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Do not fill this in! ==Doctrine<!--'Lutheran theologian' and 'Lutheran theology' redirect here-->== ===Bible=== [[File:Lutherbibel.jpg|thumb|[[Luther Bible|Luther's 1534 translation of the Bible]]]] [[File:Lucas Cranach (I) - The Law and the Gospel.jpg|thumb|[[Moses]] and [[Elijah]] point the sinner looking for God's salvation to the cross to find it, a Lutheran ideal known as the [[Theology of the Cross]].]] Traditionally, Lutherans hold the [[Bible|Scriptures]] of the [[Old Testament|Old]] and [[New Testament]]s to be the only divinely inspired books, the only presently available sources of divinely revealed knowledge, and the only infallible source of Christian doctrine.<ref>For the traditional Lutheran view of the Bible, see {{cite book|last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |pages=3ff |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712193848/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |archive-date=12 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}. For an overview of the doctrine of verbal inspiration in Lutheranism, see [http://www.lcms.org/ca/www/cyclopedia/02/display.asp?t1=i&word=INSPIRATION.DOCTRINEOF Inspiration, Doctrine of] in the Christian Cyclopedia.</ref> [[Sola scriptura|Scripture alone]] is the [[Formal and material principles of theology|formal principle]] of the faith, the [[Rule of Faith|final authority]] for all matters of faith and morals because of its inspiration, authority, clarity, efficacy, and sufficiency.<ref>{{cite book|last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |pages=7ff |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712193848/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |archive-date=12 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}, {{cite book|last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n58 29] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934 }}</ref> The authority of the Scriptures has been challenged during the history of Lutheranism. Martin Luther taught that the Bible was the written Word of God, and the only infallible guide for faith and practice. He held that every passage of Scripture has one straightforward meaning, the literal sense as interpreted by other Scripture.<ref>Braaten, Carl E. (1983). Principles of Lutheran Theology. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, p. 9</ref> These teachings were accepted during the [[Lutheran Orthodoxy|orthodox Lutheranism]] of the 17th century.<ref>Preus, Robert. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=McgOAAAAIAAJ The Inspiration of Scripture: A Study of the Theology of the 17th Century Lutheran Dogmaticians].'' London: Oliver and Boyd, 1957. p. 39.</ref> During the 18th century, Rationalism advocated reason rather than the authority of the Bible as the final source of knowledge, but most of the [[Laity#Protestantism|laity]] did not accept this Rationalist position.<ref>{{Cite book | year=1978 | contribution=Lutheran Churches | editor-last=Benton | editor-first=William | editor-link=William Benton (senator) | title=Encyclopædia Britannica | edition=15 | place=Chicago | publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. | volume=11 | pages=197–98 | isbn=978-0-85229-290-7 }}</ref> In the 19th century, a [[Confessional Lutheran|confessional revival]] re-emphasized the authority of the Scriptures and agreement with the Lutheran Confessions. Today, Lutherans disagree about the inspiration and authority of the Bible. Theological conservatives use the [[historical-grammatical method]] of Biblical interpretation, while [[Liberal Christianity|theological liberals]] use the [[higher criticism|higher critical]] method. The 2008 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey conducted by the [[Pew Research Center]] surveyed 1,926 adults in the United States that self-identified as Lutheran. The study found that 30% believed that the Bible was the Word of God and was to be taken literally word for word. 40% held that the Bible was the Word of God, but was not literally true word for word or were unsure. 23% said the Bible was written by men and not the Word of God. 7% did not know, were not sure, or had other positions.<ref>U.S. Religious Landscape Survey: Religious Beliefs and Practices, Diverse and Politically Relevant. Washington D.C.: Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. June 2008. p. 127. Accessed online on 27 September 2009 at [http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report2-religious-landscape-study-full.pdf http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report2-religious-landscape-study-full.pdf].</ref> ====Inspiration==== Although many Lutherans today hold less specific views of [[Biblical inspiration|inspiration]], historically, Lutherans affirm that the Bible does not merely contain the Word of God, but every word of it is, because of plenary, verbal inspiration, the direct, immediate word of God.<ref>{{cite book |last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n55 26] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934}}</ref> The ''[[Apology of the Augsburg Confession]]'' identifies Holy Scripture with the Word of God<ref>"God's Word, or Holy Scripture" from the [http://www.bookofconcord.org/defense_2_originalsin.php Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article II, of Original Sin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022004920/https://bookofconcord.org/defense_2_originalsin.php |date=22 October 2020 }}</ref> and calls the Holy Spirit the author of the Bible.