Briefly stated below are some of the things that we believe teach and confess. If you would like further information about our beliefs you might want to visit www.lcms.org and www.swd.lcms.org. You may also send an e-mail to pastor@hickorygrovelutheran.com with any questions or to obtain further information.
- There is only one God. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:32)
- God reveals Himself to humanity as three distinct yet completely equal persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:18)
- The doctrine of a Trinitarian God is an article of faith and cannot be logically explained or comprehended. (Isaiah 55:8-9; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25)
- God created all things from nothing (ex nihilo). (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3)
- God’s creation was absolutely without flaw and wholly perfect. Decay and death were not part of God’s original intent and design. (Genesis 1:31)
- Creation was corrupted and marred by the rebellious Archangel Lucifer who injected disobedience and evil into creation. (Revelation 12:7-9; Luke 10:18) The aberrant and unnatural result for creation was decay and ultimately death. (Genesis 3)
- God loved His creation so much that He planned a way to save it. (John 3:16)
- Jesus is the Savior. All who believe this receive eternal life. (Romans 3:22-24; 6:23; Mark 16:16; John 3:17-18, 36; 6:47; 11:25-26)
- Faith is a gift of God imparted by the Holy Spirit, not something we generate intellectually or in any other way. (John 3:5-8; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:6-7;1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 2:8-10; Colossians 2:13)
- Faith comes from hearing the word (or in the case of infants and small children, through the visible word, the sacrament of Baptism (Matthew 28:19; Acts 16:31; Mark 10:14-15)). (Romans 10:8-17)
- The Bible, that is the Word of God, is inspired, inerrant and the sole source of Christian belief and teaching. (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
- According to the Lutheran understanding there are two “sacraments:” Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
- To summarize: “Baptism in not just plain water, but the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s Word.” (Luther’s Small Catechism)
- To summarize: [The Sacrament of the Altar or the Lord’s Supper] “ . . .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 drink.” (Luther’s Small Catechism)
- We also believe that Jesus will return on the last day, the dead will be raised, believers will be separated from unbelievers and those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will realize eternal life in the endless perfection of God’s pure domain. (Matthew 24:30-31; 25:31-46; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 5:35-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 21:1)