Faith Lutheran Church, Hopkinsville, Kentucky 405 Sheila Drive, Hopkinsville, Kentucky 42240 Rev. James C. Redmann (270) 885-3969  -  flc.hky@netzero.com

Lutheran Beliefs

At the center of all that we believe, teach and confess is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Bible is God's Word. One God, who created us Mankind's sinful nature God's love for us The Church Holy Baptism Holy Communion Death and eternity More about Lutheran teachings.

Home Next page Hymn: "I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus"   Jesus saith unto him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes unto the Father but by me. (John 14:6 NIV)

The Bible is God's Word

The Bible is the Word of God, written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is absolutely true and without error, and it interprets itself. It is the only Word of God, and it is the way in which God speaks to us today.

We should earnestly study and hear the Bible because it is the source of our knowlege about God and his forgiveness and it is the means by which the Holy Spirit creates faith in us.

One God Who Created Us

God is triune--that is, He is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. To deny the existence or equality of any one of Father, Son and Holy Ghost is to deny all. The Holy Ghost is also frequently called the Holy Spirit.

God is the Creator of the universe and all that is in it. God created our earthly parents, Adam and Eve, in His own image. He is a just God who punishes sin, but He is also a merciful and loving God who came into the world as Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, to pay the price of sin for all mankind and who continues to draw us to Himself today as the Holy Spirit.

Mankind's Sinful Nature

Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, were made by God and given immortal souls and perfect holiness. However, they rebelled against God when tempted by Satan, and when they sinned, their communion with God was broken and their natures became sinful.

As children of Adam and Eve, we have inherited their self-centered, evil natures. We cannot change our natures or reestablish communion with God by our own power and we cannot live in a way that satisfies God's Law. Thus, in our natural sinful state, we are condemned to eternal separation from God

God's Love For Us

Because God is merciful and loving, He sent His son Jesus into the world to keep God's commandments perfectly in our place and to bear the punishment for our sins by suffering and dying for us on the cross. God raised Him from the dead on Easter, and His resurrection is God's demonstration to the world that the sacrifice of the Lamb of God has paid the debt for the sins of man.

When Jesus gave His life on the Cross, he did all that was necessary for us to be reconciled to God, if we repent from our sin and by faith accept God's free gift. We can be righteous in the sight of God only by grace, for Christ's sake, through faith, not by any merit of our own.

The Church

The "invisible" Church (that is, the Church at large) is made up of all those who come to true and sincere faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

God has given the Church a two-fold mission. The Church must nurture and strengthen faith and holiness in God's people by the preaching of God's Word through which the Holy Spirit works and through the administering of the Sacraments through which the forgiveness of sins is received and faith is nurtured. The Church must also share the love of God and the Gospel of Christ with the world through word and deed so that all may have the opportunity to see, to hear, and to come to faith. As believers at Faith Lutheran Church, we work to fulfill the mission God has given His Church.

Lutheran churches bear the name of Martin Luther (1483 - 1546). Luther's teaching that the church must be founded on principles of "faith alone, grace alone, Scripture alone" resulted in the Reformation. Martin Luther's ministry was a great inspiration to many people in Europe, and those who followed his teachings became known as "Lutherans" though Martin Luther did not intend for that to happen. Martin Luther is respected as a Christian leader, teacher, author, and songwriter, but he is not worshipped. His writings are important church documents, but the Bible is the final and only authority.

Holy Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism is a means that God has given to us through which He works to create faith in us and to regenerate our sinful natures. To those who believe, it gives forgiveness of sin, it rescues from death and the devil, and it gives eternal salvation.

Baptism is intended for all, whether young or old. Those who can receive instruction in God's Word should be baptized after being instructed in the basic principles of Christian faith. Little children and infants who are brought to baptism by those who are in charge of them should be given this Sacrament because they are included in Jesus command to make disciples of and baptize "all nations" and because Jesus especially invites little children to come to Him.

Holy Communion

We believe that the body and blood of Jesus Christ, our Savior, are present in, with, and under the bread and wine received in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. By eating and drinking this true body and blood of Christ at the Lord's Table, believing Christians are given forgiveness of sins and are kept and strengthened in faith and Godliness. However, those who receive this Sacrament unworthily are greatly harmed.

Death and Eternity

At death, the soul is separated from the body. The soul of the believer goes immediately to be with Christ in heaven. At the Last Day, bodies and souls will reunite when Jesus Christ raises all the dead and judges all men.

Believers will rise to a glorified body and eternal life in heaven with God; unbelievers will rise to eternal death and separation from God in Hell with the Devil.

More About Lutheran Teachings

Perhaps you would like to attend classes about Lutheran beliefs at our church. Our information classes are free of charge, at your convenience, and without obligation. Please send us an e-mail if you are interested. Meanwhile, here is more online information that you can read.

The following simple summaries of basic Lutheran teachings are quoted from a translation of Martin Luther's Small Catechism (1529). He wrote them "in the simple way that a father should present them to his household."

• The Ten Commandments
• The Creed
• The Lord's Prayer
• The Sacrament of Baptism
• Confession
• The Sacrament of the Altar

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod website is the ultimate resource for information about our beliefs, particularly the LCMS Frequently Asked Questions which address many doctrinal issues not covered here. The LCMS website also has a section titled "What Do Lutherans Believe?"

If we can help you in your search for God or for a church, please contact us! For more online information about Lutheran beliefs, see our Links page. Thank you for visiting our website.

Faith Lutheran Church
405 Sheila Drive
Hopkinsville, KY 42240