
Lutherans believe that salvation comes by grace through faith alone; not by works and sacraments. This is a key doctrine of justification that represents the major difference between Lutheranism and Catholicism. Luther held that works such as fasting, pilgrimages, novenas, indulgences, and masses of special intention play no part in salvation. Instead, Lutherans believe that individuals receive this gift of salvation through faith alone. Saving faith is the knowledge of, acceptance of, and trust in the promise of the Gospel. Even faith itself is seen as a gift of God, created in the hearts of Christians by the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word and Baptism.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Belief in the Bible | The Bible is the written word of God, without error |
Belief in God | There is one true God, the Triune God, who exists as three separate but equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit |
Belief in sin | All humans are born "sinful" and fall short of God's expectations |
Belief in salvation | Salvation comes by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ |
Belief in good works | Good works are done out of praise and thanks for salvation, not to achieve salvation |
What You'll Learn
Lutherans believe that salvation comes by grace through faith alone (not by works)
Lutherans believe that salvation comes by grace through faith alone and not by works. This is a key doctrine of justification that represents the major difference between Lutheranism and Catholicism. Lutherans believe that humans are saved from their sins by God's grace alone, through faith alone, on the basis of Scripture alone.
Lutherans believe that individuals receive this gift of salvation through faith alone. Saving faith is the knowledge of, acceptance of, and trust in the promise of the Gospel. Even faith itself is seen as a gift of God, created in the hearts of Christians by the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word and Baptism. Faith receives the gift of salvation rather than causes salvation. Thus, Lutherans reject the "decision theology" common among modern evangelicals.
Lutherans often refer to grace when describing their path to salvation. While they believe they deserved to pay the penalty for their sins, God had a different plan. Christ paid the debt, and Lutherans receive forgiveness and eternal life from Him. It is offered freely out of unconditional love. That's why it's called grace, because it is truly undeserved.
Good works are done out of praise and thanks because Lutherans are saved, not to achieve salvation. Such good works include serving and caring for the needs of others, honouring and giving respect to those in authority, keeping vows and commitments, and seeking to do what God considers good and right.
Lutherans believe that there is absolutely nothing they can do to "be saved". Jesus Christ has already done everything necessary. In His death and resurrection, everyone who believes in Jesus as Saviour has been brought back into a right relationship with God. That means that, on account of Jesus, everyone who believes is "justified", or declared innocent by God. Even though God will do justice to all the world's sins, those who trust in Jesus will not be harmed; because of Him, they are forgiven and will live forever.
Lutherans do not cooperate in their salvation, and there is nothing they could ever present to God to make their way into eternal life with Him. They cannot reason their way to salvation, nor can they earn it. All they can do is believe in Him, trusting that Jesus has already done all that is necessary for them.
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They believe in the Triune God, or the Holy Trinity
Lutherans believe in the Triune God, or the Holy Trinity, which is the idea that there is only one true God who exists as three separate but equal parts: God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
God the Father is the Maker and Creator of all things, and humans are His beloved creation. God the Son is Jesus Christ, who came to earth to bridge the gap between God and humanity. Jesus has redeemed humanity and pleads for us before the Father. The Holy Spirit calls us to believe in Jesus Christ as our saviour, keeps us in the one true faith, and equips us to live out our faith.
The idea of the Holy Trinity is a key tenet of Lutheranism, which is a major branch of Protestantism that identifies primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, a 16th-century German monk and reformer. Lutherans believe that the Bible is the final authority on all matters of faith and that it is completely reliable and without error. They also believe in the doctrine of justification "by Grace alone through faith alone on the basis of Scripture alone".
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They believe in the Bible as the ultimate authority
Lutherans believe that the Bible is the ultimate authority on all matters of faith. This belief is known as sola scriptura, or "by Scripture alone".
Lutherans hold that the Bible is the written Word of God, and the only infallible guide for faith and practice. They believe that the Bible is completely reliable and without error, and that it contains everything necessary for salvation. Lutherans affirm that God's Word is freely accessible to every reader or hearer of ordinary intelligence, without requiring any special education. This means that Lutherans do not believe that a person needs to wait for a clergy member, pope, scholar, or ecumenical council to explain the true meaning of any part of the Bible.
