Lutheranism

===Predestination===
[[File:AugsburgConfessionArticle18FreeWill.jpg|thumb|Article XVIII of the [[Augsburg Confession]], "Of Free Will" Free Will]]Lutherans adhere to divine [[monergism]], the teaching that salvation is by God's act alone, and therefore reject the idea that humans in their fallen state have a [[Free will in theology|free will]] concerning spiritual matters.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Cor.%202:14;&version=50; 1 Cor. 2:14], [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Cor.%2012:3;&version=31; 12:3], [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom.%208:7;&version=31; Rom. 8:7], Martin Chemnitz, ''Examination of the Council of Trent: Vol. I.'' Trans. Fred Kramer, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1971, pp. 409–453, "Seventh Topic, Concerning Free Will: From the Decree of the Sixth Session of the Council of Trent".</ref> Lutherans believe that although humans have free will concerning civil righteousness, they cannot work spiritual righteousness in the heart without the presence and aid of the Holy Spirit.<ref>[http://www.bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.html#article18 Augsburg Confession, Article 18, Of Free Will] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915154222/http://www.bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.html#article18 |date=15 September 2008 }}.</ref><ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2013:48;&version=9; Acts 13:48], [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Eph.%201:4-11;&version=47; Eph. 1:4–11], [http://www.bookofconcord.com/fc-ep.html#XI.%20Election. Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article 11, Election] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010210532/http://www.bookofconcord.com/fc-ep.html#XI.%20Election. |date=10 October 2008 }}, Mueller, J.T., ''Christian Dogmatics''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. pp. 585–589, section "The Doctrine of Eternal Election: 1. The Definition of the Term", and Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. pp. 124–128, Part XXXI. "The Election of Grace", paragraph 176.</ref> Lutherans believe Christians are "saved";<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Thessalonians%202:13;&version=50; 2 Thess. 2:13], Mueller, J.T., ''Christian Dogmatics''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. pp. 589–93, section "The Doctrine of Eternal Election: 2. How Believers are to Consider Their Election, and Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. pp. 127–128, Part XXXI. "The Election of Grace", paragraph 180.</ref> that all who trust in Christ alone and his promises can be certain of their salvation.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom.%208:33;&version=47; Rom. 8:33], Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. pp. 127–128, Part XXXI. "The Election of Grace", paragraph 179., Engelder, T.E.W., [https://books.google.com/books?id=qpgsAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA41 The Certainty of Final Salvation]. ''[[The Lutheran Witness]] 2''(6). English Evangelical Missouri Synod: Baltimore. 1891, pp. 41ff.</ref>

According to Lutheranism, the central final hope of the Christian is "the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting" as confessed in the ''[[s:Luther's Small Catechism#II. THE CREED,|Apostles' Creed]]'' rather than [[predestination]]. Lutherans disagree with those who make predestination—rather than Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection—the source of salvation. Unlike some [[Calvinism|Calvinists]], Lutherans do not believe in a predestination to damnation,<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Tim.%202:4;&version=31; 1 Tim. 2:4], [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Pet.%203:9;&version=31; 2 Pet. 3:9], [http://www.bookofconcord.com/fc-ep.html#XI.%20Election. Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article 11, Election] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010210532/http://www.bookofconcord.com/fc-ep.html#XI.%20Election. |date=10 October 2008 }}, and Engelder's [https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics], Part XXXI. The Election of Grace, pp. 124–128.</ref> usually referencing "God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth"<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Timothy|2:3–4|31}}</ref> as contrary evidence to such a claim. Instead, Lutherans teach eternal damnation is a result of the unbeliever's sins, rejection of the forgiveness of sins, and unbelief.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea%2013:9;&version=9; Hos. 13:9], Mueller, J.T., ''Christian Dogmatics''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. p. 637, section "The Doctrine of the Last Things (Eschatology), part 7. "Eternal Damnation", and Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. pp. 135–136, Part XXXIX. "Eternal Death", paragraph 196.</ref>