A Message from the Pastor
At Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church, we believe, teach, and confess the Orthodox faith which comes from the Holy Scriptures and the Apostles (also known as Holy Tradition) and is as follows:
GOD
God is the all powerful Creator known as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; three distinct persons, yet in
one divine essence (Holy Trinity).
SIN
Sin is more than just breaking of God's commands in either thought, word, or deed. Sin, which literally means, "missing the mark" is how we as human beings, since the fall of man, miss the mark of being Christ like in how we act and speak and think. This failure or sin separates mankind from the Triune God & places us into the Kingdom of Darkness. The Holy Scriptures make it clear that all people sin and sin truly damns and brings physical & most importantly eternal death (Hell).
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Almighty God, God the Son-the Second Person of the Blessed and Holy Trinity, who took upon Himself man's nature in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, after being conceived by the Holy Spirit. He lived a perfect life, born without sin and never sinned, in order to fulfill the Law in our stead. He became for the world the perfect sacrifice for sin, taking it upon Himself and Redeemed the human race and Reconciled all people to God at the Cross of Calvary. He rose again after the third day and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father. It is because of His All-Atoning Sacrifice that Sin and it's effects have been conquered and we have Forgiveness, Eternal Life, and Salvation.
REPENTANCE & FAITH
Repentance means to turn from sin to Jesus Christ and have a desire to now serve Him and resist sin. It is a total about-face. The Greek word for Repentance means to change one's heart or mind-to turn around. Repentance is a radical change of one's spirit, mind, thoughts and heart, a complete reorientation of one's life. Faith is the means by which a person appropriates to himself Christ's work of Salvation and Forgiveness. True Faith, which includes repentance, is not something that one can earn or decide to have, but it is a gift of God, worked in one's heart by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of His Word and the administration of God's blessed Mysteries.
BIBLE
The Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God and is the only norm and source for the Church in doctrine and life.
THE MYSTERIES
A Mystery is something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain and in the Holy Scriptures are acts in which God gives to us, through ordinary elements, Christ's accomplished merits & grace: Forgiveness of Sins; Eternal Life; and Salvation. The Holy Scriptures do not give us an exact number of these Mysteries, but the most common and accepted ones are as follows: Holy Baptism, which gives New Life in Christ, through ordinary water, and Holy Eucharist in which Christ feeds us, His very Body and Blood, in bread and wine, as well as Holy Absolution where Christ speaks His forgiveness on us. The lesser ones are as follows: Chrismation; Marriage; Holy Orders; Anointing of the Sick.
THE CHURCH
The Church is first and foremost Christ: It is about Jesus Christ & from Jesus Christ-along with the assembly of saints (believers in Christ) in which the Gospel is taught purely and the mysteries are administered correctly.
Joseph Pellegrino
Pastor
GOD
God is the all powerful Creator known as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; three distinct persons, yet in
one divine essence (Holy Trinity).
SIN
Sin is more than just breaking of God's commands in either thought, word, or deed. Sin, which literally means, "missing the mark" is how we as human beings, since the fall of man, miss the mark of being Christ like in how we act and speak and think. This failure or sin separates mankind from the Triune God & places us into the Kingdom of Darkness. The Holy Scriptures make it clear that all people sin and sin truly damns and brings physical & most importantly eternal death (Hell).
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Almighty God, God the Son-the Second Person of the Blessed and Holy Trinity, who took upon Himself man's nature in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, after being conceived by the Holy Spirit. He lived a perfect life, born without sin and never sinned, in order to fulfill the Law in our stead. He became for the world the perfect sacrifice for sin, taking it upon Himself and Redeemed the human race and Reconciled all people to God at the Cross of Calvary. He rose again after the third day and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father. It is because of His All-Atoning Sacrifice that Sin and it's effects have been conquered and we have Forgiveness, Eternal Life, and Salvation.
REPENTANCE & FAITH
Repentance means to turn from sin to Jesus Christ and have a desire to now serve Him and resist sin. It is a total about-face. The Greek word for Repentance means to change one's heart or mind-to turn around. Repentance is a radical change of one's spirit, mind, thoughts and heart, a complete reorientation of one's life. Faith is the means by which a person appropriates to himself Christ's work of Salvation and Forgiveness. True Faith, which includes repentance, is not something that one can earn or decide to have, but it is a gift of God, worked in one's heart by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of His Word and the administration of God's blessed Mysteries.
BIBLE
The Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God and is the only norm and source for the Church in doctrine and life.
THE MYSTERIES
A Mystery is something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain and in the Holy Scriptures are acts in which God gives to us, through ordinary elements, Christ's accomplished merits & grace: Forgiveness of Sins; Eternal Life; and Salvation. The Holy Scriptures do not give us an exact number of these Mysteries, but the most common and accepted ones are as follows: Holy Baptism, which gives New Life in Christ, through ordinary water, and Holy Eucharist in which Christ feeds us, His very Body and Blood, in bread and wine, as well as Holy Absolution where Christ speaks His forgiveness on us. The lesser ones are as follows: Chrismation; Marriage; Holy Orders; Anointing of the Sick.
THE CHURCH
The Church is first and foremost Christ: It is about Jesus Christ & from Jesus Christ-along with the assembly of saints (believers in Christ) in which the Gospel is taught purely and the mysteries are administered correctly.
Joseph Pellegrino
Pastor
If you have questions about the beliefs and teachings above, you can contact Pastor Pellegrino to arrange a time to discuss your questions. Call him at the church office (575-538-9446) to make an appointment. Or, for more information about the beliefs and practices of LC-MS churches, please click here.