<ref>"the Scripture of the Holy Ghost." [http://www.bookofconcord.org/defense_greeting.php Apology to the Augsburg Confession, Preface, 9] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031090229/http://bookofconcord.org/defense_greeting.php |date=31 October 2020 }}</ref> Because of this, Lutherans confess in the ''Formula of Concord'', "we receive and embrace with our whole heart the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the pure, clear fountain of Israel".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bookofconcord.org/sd-ruleandnorm.php|title=The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-date=28 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228130027/http://www.bookofconcord.org/sd-ruleandnorm.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> The prophetic and apostolic Scriptures are confessed as authentic and written by the prophets and apostles. A correct translation of their writings is seen as God's Word because it has the same meaning as the original Hebrew and Greek.<ref name="Engelder 1934 27">{{cite book |last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934 |location=Saint Louis, MO |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n56 27]}}</ref> A mistranslation is not God's word, and no human authority can invest it with divine authority.<ref name="Engelder 1934 27"/> ====Clarity==== Historically, Lutherans understand the Bible to present all doctrines and commands of the Christian faith [[Clarity of scripture|clearly]].<ref>{{bibleverse||Psalm|19:8|50}}, {{bibleverse||Psalm|119:105|50}}, {{bibleverse||Psalm|119:130|50}}, {{bibleverse|2|Timothy|3:15|50}}, {{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|30:11|50}}, {{bibleverse|2|Peter|1:19|31}}, {{bibleverse||Ephesians|3:3–4|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|8:31–32|31}}, {{bibleverse|2|Corinthians|4:3–4|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|8:43–47|31}}, {{bibleverse|2|Peter|3:15–16|31}}, {{cite book|last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n58 29] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934 }}, {{cite book|last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |pages=11–12 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712193848/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |archive-date=12 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In addition, Lutherans believe that God's Word is freely accessible to every reader or hearer of ordinary intelligence, without requiring any special education.<ref>{{cite book|last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |page=11 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712193848/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |archive-date=12 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}, {{cite book|last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n57 28] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934 }}</ref> A Lutheran must understand the language that scriptures are presented in, and should not be so preoccupied by error so as to prevent understanding.<ref>{{cite book|last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |page=11 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712193848/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |archive-date=12 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a result of this, Lutherans do not believe there is a need to wait for any clergy, pope, scholar, or [[ecumenical council]] to explain the real meaning of any part of the Bible.<ref>{{cite book |last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n57 28] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934}} </ref> ====Efficacy==== Lutherans confess that Scripture is united with the power of the Holy Spirit and with it, not only demands, but also creates the acceptance of its teaching.<ref>{{bibleverse||Romans|1:16|50}}, {{bibleverse|1|Thessalonians|2:13|50}}, {{cite book|last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |page=11 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712193848/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |archive-date=12 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}, {{cite book|last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n56 27] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934 }}</ref> This teaching produces faith and obedience. Holy Scripture is not a dead letter, but rather, the power of the Holy Spirit is inherent in it.<ref>{{bibleverse||Romans|1:16|50}}, {{bibleverse|1|Thessalonians|1:5|50}}, {{bibleverse||Psalm|119:105|50}}, {{bibleverse|2|Peter|1:19|50}}, {{bibleverse|2|Timothy|1:16–17|31}},{{bibleverse||Ephesians|3:3–4|50}}, {{cite book|last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |pages=11–12 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712193848/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |archive-date=12 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}, {{cite book|last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n57 28] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934 }}</ref> Scripture does not compel a mere intellectual assent to its doctrine, resting on logical argumentation, but rather it creates the living agreement of faith.