What Lutherans believe
We believe that the Christian faith is revealed in and defined by the Bible, the Word of God. Therefore, the specific teachings referred to below include references to the Bible.
The entire Bible, which points to Jesus as the Savior, is God's inspired and errorless Word. It is God’s message of love and hope for all people.
(2 Timothy 3:14-17)
There is only one true God, Who exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
God is the Creator and Preserver of everything that exists.
(Genesis 1-2; Psalm 104:14-15)
Because of Jesus’ death on the cross, God declares a person just or righteous and forgiven. This happens not because of human effort, but because the justification won by Jesus is applied to the one who believes in Jesus as Savior. (Romans 3:21-28; Ephesians 2:8)
Faith in Jesus is a gift of God, given by the power of the Holy Spirit; thus, all the glory belongs to God. (Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Corinthians 2:14)
The means of grace are the Word, Holy Baptism, and Holy Communion. By these means, the merits of Jesus’ perfect life and atoning death are personally conveyed to all who believe in Jesus as their Savior.
(Romans 1:16; Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-5, Mark 14:22-26, John 20:22-23)
Jesus will come again to take all believers to Himself. On the final day, all the dead will be raised. Those who are still alive will join those raised for the final judgment. Unbelievers will go into eternal damnation and believers into eternal life. (Revelation 1:7, Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29)
The true Christian Church is made up of all believers of all times who believe in the Triune God and Jesus Christ as their only Savior.
(Matthew 18:20, Acts 2:42)
God wants Christians to join with other believers in congregations that correctly teach God’s Word and administer Holy Baptism and Holy Communion according to Scripture.
(Acts 2:42-43, John 8:31-32, Matthew 7:15-16, Romans 16:17-18)
Christians are called to tell others the only way of salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and to show their faith by their deeds of love toward their neighbor. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Acts 1:8; John 13:35)
Faith in Jesus is a gift of God, given by the power of the Holy Spirit; thus, all the glory belongs to God. (Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Corinthians 2:14)
The means of grace are the Word, Holy Baptism, and Holy Communion. By these means, the merits of Jesus’ perfect life and atoning death are personally conveyed to all who believe in Jesus as their Savior.
(Romans 1:16; Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-5, Mark 14:22-26, John 20:22-23)
Jesus will come again to take all believers to Himself. On the final day, all the dead will be raised. Those who are still alive will join those raised for the final judgment. Unbelievers will go into eternal damnation and believers into eternal life. (Revelation 1:7, Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29)
The true Christian Church is made up of all believers of all times who believe in the Triune God and Jesus Christ as their only Savior.
(Matthew 18:20, Acts 2:42)
God wants Christians to join with other believers in congregations that correctly teach God’s Word and administer Holy Baptism and Holy Communion according to Scripture.
(Acts 2:42-43, John 8:31-32, Matthew 7:15-16, Romans 16:17-18)
Christians are called to tell others the only way of salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and to show their faith by their deeds of love toward their neighbor. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Acts 1:8; John 13:35)
Adam and Eve, our first parents, were created by God pure and holy. They lived according to God’s will, doing what pleased Him. (Genesis 2)
Adam and Eve, the man and woman God created in the beginning, went against God’s will and brought sin into the world. Since that time, all people have been conceived and born in sin. Sin is living out of relationship with God, not living according to God’s will, and thus transgressing His holy will in thought, word, and deed.
(Genesis 3, Romans 5:12-21)
People cannot restore themselves by their good works or to a right relationship with God. (Romans 3)
God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world. Jesus is both true God and true man. He lived to fulfill God’s law for us; died on the cross to pay the penalty our sins deserved; and rose from the dead so that we might have eternal life. He ascended into heaven, where He now sits at the Father's right hand to intercede for us.
(John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:13-23, 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, Ephesians 4:10-12)
Adam and Eve, the man and woman God created in the beginning, went against God’s will and brought sin into the world. Since that time, all people have been conceived and born in sin. Sin is living out of relationship with God, not living according to God’s will, and thus transgressing His holy will in thought, word, and deed.
(Genesis 3, Romans 5:12-21)
People cannot restore themselves by their good works or to a right relationship with God. (Romans 3)
God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world. Jesus is both true God and true man. He lived to fulfill God’s law for us; died on the cross to pay the penalty our sins deserved; and rose from the dead so that we might have eternal life. He ascended into heaven, where He now sits at the Father's right hand to intercede for us.
(John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:13-23, 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, Ephesians 4:10-12)
