Synopsis of Biblical Doctrine:
Rev. Rob Taylor

1. The Holy Bible containing the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments is the "God-breathed," inspired, infallible and immutable word of God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).

2. God created and sustains the world (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 1:3; 11:3; Romans 1:20).

3. The fall of man into sin, the need for a Savior (Romans 5:6-11).

4. The Atoning Death of our Savior, Jesus Christ as payment for our sins (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:23-25; Romans 5:6-13).

5. Jesus' physical death and resurrection (Luke 24:1-7).

6. Jesus' physical ascension into heaven (Acts 1:1-11).

7. Salvation by grace through faith as the gift of God to those who believe (Ephesians 1:13; 2:8-9; Romans 3:22).

8. Jesus is our Righteousness, our Sanctification, and our Redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).

9. The call to obedience to Christ in conforming our lives to His through Scripture (Luke 11:28; Romans 1:5; 8:29; 12:2; 1 Peter 1:2; 1:13-15; 2 John 1:6)

10. Self denial (Matthew 16:24); not self love (2 Tim 3:1-4).

11. God's total care for us (1 Peter 5:7); not self-care or self-reliance of human psychology.

12. The physical return of Jesus Christ as promised (Acts 1:11).

13. The Holy Spirit of God:

    • calls us by the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14; Romans 10:17);

    • enlightens us with His gifts (Ephesians 1:3);

    • sanctifies us (Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Psalms 51:10; John 3:5-6; Titus 3:5);

    • and keeps us in the one true faith (Ephesians 1:3-6; John 10:27-28; Galatians 5:4-5);

14. St. Thomas accepts the Augsburg Confession, Martin Luther's Small Catechism, and adheres to the Book of Concord in the "Quia" sense as true exposition and defense of the Holy Scriptures.
    
    QUIA - a Latin word that means "because, for which reason." St. Thomas subscribes to the Lutheran Confessions because they are correct expositions of the doctrines of Scripture. This position is opposed to the position of Quatenus subscription - which means "how far , to what extent; in so far as, since" which describes a subscription to the Lutheran Confessions only in so far as they agree with the Gospel.
    
    Exegesis n : an explanation or critical interpretation (especially of the Bible).