<ref>{{bibleverse||John|6:63|31}}, {{bibleverse||Revelation|1:3|31}}, {{bibleverse||Ephesians|3:3–4|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|7:17|31}}, {{cite book|last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |page=12 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712193848/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |archive-date=12 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}, {{cite book|last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n57 28] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934 }}</ref> As the [[Smalcald Articles]] affirm, "in those things which concern the spoken, outward Word, we must firmly hold that God grants His Spirit or grace to no one, except through or with the preceding outward Word".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bookofconcord.org/smalcald.php#confession|title=Smalcald Articles – Book of Concord|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731111923/http://www.bookofconcord.org/smalcald.php#confession|url-status=dead}}</ref> ====Sufficiency==== [[File:Cranach Gesetz und Gnade Gotha.jpg|thumb|''Law and Grace'', a portrait by [[Lucas Cranach the Elder]]; the left side shows humans' condemnation under God's law and the right side presents God's grace in Christ.|alt=]] Lutherans are confident that the Bible contains everything that one needs to know in order to obtain salvation and to live a Christian life.<ref> {{bibleverse|2|Timothy|3:15–17|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|5:39|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|17:20|31}}, {{bibleverse||Psalm|19:7–8|31}}, {{cite book |last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n57 28] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934}}</ref> There are no deficiencies in Scripture that need to be filled with by tradition, [[Obsequium religiosum|pronouncements of the Pope]], new revelations, or present-day [[development of doctrine]].<ref>{{bibleverse||Isaiah|8:20|50}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|16:29–31|50}}, {{bibleverse|2|Timothy|3:16–17|31}}, {{cite book |last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |page=13 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807135035/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |archive-date=7 August 2007 |df=dmy-all }}, {{cite book |last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n57 28] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934 }}</ref> ====Law and Gospel==== Lutherans understand the Bible as containing two distinct types of content, termed [[Law and Gospel]] (or Law and Promises).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bookofconcord.com/defense_4_justification.php|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118113812/http://www.bookofconcord.com/defense_4_justification.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 January 2013|title=Defense of the Augsburg Confession – Book of Concord|access-date=5 March 2015}}</ref> Properly distinguishing between Law and Gospel prevents the obscuring of the Gospel teaching of justification by grace through faith alone.<ref>Walther, C. F. W. [http://lutherantheology.com/uploads/works/walther/LG/index.html The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel]. W. H. T. Dau, trans. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1929.</ref> ===Lutheran confessions=== [[File:Bookofconcord.jpg|thumb|The cover page of the ''[[Book of Concord]]'', published in 1580]] The ''[[Book of Concord]]'', published in 1580, contains 10 documents which some Lutherans believe are faithful and authoritative explanations of Holy Scripture. Besides the three [[Ecumenical Creeds]], which date to [[Roman Empire|Roman times]], the ''Book of Concord'' contains seven [[Creed|credal]] documents articulating Lutheran theology in the Reformation era. The doctrinal positions of Lutheran churches are not uniform because the ''Book of Concord'' does not hold the same position in all Lutheran churches. For example, the [[State religion#Lutheran|state churches]] in Scandinavia consider only the ''Augsburg Confession'' as a "summary of the faith" in addition to the three ecumenical creeds.<ref>F.E. Mayer, The Religious Bodies of America. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1954, p. 184. For further information, see [http://www.wlsessays.net/node/491 The Formula of Concord in the History of Swedish Lutheranism] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707192443/http://www.wlsessays.net/node/491 |date=7 July 2010 }} by Seth Erlandsson</ref> Lutheran pastors, congregations, and church bodies in Germany and the Americas usually agree to teach in harmony with the entire Lutheran confessions. Some Lutheran church bodies require this pledge to be unconditional because they believe the confessions correctly state what the Bible teaches. Others allow their congregations to do so "insofar as" the confessions are in agreement with the Bible. In addition, Lutherans accept the teachings of the first seven [[ecumenical councils]] of the Christian Church.