The belief in sola scriptura was a key point of divergence between Lutherans and the Roman Catholic Church during the Reformation. Lutherans believe that the proper source of authority in the church is Scripture alone, while the Catholic Church contends that final authority comes from both Scripture and tradition.
Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched the Reformation, was a strong advocate for sola scriptura. He rejected the idea that the teachings of the Pope carried the same weight as the Bible. Luther believed that all doctrine must be solidly based on Scripture.
Today, Lutherans continue to place great emphasis on hearing the Word of God, and their worship services typically include preaching and congregational singing. Lutherans also use creeds, such as the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed, as faithful and authoritative summaries of basic Lutheran beliefs.
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They believe in the priesthood of all believers
Lutherans believe in the "priesthood of all believers", a radical departure from Catholic doctrine. This belief holds that each individual has the right to reach God through Scripture and is responsible only to God. No priestly mediation is required.
This belief is based on the idea that the Bible is the written Word of God, handed down to point humanity to the truth that we are saved from our sins and eternal death by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lutherans believe that the Bible is completely reliable and without error. It is God's message of love and hope for all people, and it is through the Bible that we learn everything we need to know about God's love and His gifts to us.
Lutherans believe that the Bible is the only source of authority in determining doctrine, as opposed to Roman Catholics, who give doctrinal authority to the Pope, traditions of the Church, and Scripture. This belief in the Bible as the ultimate authority stems from Martin Luther, who was a Bible scholar and believed strongly that all doctrine must be based on Scripture. Luther rejected the idea that the teachings of the Pope carried the same weight as the Bible. He initially sought only to reform the Roman Catholic Church, but his efforts to do so ultimately led to the split between Lutherans and the Roman Catholic Church.
Lutherans believe that God's Word is freely accessible to every reader or hearer of ordinary intelligence, without requiring any special education. A Lutheran must understand the language that the Scriptures are presented in and should not be so preoccupied by error so as to prevent understanding. As a result, Lutherans do not believe there is a need to wait for any clergy, pope, scholar, or ecumenical council to explain the real meaning of any part of the Bible.
Lutherans place great emphasis on a liturgical approach to worship services. Martin Luther was a great proponent of music, and so music forms a central part of Lutheran services today. In particular, Luther admired the composers Josquin des Prez and Ludwig Senfl and wanted singing in the church to move away from the ars perfecta (Catholic Sacred Music of the late Renaissance) and towards singing as a Gemeinschaft (community). Lutheran hymns are sometimes known as chorales.
Lutheran worship also places an important emphasis on preaching, congregational singing, and music. Although Luther chose to retain altars and vestments and prepare an order of liturgical service, he did so with the understanding that no church was bound to follow any set order. As a result, there is no uniform liturgy belonging to all branches of the Lutheran body.
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They believe in two sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper
Lutherans believe in two sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Baptism is necessary for spiritual regeneration and is usually done by sprinkling or pouring water rather than immersion. Lutherans practice infant baptism and the baptism of believing adults. Most branches accept a valid baptism of other Christian denominations when a person converts, so re-baptism is unnecessary.
The Lord's Supper, or Holy Communion, is the central act of worship in the Lutheran denomination. Lutherans believe in the true presence of Jesus Christ in the elements of bread and wine, but the church is not specific about how or when that act occurs. Lutherans resist the idea that bread and wine are mere symbols.
God delivers His grace to those who believe through these sacraments, which are called the "means of grace".
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Frequently asked questions
The Lutheran belief system is based on the teachings of Martin Luther, a 16th-century German monk and reformer. Luther was a Bible scholar who believed that all doctrine must be based on Scripture.
The key difference between Lutheranism and Catholicism is the belief that humans are saved by grace through faith alone, not by works and sacraments. Lutherans believe that salvation is a gift from God and that it cannot be earned through good works.
Lutherans believe that humans are born sinful and are therefore incapable of avoiding sin. However, they do not believe that a person has to sin less and less over time to prove their salvation.
Faith is a gift from God, and it is through faith in Jesus that Lutherans receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Faith in Jesus as the Saviour is enough for salvation, and there is no need to present anything else to God.
The "means of grace" in Lutheran theology are God's Word, Holy Baptism, and the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion). These are tangible ways through which God delivers His grace to those who believe.