We accept and teach the truth God has revealed in the Bible. These Biblical truths are summarized and explained in a collection of documents that we call The Lutheran Confessions.
These teachings can be summarized in three short phrases:
- Grace alone
- Faith alone
- Scripture alone
Grace alone
God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly. See Ephesians 1:3-8 [show]Ephesians 1:3-8
[3]Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, [4]even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love [5]he predestined us(1) for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, [6]to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. [7]In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, [8]which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight (ESV)
Footnotes
1. [1:5] Or 'before him in love, having predestined us'
, Ephesians 2:4-10 [show]Ephesians 2:4-10
[4]But(1) God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5]even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- [6]and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7]so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8]For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9]not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10]For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)
Footnotes
1. [2:4] Or 'And'
.
Faith alone
By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that he offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him. See Galatians 3:6-11 [show]Galatians 3:6-11
[6]just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"?
[7]Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. [8]And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify(1) the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." [9]So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
[10]For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." [11]Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith."(2) (ESV)
Footnotes
1. [3:8] Or 'count righteous'; also verses 11, 24
2. [3:11] Or 'The one who by faith is righteous will live'
; Ephesians 2:4-10 [show]Ephesians 2:4-10
[4]But(1) God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5]even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- [6]and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7]so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8]For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9]not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10]For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)
Footnotes
1. [2:4] Or 'And'
.
Scripture alone
The Bible, as originally given, is God’s inspired, inerrant and infallible Word, in which God reveals the Law and the Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. The Bible is the final authority for Christian life and teaching. Thus, we are constantly reforming ourselves in view of God’s word. See Deuteronomy 4:2 [show]Deuteronomy 4:2
[2]You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you. (ESV); Deuteronomy 12:32 [show]Deuteronomy 12:32
[32](1) "Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it. (ESV)
Footnotes
1. [12:32] Ch 13:1 in Hebrew
; Proverbs 30:6 [show]Proverbs 30:6
[6]Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.; 2 Timothy 3:16-17 [show]2 Timothy 3:16-17
[16]All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17]that the man of God(1) may be competent, equipped for every good work. (ESV)
Footnotes
1. [3:17] That is, a messenger of God (the phrase echoes a common Old Testament expression)
; Hebrews 1:1-2 [show]Hebrews 1:1-2
[1:1]Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, [2]but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (ESV); 2 Peter 1:20-21 [show]2 Peter 1:20-21
[20]knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. [21]For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (ESV); Revelation 22:19 [show]Revelation 22:19
[19]and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (ESV); Luke 24:44-48 [show]Luke 24:44-48
[44]Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." [45]Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, [46]and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, [47]and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. [48]You are witnesses of these things. (ESV).
All these Solas are aimed at keeping our hearts and minds focused on the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Being a Lutheran is truly all about Jesus.
- The entire sinful world is loved by Jesus.
- God saves us through the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
- The Holy Spirit creates faith by showing us Jesus.
- In baptism, we die and rise with Jesus.
- In the Lord’s supper, we receive our inheritance with the body and blood of Jesus.
- The pastor proclaims and distributes the merits of Jesus.
- All our prayers go to the father through Jesus.
- All our good works flow of hearts that trust in Jesus.
- In the bearing of all crosses in this vale of tears, our eyes are fixed on Jesus.
- We wait with joyous hope for the day when we will see the face of Jesus.
David Preus. Why I am a Lutheran: Jesus at the Center. Page 195
