Pastor's Page…

Pastor Kenneth Lahners

“I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.”

In his death and resurrection, Jesus has redeemed us from sin and death.  In so doing he has made us members of his body, the church.  Through the church and in the church alone does the Holy Spirit deliver to us God’s gifts and make us holy.  In the discussion of the third article of the Creed in his Large Catechism, Martin Luther defines what the church is:

“This is the meaning and substance of this phrase: I believe that there is on earth a holy little flock and community of pure saints under one head, Christ.  It is called together by the Holy Spirit in one faith, mind, and understanding.  It possesses a variety of gifts and is united in love without sect or schism.  Of this community I also am a part and member, a participant and co-partner in all the blessings it possesses.  I was brought into it by the Holy Spirit and incorporated into it through the fact that I have heard and still hear God’s Word, which is the beginning point for entering it.  Before we had come into this community, we were entirely of the devil, knowing nothing of God and of Christ.  The Holy Spirit will remain with the holy community or Christian people until the Last Day.  Through it he gathers us, using it to teach and preach the Word.  By it he creates and increases holiness, causing us daily to grow and become strong in the faith and in its fruits, which the Spirit produces.

“Further we believe that in this Christian community we have the forgiveness of sins, which takes place through the holy sacraments and absolution as well as through all the comforting words of the entire gospel.  This encompasses everything that is to be reached about the sacraments and, in short, the entire gospel and all the official responsibilities of the Christian community.  Forgiveness is constantly needed, for although God’s grace has been acquired by Christ, and holiness has been wrought by the Holy Spirit through God’s Word in the unity of the Christian church, yet we are never without sin because we carry our flesh around our neck.

“Therefore everything in the Christian community is so ordered that everyone may daily obtain full forgiveness of sins through the Word and signs appointed to comfort and encourage our consciences as long as we live on earth.  Although we have sin, the Holy Spirit sees to it that it does not harm us because we are a part of this Christian community.  Here there is full forgiveness of sins, both in that God forgives us and that we forgive, bear with, and aid one another.

“Outside this Christian community, however, where there is no gospel, there is also no forgiveness, and hence there also can be no holiness.  Therefore, all who would seek to merit holiness through their works rather than through the gospel and the forgiveness of sin have expelled and separated themselves from this community.”

~Pastor Kenneth