Lutheranism

===Justification===
[[File:Lucas Cranach d. Ä. - The Lamentation of Christ - The Schleißheim Crucifixion - Alte Pinakothek.jpg|thumb|The Lutheran faith preaches that whoever has faith in Jesus alone will receive salvation from the grace of God and will enter heaven for eternity.|alt=]]
The key doctrine, or [[Formal and material principles of theology|material principle]], of Lutheranism is the doctrine of [[Justification (theology)#Lutheranism|justification]]. Lutherans believe that humans are saved from their [[Sin#Protestant views|sins]] by God's grace alone (''[[Sola Gratia]]''), through faith alone (''Sola Fide''), on the basis of Scripture alone (''Sola Scriptura''). Orthodox Lutheran theology holds that God made the world, including humanity, perfect, holy and sinless. However, [[Adam and Eve]] chose to disobey God, trusting in their own strength, knowledge, and wisdom.<ref>Paul R. Sponheim, "The Origin of Sin", in ''Christian Dogmatics'', Carl E. Braaten and Robert W. Jenson, eds. (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984), 385–407.</ref><ref name="Pieper">[[Franz August Otto Pieper|Francis Pieper]], "Definition of Original Sin", in ''Christian Dogmatics'' (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1953), 1:538.</ref> Consequently, people are saddled with [[Original sin#Lutheranism|original sin]], born sinful and unable to avoid committing sinful acts.<ref>Krauth, C.P.,''[https://archive.org/details/conservativeref00kraugoog The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology: As Represented in the Augsburg Confession, and in the History and Literature of the Evangelical Lutheran Church] ''. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co.. 1875. pp. 335–455, Part IX The Specific Doctrines Of The Conservative Reformation: Original Sin.</ref> For Lutherans, original sin is the "chief sin, a root and fountainhead of all actual sins".<ref>''Formula of Concord'', [http://www.bookofconcord.com/fc-sd/originalsin.html Original Sin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927035144/http://www.bookofconcord.com/fc-sd/originalsin.html |date=27 September 2007 }}.</ref>

Lutherans teach that sinners, while capable of doing works that are outwardly "good", are [[Incurvatus in se|not capable]] of doing works that satisfy God's justice.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+7:18 Rom. 7:18], [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208:7;&version=9; 8:7] [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Cor.%202:14;&version=31; 1 Cor. 2:14], Martin Chemnitz, [[Examination of the Council of Trent]]: Vol. I. Trans. Fred Kramer, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1971, pp. 639–652, "The Third Question: Whether the Good Works of the Regenerate in This Life Are So Perfect that They Fully, Abundantly, and Perfectly Satisfy the Divine Law".</ref> Every human thought and deed is infected with sin and [[Concupiscence|sinful motives]].<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gen.%206:5;&version=9; Gen. 6:5], [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gen.%208:21;&version=31;#en-NIV-205 8:21], [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mat.%207:17;&version=31; Mat. 7:17], Krauth, C.P.,''[https://archive.org/details/conservativeref00kraugoog The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology: As Represented in the Augsburg Confession, and in the History and Literature of the Evangelical Lutheran Church] ''. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co.. 1875. pp. 388–390, Part IX The Specific Doctrines Of The Conservative Reformation: Original Sin, Thesis VII The Results, Section ii Positive.</ref> Because of this, all humanity deserves eternal damnation in [[Christian views on hell|hell]].<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Dt.%2027:26;&version=31; Dt. 27:26],[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom+5:12 Rom. 5:12],[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Th%201:9%20;&version=31; 2 Th. 1:9] [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom+6:23 Rom. 6:23], Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. pp. 38–41, Part VIII. "Sin"</ref> God in eternity has turned His Fatherly heart to this world and planned for its redemption because he loves all people and does not want anyone to be eternally damned.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Tim.%202:4;&version=31; 1 Tim. 2:4], Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. pp. 43–44, Part X. "Saving Grace", paragraph 55.</ref>

