Our mission: "To know Christ and make Him known."
We Believe
The Word of God
We believe that the Holy Bible constitutes the only and all
sufficient rule of faith and practice.
We believe that the Holy Bible MUST be held to be the inerrant Word of God.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;
17
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good
works." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
This congregation acknowledges the Christian Faith which is founded on the
Word of God in the Prophetic and Apostolic Books of the Old and New
Testaments, professed in the three Ecumenical Creeds of the early Christian
church (The Apostolic, the Nicene, and the Athanasian), in the unaltered
Augsburg Confession. This Congregation holds, as the highest rule of all
confession, that the Word of God is the only rule according to which all
doctrine in the congregation is to be tried and judged.
20 But know this first of
all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own
interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of
human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 2 Peter
1:20-21 (NASB)
The Sacrament of Baptism - a means of God's grace
We believe that Baptism is the fulfillment of the promise
received by faith; for Jesus said: 16 Whoever believes and is
baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16 (NIV)
We believe that "Baptism works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and
the devil, and gives everlasting salvation to all who believe what the words
and promises of God declare." Luther's Small Catechism
Infant Baptism
The Scripture clearly states that infants have
faith, for it is God who instills faith in the heart.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her
womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 And she
cried out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb!..." Luke 1:41-42 (NASB)
3 Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 "And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;..." Matt 18:3-5 (NASB)
15 And they were bringing
even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples
saw it, they began rebuking them. 16 But Jesus called for
them, saying, "Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them,
for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 "Truly I say
to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not
enter it at all."
Luke 18:15-17 (NASB)
Baptism Performed in the Name of the Triune God
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit, Matt 28:19 (NASB)
Mode of Baptism - We practice sprinkling, but accept the validity of other
forms if performed in the Name of the Triune God.
The Fall of Mankind - original and committed sin
Worldly philosophy says that man is basically good and that
he only does some bad things; contrarily, the Scripture says that man, by
nature, is evil and only by the grace of God is able to do good things.
10There is none righteous, not even one; 11 there is
none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; 12 all
have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does
good, there is not even one.
Romans 3:10-12 (NASB)
23 For all have sinned, and
come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23 (KJV)
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the
cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like
the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. Ephesians 2:3 (NIV)
6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV)
The Work of Redemption
We believe that Jesus Christ's death and resurrection fully
paid the price of sin debt and purchased our salvation.
10 For the death that He (Jesus Christ) died, He died to sin once
for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Romans 6:10 (NASB)
18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. 1 Peter 3:18 (NASB)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
18 Knowing that you were not
redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your
aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot.
1 Peter 1:18-19 (NKJV)
2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2 (NIV)
Faith and Conversion
We believe that man is justified by grace through faith and
not by works. This is the work of God alone, because man is dead in
trespasses and sins and must become a new creature in Christ.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Romans 3:21-24
8 For by grace you have been
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of
God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
John 3:7
17 Therefore if any man be
in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold,
all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the
word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Peter 1:23
Contact Us
Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Jesse Aho
400 Ingot Street
Hancock, MI 49930
email: zionsec@pasty.net
Phone: 906-482-1945