Protestantism

===Lutheranism===
{{Main|Lutheranism}}
[[Lutheranism]] identifies with the [[theology of Martin Luther]], a [[Germans|German]] monk and priest, [[Ecclesiology|ecclesiastical]] reformer, and theologian.

Lutheranism advocates a doctrine of justification "by [[Sola gratia|grace alone]] through [[Sola fide|faith alone]] on the basis of [[Sola scriptura|Scripture alone]]", the doctrine that scripture is the final authority on all matters of faith, rejecting the assertion made by Catholic leaders at the [[Council of Trent]] that authority comes from both Scriptures and [[Sacred tradition|Tradition]].<ref>''Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent'', Fourth Session, Decree on Sacred Scripture (Denzinger 783 [1501]; Schaff 2:79–81). For a history of the discussion of various interpretations of the Tridentine decree, see Selby, Matthew L., ''The Relationship Between Scripture and Tradition according to the Council of Trent'', unpublished Master's thesis, University of St Thomas, July 2013.</ref> In addition, Lutherans accept the teachings of the first four [[ecumenical councils]] of the undivided Christian Church.<ref name="Olson1999">{{cite book|last=Olson|first=Roger E.|title=The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition & Reform|date=1999|publisher=InterVarsity Press|isbn=978-0830815050|page=[https://archive.org/details/storyofchristian00olso/page/158 158]|quote=The magisterial Protestant denominations such as major Lutheran, Reformed and Anglican (Church of England, Episcopalian) denominations recognize only the first four as having any special authority, and even they are considered subordinate to Scripture.|url=https://archive.org/details/storyofchristian00olso/page/158}}</ref><ref name="Kelly2009">{{cite book|last=Kelly|first=Joseph Francis|title=The Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church: A History|year=2009|publisher=Liturgical Press|isbn=978-0814653760|page=64|quote=The Church of England and most Lutheran churches accept the first four councils as ecumenical; Orthodox churches accept the first seven.}}</ref>

Unlike the Reformed tradition, Lutherans retain many of the [[Christian liturgy|liturgical]] practices and [[Sacraments#Lutheran teaching|sacramental]] teachings of the pre-Reformation Church with an emphasis on the [[Sacramental union|Eucharist]], or Lord's Supper. Lutheran theology differs from Reformed theology in [[Scholastic Lutheran Christology|Christology]], the purpose of [[Law and Gospel#Lutheran and Reformed differences|God's Law]], divine [[Irresistible grace#Lutheran|grace]], the concept of [[Perseverance of the saints#Lutheran view|perseverance of the saints]], and [[Predestination#Lutheranism|predestination]].

Today, Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism. With approximately 80&nbsp;million adherents,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lutheran.org.nz/about-us/|title=About Us|website=Lutheran Church of New Zealand|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-date=1 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401192904/http://www.lutheran.org.nz/about-us/|url-status=live}}</ref> it constitutes the third most common Protestant confession after historically [[Pentecostal|Pentecostal denominations]] and [[Anglicanism]].<ref name="pewforum1"/> The [[Lutheran World Federation]], the largest global communion of Lutheran churches represents over 72&nbsp;million people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lutheranworld.org/content/member-churches|title=Member Churches – The Lutheran World Federation|date=19 May 2013|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-date=29 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129164641/http://www.lutheranworld.org/content/member-churches|url-status=live}}</ref> Both of these figures miscount Lutherans worldwide as many members of more generically Protestant LWF member church bodies do not self-identify as Lutheran or attend congregations that self-identify as Lutheran.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lutheranworld.org/lwf/index.php/member-statistics-2011.html |access-date=22 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715071837/http://www.lutheranworld.org/lwf/index.php/member-statistics-2011.html |archive-date=15 July 2012 |title=Survey Shows 70.5 Million Members in LWF-Affiliated Churches |website=The Lutheran World Federation}}</ref> Additionally, there are other international organizations such as the [[Global Confessional and Missional Lutheran Forum]], [[International Lutheran Council]] and the [[Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference]], as well as [[List of Lutheran denominations|Lutheran denominations]] that are not necessarily a member of an international organization.
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File:LutherRose.jpg|[[Luther rose|Luther's rose seal]], a symbol of [[Lutheranism]]
File:EinFesteBurg.jpg|Luther composed hymns still used today, including "[[A Mighty Fortress Is Our God]]"
File:Lucas Cranach (I) - The Law and the Gospel.jpg|[[Moses]] and [[Elijah]] direct the sinner looking for salvation to the [[Christian Cross|Cross]] in this painting illustrating Luther's [[Theology of the Cross]], as opposed to a Theology of Glory.
File:Revelation Turku Finland Travel Photography (257758059).jpeg|Altar of the [[Turku Cathedral]], the [[Mother church|matrice]] of the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland]]
</gallery>