To this end, "God sent his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, into the world to redeem and deliver us from the power of the devil, and to bring us to Himself, and to govern us as a King of righteousness, life, and salvation against sin, death, and an evil conscience", as [[Luther's Large Catechism]] explains.<ref>''Triglot Concordia: The Symbolical Books of the Ev. Lutheran Church''. St. Louis: Concordia, 1921. [http://bookofconcord.org/lc-5-ourfather.php#para51 Large Catechism] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214115202/http://bookofconcord.org/lc-5-ourfather.php#para51 |date=14 February 2015 }}, The Lord's Prayer, The Second Petition, Par. 51.</ref> Because of this, Lutherans teach that salvation is possible only because of the grace of God made manifest in the birth, life, suffering, death, resurrection, and continuing presence by the power of the [[Holy Spirit]], of Jesus Christ.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gal.%203:13;&version=31; Gal. 3:13], Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. p. 43, Part X. "Saving Grace", paragraph 54.</ref> By God's grace, made known and effective in the person and work of Jesus Christ, a person is forgiven, adopted as a child and heir of God, and given eternal salvation.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom.%2010:4;&version=31; Rom. 10:4], [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gal.%204:4-5;&version=31; Gal. 4:4–5], Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. p. 42, Part X. "Saving Grace", paragraph 52.</ref> Christ, because he was entirely obedient to the law with respect to both his human and divine natures, "is a perfect satisfaction and reconciliation of the human race", as the ''Formula of Concord'' asserts, and proceeds to summarize:<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ig5PF6Tf07UC&pg=PA572 Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, Article III, "Concerning the Righteousness of Faith before God"]. par. 57–58. trans. Kolb, R., Wengert, T., and Arand, C. Minneapolis: [[Augsburg Fortress]], 2000.</ref>
<blockquote>[Christ] submitted to the law for us, bore our sin, and in going to his Father performed complete and perfect obedience for us poor sinners, from his holy birth to his death. Thereby he covered all our disobedience, which is embedded in our nature and in its thoughts, words, and deeds, so that this disobedience is not reckoned to us as condemnation but is pardoned and forgiven by sheer grace, because of Christ alone.</blockquote>

Lutherans believe that individuals receive this gift of salvation through faith alone.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bookofconcord.com/augsburgconfession.html#article4|title=Augsburg Confession – Book of Concord|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-date=10 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010210355/http://www.bookofconcord.com/augsburgconfession.html#article4|url-status=dead}}</ref> Saving faith is the knowledge of,<ref>{{bibleverse||John|17:3|31}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|1:77|31}},{{bibleverse||Galatians|4:9|31}}, {{bibleverse||Philippians|3:8|31}}, and {{bibleverse|1|Timothy|2:4|31}} refer to faith in terms of knowledge.</ref> acceptance of,<ref>{{bibleverse||John|5:46|31}} refers to acceptance of the truth of Christ's teaching, while {{bibleverse||John|3:36|31}} notes the rejection of his teaching.</ref> and trust<ref>{{bibleverse||John|3:16,36|50}}, {{bibleverse||Galatians|2:16|31}}, {{bibleverse||Romans|4:20–25|31}}, {{bibleverse|2|Timothy|1:12|31}} speak of trust, confidence, and belief in Christ. {{bibleverse||John|3:18|31}} notes belief in the name of Christ, and {{bibleverse||Mark|1:15}} notes belief in the gospel.</ref> in the promise of the Gospel.<ref name = "Engelder">Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. pp. 54–55, Part XIV. "Sin"</ref> Even faith itself is seen as a gift of God, created in the hearts of Christians<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps.%2051:10;&version=31; Ps. 51:10], Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934, p. 57 Part XV. "Conversion", paragraph 78.</ref> by the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2017:20;&version=31; John 17:20], [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom.%2010:17;&version=47; Rom. 10:17], Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934, p. 101 Part XXV. "The Church", paragraph 141.</ref> and Baptism.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus%203:5;&version=50; Titus 3:5], Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934, p. 87 Part XXIII. "Baptism", paragraph 118.</ref> Faith receives the gift of salvation rather than causes salvation.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Eph.%202:8;&version=31; Eph. 2:8], Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934, p. 57 Part XV. "Conversion", paragraph 78.</ref> Thus, Lutherans reject the "[[decision theology]]" which is common among modern [[evangelicalism|evangelicals]].

Since the term "grace" has been defined differently by other Christian church bodies.<ref>[https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6Z.HTM The Roman Catholic Catechism], part 3, section 1, chapter 3, article 2, II, paragraphs 2000 and 2001; downloaded February 18, 2017; defines grace as something which brings about a change in us, such that we cooperate in justification and act without sin (i.e. sanctified).</ref> Lutheranism defines grace as entirely limited to God's gifts to us, which is bestowed as pure gift, not something we merit by behavior or acts. To Lutherans, grace is not about our response to God's gifts, but only His gifts.