All preaching and teaching at Kongsvinger conforms to the Three Ecumenical Creeds: The Apostles, The Nicene, and The Athanasian. We also confess The Unaltered Augsburg Confession and Luther's Small Catechism as a correct exposition of the teachings of the Word of God. Below is a brief summary of our beliefs.

The Bible

All books of the Old and New Testaments are the divinely inspired, inerrant and eternal Word of God, and we joyfully submit to them as the infallible authority in all matters of life and faith. 

God

God is the Almighty, Creator and Preserver of all things visible and invisible in Heaven and Earth.  While of one Divine Substance, God manifests himself in three co-eternal Persons of infinite power, wisdom and goodness:  the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  By His Word, all things were made; and mankind is His most beloved creation.

Original Sin

Sin entered the world when Satan deceived Adam and Eve.  All people are subsequently born bound to a sinful nature without fear or trust in God, subject to physical death, and destined to an eternal spiritual death unless born again through the Word of God.

The Son of God

God revealed Himself to humanity through the Son, Jesus Christ.  Thus, the Word became flesh and, on a cross, the sinless Son of God covered both man’s sinful nature and actual sins with His own Righteousness.   The Son now sits at the right hand of the Father Almighty and will someday come again to judge the living and the dead.

Salvation (Justification)

Our good works, sincerity or good intentions contribute nothing toward our salvation from an eternal spiritual death.  However, through His death and resurrection, Jesus made His Righteousness available to us.  All who repent of their sins will be forgiven and saved by God’s grace through the gift of faith in Christ and granted assurance of eternal life.

The Holy Spirit

God manifests Himself in the world today through the Holy Spirit who, in and through the Means of Grace, calls unbelievers into saving faith in Jesus Christ and empowers believers to grow in faith.  He bestows His gifts upon believers to glorify the Father and the Son within the ministry of the Church Universal.

The Means of Grace (Word and Sacraments)

The Holy Spirit, through the Word, reveals our sinful nature and God’s perfect, eternal nature.  Through Baptism, the Word works through water to bury our sinful nature and raise us to a new, eternal life in Christ.  In the Lord's Supper, the believer receives the forgiveness of sins through the presence of the Body and Blood of Christ in bread and wine.

American Association of Lutheran Churches

Kongsvinger Lutheran Church is a member congregation of The American Association of Lutheran Churches (TAALC).  We accept the Apostolic, the Nicene and the Athanasian Creeds, the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, and Luther's Small Catechism as a correct exposition of the teachings of the Word of God.  For more information on TAALC:  www.taalc.org