<ref name="Olson1999">{{cite book|title=The Ecumenical Councils and Authority in and of the Church|date=10 July 1993|publisher=The Lutheran World Federation|url=https://www.lutheranworld.org/sites/default/files/1993-Lutheran_Orthodox_Dialogue-EN.pdf|quote=The seven ecumenical councils of the early Church were assemblies of the bishops of the Church from all parts of the Roman Empire to clarify and express the apostolic faith. These councils are Nicaea (325 AD), Constantinople I (381), Ephesus (431), Chalcedon (451), Constantinople II (553), Constantinople III (680/81), and Nicaea II (787)... As Lutherans and Orthodox we affirm that the teachings of the ecumenical councils are authoritative for our churches ... The Seventh Ecumenical Council, the Second Council of Nicaea in 787, which rejected iconoclasm and restored the veneration of icons in the churches, was not part of the tradition received by the Reformation. Lutherans, however, rejected the iconoclasm of the 16th century, and affirmed the distinction between adoration due to the Triune God alone and all other forms of veneration (CA 21). Through historical research this council has become better known. Nevertheless it does not have the same significance for Lutherans as it does for the Orthodox. Yet, Lutherans and Orthodox are in agreement that the Second Council of Nicaea confirms the christological teaching of the earlier councils and in setting forth the role of images (icons) in the lives of the faithful reaffirms the reality of the incarnation of the eternal Word of God, when it states: "The more frequently, Christ, Mary, the mother of God, and the saints are seen, the more are those who see them drawn to remember and long for those who serve as models, and to pay these icons the tribute of salutation and respectful veneration. Certainly this is not the full adoration in accordance with our faith, which is properly paid only to the divine nature, but it resembles that given to the figure of the honored and life-giving cross, and also to the holy books of the gospels and to other sacred objects" (Definition of the Second Council of Nicaea).}}</ref><ref name="Kelly2009">{{cite book|title=Ecumenical Council|publisher=Titi Tudorancea Encyclopedia|year=1991–2016|url=https://www.tititudorancea.net/z/ecumenical_council.htm|quote=The Lutheran World Federation, in ecumenical dialogues with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople has affirmed all of the first seven councils as ecumenical and authoritative.}}</ref> The Lutheran Church traditionally sees itself as the "main trunk of the historical Christian Tree" founded by Christ and the Apostles, holding that during the [[Reformation]], the [[Holy See|Church of Rome]] fell away.<ref name="Remensnyder1893">{{cite book |author1=Junius Benjamin Remensnyder |title=The Lutheran Manual |date=1893 |publisher=Boschen & Wefer Company |page=12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rWA3AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA12 |language=English}}</ref><ref name="Frey1918">{{cite book|last=Frey|first=H.|title=Is One Church as Good as Another?|volume=37|year=1918|publisher=[[The Lutheran Witness]]|language=English|pages=82–83}}</ref> As such, the ''Augsburg Confession'' teaches that "the faith as confessed by Luther and his followers is nothing new, but the true catholic faith, and that their churches represent the true catholic or universal church".<ref name="Ludwig2016">{{cite magazine|title=Luther's Catholic Reformation|last=Ludwig|first=Alan|date=12 September 2016|magazine=[[The Lutheran Witness]]|language=en|quote=When the Lutherans presented the ''Augsburg Confession'' before Emperor Charles V in 1530, they carefully showed that each article of faith and practice was true first of all to Holy Scripture, and then also to the teaching of the church fathers and the councils and even the canon law of the Church of Rome. They boldly claim, "This is about the Sum of our Doctrine, in which, as can be seen, there is nothing that varies from the Scriptures, or from the Church Catholic, or from the Church of Rome as known from its writers" (AC XXI Conclusion 1). The underlying thesis of the ''Augsburg Confession'' is that the faith as confessed by Luther and his followers is nothing new, but the true catholic faith, and that their churches represent the true catholic or universal church. In fact, it is actually the Church of Rome that has departed from the ancient faith and practice of the catholic church (see AC XXIII 13, XXVIII 72 and other places).}}</ref> When the Lutherans presented the ''Augsburg Confession'' to [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor]], they explained "that each article of faith and practice was true first of all to Holy Scripture, and then also to the teaching of the church fathers and the councils".<ref name="Ludwig2016"/> ===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. ===Trinity=== [[File:Shield-Trinity-Scutum-Fidei-English.svg|thumb|Lutherans believe in the [[Trinity]].]] Lutherans believe in the [[Trinity]], rejecting the idea that the [[God the Father|Father]] and [[God the Son]] are merely faces of the same person, stating that both the [[Old Testament]] and the [[New Testament]] show them to be two distinct persons.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2063:8-9;&version=50; Is. 63:8–9], Mueller, J.T., ''Christian Dogmatics''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. pp. 158–160, section "The Doctrine of God", part 5. "The Holy Trinity Revealed in the Old Testament",[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Heb%201:5%20;&version=50; Heb. 1:5], see Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. pp. 33–36, Part VI. "The Trinity".