God
We believe that there is one God, eternal and self-existing in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) who are the same in substance, equal in power and glory. He is the Creator of all things and made all things for His glory, and He is still active in His creation. (Genesis 1:1, Jeremiah 10:12, Romans 11:36)
The Scriptures
We believe the Bible is the written word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error (inerrant) in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s truth and is infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17)
Sin
We believe that sin is rebellion against the Creator. It is any lack of conformity to the Law of God in act, habit, attitude, outlook, disposition, motivation, or mode of existence. Because of this sin, the world is broken and without true hope apart from Christ. (Genesis 3, Romans 3:10-18, Ephesians 2:12)
Humanity
We believe that all people are created with dignity by virtue of being made in the image of God. Yet, all people are also in a state of sin and rebellion, and are therefore unable to save themselves apart from God’s mercy and love. (Romans 3:23-25; 6:23, Ephesians 2:1-3)
Salvation
We believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ alone. It is not achieved through any effort on the part of mankind, but is solely the work of Christ. (Ephesians 2:4-10)
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who through His perfect life and sacrificial and substitutionary death, atoned for the sins of all who will trust in Him, alone, for salvation. We believe that Jesus, our Redeemer, was raised for our justification, and ascended into the heavens. There He sits at the right hand of the Father Almighty, continually making intercession for His people, and governing the whole world as head over all things for His church. We believe that Jesus will return, bodily and visibly, to judge all mankind, to receive His people to Himself, and to renew all things. (Hebrews 1:1-4, John 1:1-18, 1 John 4:9,10, Revelation 21:1-7)
Holy Spirit
We believe that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower believers, to convict the world of sin and righteousness, and to glorify Christ. (John 14:16,17; 16:8-15)
Church & Kingdom
We believe that God is calling people into His family, called the Church, and that local churches are where He calls us to grow, learn, serve, worship, and minister. Our church is just one expression of the universal church (all those churches throughout the world that profess the true gospel of Jesus Christ). We believe that the church is the visible expression of His body and in it we are to pray, preach His word, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and participate in the sacraments. Sacraments are signs and seals – they are visible representations of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and they confirm our relationship with Him. We believe He has given two sacraments to the church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. (1 Corinthians 11:25,26, Colossians 3:15-17)
We use the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms as faithful summaries of the teachings of the Bible.
Hickory Presbyterian Church is a “Reformed” congregation, meaning we follow in the tradition of orthodox Christianity as recovered by the 16th century protestant reformers. While not exhaustive, many of the basic tenants of the Reformed faith are captured in the “Five Solas.”
The Five Solas
Sola Scriptura
We believe the Bible is the written word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s truth and is infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice.
Sola Fide
We believe God’s pardon for guilty sinners is granted to and received through faith alone, apart from any works of the law.
Sola Gratia
We believe faith itself is a gift freely given, not based on our God’s foreknowledge of our response to the Gospel, but based solely on the free grace of God.
Sola Christo
We believe the object of our faith isn’t vague or inconsequential. Our faith is in Jesus Christ alone, for there is salvation in no other name.
Sola Deo Gloria
We believe our faith cannot be compartmentalized. Rather, every aspect of our lives is to be lived for the Glory of God. This includes our work, our play, our family, and even our innermost thoughts. Our entire lives must be lived for the Glory of God Alone.
Presbyterianism simply means that we believe in leadership by multiple elders, elected and installed by the congregation, overseeing the life of the church. In the everyday life of the church, each member is placed under the spiritual care of an elder. This means that you can expect pastors, elders, and deacons to come alongside you in both moments of joy and of sorrow.
We believe in a connected church, and this begins by elders connecting themselves to the lives of the congregation. The idea of connection also plays into how we relate to other churches. Each individual church is under the care of a Presbytery–a group of pastors and elders in a specific geographical area which comes together a few times a year to worship, pray, and make decisions together. Finally, these Presbyteries come together once a year in June at our General Synod Meeting.