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 Who is Jesus
Christ?
Jesus is God's son,
sent by God to become human like us. In his life and being he broke
through the prison of sinfulness and thus restored the relationship of love
and trust that God intended to exist between himself and his
children. Though he is eternal, with God at the beginning of time, he
was born on earth of a virgin, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus
was at once truly God and truly human.
The man, Jesus of
Nazareth, lived and died in Palestine
during the governorship of the Roman administrator Pontius Pilate; we
believe him to be the Messiah chosen by God to show his love for the
world. He is God, yet with all the limitations of being human.
His relationship to God, however, was not one of sin but rather of perfect
obedience to the Father's will. For the sake of a sinful world, Jesus
was condemned to death on the cross.
But death could not
contain him. On the third day after his execution, the day Christians
observe as Easter, Jesus appeared among his followers as the risen, living
Lord. By this great victory God has declared the Good News of
reconciliation. The gap between all that separates us from our
Creator has been bridged. Thus, Christ lives today wherever there
are people who faithfully believe in him and wherever the Good News of
reconciliation is preached and the Sacraments administered.
What is the
Church?
The Christian church is
made up of those who have been baptized and thus have received Christ as
the Son of God and Savior of the world. Sometimes it is referred to
as "the Body of Christ." Lutherans believe that they
are a part of a community of faith that began with the gift of the Holy
Spirit, God's presence with his people, on the day of Pentecost. The
church, regardless of the external form it takes, is the fellowship of
those who have been restored to God by Christ. Indeed, to be called
into fellowship with Christ is also to be called into community with other
believers.
The church is essential
to Christian life and growth. Its members are all sinners in need of
God's grace. It has no claim on human perfection. The church
exists solely for the hearing and doing of God's Word. It can justify
its existence only when it proclaims the living Word of Christ, administers
the Sacraments and gives itself to the world in deeds of service and
love. Most Lutherans recognize a wider fellowship of churches and are
eager to work alongside them in ecumenical ministries and projects.
Why a Lutheran
church?
Martin Luther (b.
November 10, 1483, in Eisleben,
Germany, d.
February 18, 1546 in Eisleben) is known as the Father of
Protestantism. He had studied to become a lawyer before becoming an
Augustinian monk in 1505, and was ordained a priest in 1507. While
continuing his studies in pursuit of a Doctor of Theology degree, he
discovered significant differences between what he read in the Bible and
the theology and practices of the church. On October 31, 1517, he
posted a challenge on the church door at Wittenberg University
to debate 95 theological issues. Luther's hope was that the church
would reform its practice and preaching to be more consistent with the Word
of God as contained in the Bible.
What started as an
academic debate escalated to a religious war, fueled by fiery temperaments
and violent language on both sides. As a result, there was not a
reformation of the church but a separation. "Lutheran" was
a name applied to Luther and his followers as an insult but adopted as a
badge of honor by them instead.
Lutherans still
celebrate the Reformation on October 31 and still hold to the basic
principles of theology and practice espoused by Luther, such as Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura:
o
We are saved by the grace of God alone -- not by anything we do;
o
Our salvation is through faith alone -- we only need to believe that our sins
are forgiven for Christ's sake, who died to redeem us;
o
The Bible is the
only norm of doctrine and life -- the only true standard by
which teachings and doctrines are to be judged.
Another of Luther's
principles was that Scriptures and worship need to be in the language of
the people.
Many Lutherans still
consider themselves as a reforming movement within the Church catholic,
rather than a separatist movement, and Lutherans have engaged in ecumenical
dialogue with other church bodies for decades. In fact, the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America has entered into
cooperative "full communion" agreements with several other
Protestant denominations.
Luther's Small
Catechism, which contains teachings on the Ten Commandments, the Apostles'
Creed, the Lord's Prayer, Holy Baptism, Confession and Absolution, Holy
Communion and Morning and Evening Prayers, is still used to introduce
people to the Lutheran faith, as is the Augsburg Confession. These
and other Lutheran confessional documents included in the Book of Concord
may be ordered from the ELCA Publishing House at 800/328-4648 or www.augsburgfortress.org.