</ref> Lutherans believe the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son.<ref>[http://www.angelfire.com/ny4/djw/lutherantheology.filioque.html The Nicene Creed and the Filioque: A Lutheran Approach] by Rev. David Webber for more information</ref> In the words of the [[Athanasian Creed]]: "We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal."<ref>[[Athanasian Creed]] – for an older Trinitarian Creed used by Lutherans, see the ''[[Nicene Creed]]:'' the version in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) is the 1988 ecumenical (ELLC) version. But the version in both "Lutheran Service Book" (2006) of the [[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod]] (LCMS) and the [[Lutheran Church Canada|Lutheran Church Canada (LCC)]] is that of the [[Book of Common Prayer (1662)|1662 ''Book of Common Prayer'']] with modernized spelling of the words "catholic" and "apostolic", with changes in capitalization of these and other words, and with "Holy Spirit" in place of "Holy Ghost".{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}</ref> ===Two natures of Christ=== {{Main|Scholastic Lutheran Christology}} Lutherans believe Jesus is the [[Christ (title)|Christ]], the savior promised in the Old Testament. They believe he is both by nature God and by nature man [[Hypostatic union|in one person]], as they confess in Luther's ''[[s:Luther's Small Catechism#II. THE CREED,|Small Catechism]]'' that he is "true God begotten of the Father from eternity and also true man born of the Virgin Mary".<ref>[http://www.bookofconcord.com/smallcatechism.html#creed Luther's Small Catechism, The Apostles' Creed, Second Article] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061128133418/http://www.bookofconcord.com/smallcatechism.html#creed |date=28 November 2006 }}, {{cite book |last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/christology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |pages=100ff |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712194230/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/christology.txt |archive-date=12 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The ''Augsburg Confession'' explains:<ref>[http://www.bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.php#article3 Augsburg confession, Article III] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311215248/https://bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession/#article3 |date=11 March 2021 }}. Retrieved 17 April 2010.</ref> <blockquote> [T]he Son of God, did assume the human nature in the womb of the [[blessed Virgin Mary]], so that there are two natures, the divine and the human, inseparably enjoined in one Person, one Christ, true God and true man, who was born of the Virgin Mary, truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, that He might reconcile the Father unto us, and be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for all actual sins of men. </blockquote> ===Sacraments=== {{Main|Lutheran sacraments}} [[File:ArticleXIOfConfession.JPG|thumb|Article IX, "[[Confession (Lutheran Church)|Of Confession]]", of the [[Augsburg Confession]]<ref>"Private Absolution ought to be retained in the churches, although in confession an enumeration of all sins is not necessary." [http://www.bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.php#article11 Article XI: Of Confession]</ref>]] Lutherans hold that [[sacrament]]s are [[Sacred#Holiness in Protestantism|sacred]] acts of divine institution.<ref>{{bibleverse||Matthew|28:19|50}}, {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|11:23–25|50}}, {{bibleverse||Matthew|26:26–28|50}}, {{bibleverse||Mark|14:22–24|50}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|22:19–20|50}}, {{cite book |last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://www.projectwittenberg.org/etext/graebneral/soteriology.txt|title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |page=161 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7}}</ref> Whenever they are properly administered by the use of the physical component commanded by God<ref>{{bibleverse||Ephesians|5:27|50}}, {{bibleverse||John|3:5|50}}, {{bibleverse||John|3:23|50}}, {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|10:16|50}}, {{cite book |last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://www.projectwittenberg.org/etext/graebneral/soteriology.txt|title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |page=161 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7}}</ref> along with the divine words of institution,<ref>{{bibleverse||Ephesians|5:26|50}}, {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|10:16|50}}, {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|11:24–25|50}}, {{cite book |last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://www.projectwittenberg.org/etext/graebneral/soteriology.txt|title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |page=161 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7}}</ref> God is, in a way specific to each sacrament, present with the Word and physical component.