:5) and that sin reveals itself in every violation of God’s commands in our thoughts, words, and actions. (Galatians 5:17)
- We believe that sin deserves God’s judgment of death and damnation in hell, an eternal, agonizing separation from God and his blessings. (Psalm 51:4)
- We believe that God so loved the world that he sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, into this world to redeem the people of the world from sin. (John 3:16)
- We believe that Jesus paid for the sins of all people when he suffered the punishment God demanded for sin by his death on the cross. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
- We believe that Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the certain proof that God has accepted his Son’s sacrifice for sin. (Romans 4:25)
- We believe that these glorious truths can only be received by faith in Jesus, which the Holy Spirit works in people’s hearts through God’s Word, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. (Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:21; Matthew 26:28; Romans 10:17)
- We believe that by faith alone in the atoning work of Christ we receive God's forgiveness and are heirs of the sure hope of heaven. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
- We believe that, while we are still on this earth, we will want to show our love for Jesus who first loved us and gave his life for us. (2 Corinthians 5:15)
- We believe that, at our death, we will inherit the wonderful glories of everlasting life with Christ in heaven, where there will be eternal joy and bliss, and no more pain or sorrow. (1 Corinthians 15:20-23)