Is
Lutheranism the Only True Religion?
"Do Lutherans
believe theirs is the only true religion?" This question was once put
to the late Dr. Elson Ruff, editor of The Lutheran. His answer
was, "Yes, but Lutherans don't believe they are the only ones who have
it. There are true Christian believers in a vast majority of the
churches, perhaps in all." The ELCA Confession
of Faith says "This church confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and
Savior and the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who
believe ..."
How Do
Lutherans Look upon the Bible?
To borrow a phrase from
Luther, the Bible is "the manger in which the Word of God is
laid." While Lutherans recognize differences in the way the
Bible should be studied and interpreted, it is accepted as the primary and
authoritative witness to the church's faith. Written and transcribed
by many authors over a period of many centuries, the Bible bears remarkable
testimony to the mighty acts of God in the lives of people and
nations. In the Old Testament is found the vivid account of God's
covenant relationship to Israel.
In the New Testament is found the story of God's new covenant with all of
creation in Jesus.
The New Testament is
the first-hand proclamation of those who lived through the events of Jesus'
life, death, and Resurrection. As such, it is the authority for
Christian faith and practice. The Bible is thus not a definitive
record of history or science. Rather, it is the record of the drama
of God's saving care for creation throughout the course of history.
What Do
Lutherans Believe About Creation?
Lutherans believe that
God is Creator of the universe. Its dimensions of space and time are
not something God made once and then left alone. God is, rather,
continually creating, calling into being each moment of each day.
Human beings have a
unique position in the order of creation. As males and females
created in God's image, we are given the capacity and freedom to know and
respond to our creator. Freedom implies that we can choose to respond
to God either positively or negatively.
"Caring for
Creation: Vision, Hope and Justice," an ELCA Statement on caring
for God's creation, is available from the ELCA Distribution Service
(800/328-4648) free (+ postage and handling). Order Code: 67-1185.
Where Do
Lutherans Stand on the Question of Sin?
Lutherans believe that
all people live in a condition which is the result of misused
freedom. "Sin" describes not so much individual acts of
wrongdoing as fractured relationships between the people of creation and
God. Our every attempt to please God falls short of the mark.
By the standard of the Law, of which the Ten Commandments are a classic
summary, God expresses his just and loving expectations for creation, and
our failure to live up to those expectations reveals only our need for
God's mercy and forgiveness.
What Sacraments
Do Lutherans Accept?
Lutherans accept two
Sacraments as God-given means for penetrating the lives of people with his
grace. Although they are not the only means of God's self-revelation,
Baptism and Holy Communion are visible acts of God's love.
In Baptism, and it can
be seen more clearly in infant Baptism, God freely offers his grace and
lovingly establishes a new community. It is in Baptism that people
become members of Christ's Body on earth, the Church. In Holy Communion
-- often called the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist -- those who come to the
table receive in bread and wine the body and blood of their Lord.
This gift is itself the real presence of God's forgiveness and mercy,
nourishing believers in union with their Lord and with each other.
Do Lutherans
Believe in Life After Death?
While there is much we
do not and cannot know about life beyond the grave, Lutherans do believe
that life with God persists even after death. Judgment is both a
present and future reality, and history moves steadily towards God's
ultimate fulfillment.
This of course is a
great mystery, and no description of what life may be like in any dimension
beyond history is possible. Anxiety for the future is not a mark of
faith. Christians should go about their daily tasks, trusting in
God's grace and living a life of service in his name.
What Must a
Person Do to Become a Christian?
Jesus said, "
Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who
lives and believes in me will never die." (John 11:25-26)
What Must a
Person Do to Become a Lutheran?
To become a Lutheran,
only Baptism and instruction in the Christian faith is required. If
you are already baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, it
will be necessary only to attend a membership class in a Lutheran
congregation and thus signify your desire to become a part of its
community. Active members of other Lutheran congregations usually
need only to transfer their membership.
For
A Much More Basic Description Of The Faith Click Here!
This Information on Lutheran Beliefs came from http://www.elca.org/communication/brief.html
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