<ref>{{bibleverse||Matthew|3:16–17|50}}, {{bibleverse||John|3:5|50}}, {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|11:19|50}}, {{cite book |last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://www.projectwittenberg.org/etext/graebneral/soteriology.txt|title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |page=161 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7}}</ref> He earnestly offers to all who receive the sacrament<ref>{{bibleverse||Luke|7:30|50}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|22:19–20|50}}, {{cite book |last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://www.projectwittenberg.org/etext/graebneral/soteriology.txt|title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |page=162 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7}}</ref> forgiveness of sins<ref>{{bibleverse||Acts|21:16|50}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|2:38|50}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|3:3|50}}, {{bibleverse||Ephesians|5:26|50}}, {{bibleverse|1|Peter|3:21|50}}, {{bibleverse||Galatians|3:26–27|50}}, {{bibleverse||Matthew|26:28|50}}, {{cite book |last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://www.projectwittenberg.org/etext/graebneral/soteriology.txt|title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |page=163 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7}}</ref> and eternal salvation.<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Peter|3:21|50}}, {{bibleverse||Titus|3:5|50}}, {{cite book |last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://www.projectwittenberg.org/etext/graebneral/soteriology.txt|title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |page=163 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7}}</ref> He also works in the recipients to get them to accept these blessings and to increase the assurance of their possession.<ref>{{bibleverse||Titus|3:5|50}}, {{bibleverse||John|3:5|50}}, {{cite book |last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://www.projectwittenberg.org/etext/graebneral/soteriology.txt|title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |page=163 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7}}</ref> Lutherans are not dogmatic about the number of the sacraments.<ref>The [[Apology of the Augsburg Confession]] XIII, 2: "We believe we have the duty not to neglect any of the rites and ceremonies instituted in Scripture, whatever their number. We do not think it makes much difference if, for purposes of teaching, the enumeration varies, provided what is handed down in Scripture is preserved" (cf. Theodore G. Tappert, trans. and ed., ''The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church'', (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1959), 211).</ref> In line with Luther's initial statement in his Large Catechism some speak of only two sacraments,<ref>Luther's ''Large Catechism'' IV, 1: "We have now finished the three chief parts of the common Christian doctrine. Besides these we have yet to speak of '''our two Sacraments''' instituted by Christ, of which also every Christian ought to have at least an ordinary, brief instruction, because without them there can be no Christian; although, alas! hitherto no instruction concerning them has been given" (emphasis added; cf. Theodore G. Tappert, trans. and ed., ''The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church'', (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1959), 733).</ref> [[Baptism#Protestant Reformation|Baptism]] and Holy Communion, although later in the same work he calls Confession and [[Absolution#Lutheran Churches|Absolution]]<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020:23;&version=47; John 20:23], and Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. pp. 112–113, Part XXVI "The Ministry", paragraph 156.</ref> "the third sacrament".<ref>Luther's ''Large Catechism'' IV, 74–75: "And here you see that Baptism, both in its power and signification, comprehends also the '''third Sacrament, which has been called repentance''', as it is really nothing else than Baptism" (emphasis added; cf. Theodore G. Tappert, trans. and ed., ''The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church'', (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1959), 751).</ref> The definition of sacrament in the ''[[Apology of the Augsburg Confession]]'' lists Absolution as one of them.<ref>The ''[[Apology of the Augsburg Confession]]'' XIII, 3, 4: "If we define the sacraments as rites, which have the command of God and to which the promise of grace has been added, it is easy to determine what the sacraments are, properly speaking. For humanly instituted rites are not sacraments, properly speaking, because human beings do not have the authority to promise grace. Therefore signs instituted without the command of God are not sure signs of grace, even though they perhaps serve to teach or admonish the common folk. The sacraments, therefore, are actually baptism, the Lord's Supper, and absolution (the sacrament of repentance)" (cf. Tappert, 211). [http://www.bookofconcord.com/augsburgdefense/12_sacraments.html Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article 13, Of the Number and Use of the Sacraments]</ref> [[Confession (Lutheran Church)|Private Confession]] is expected before receiving the [[First Communion|Eucharist for the first time]].<ref>''[[Apology of the Augsburg Confession]]'', article 24, paragraph 1. Retrieved 16 April 2010.</ref><ref name="Wendel1997"/> Some churches also allow for individual absolution on Saturdays before the Eucharistic service.<ref name="Kolb2008">{{cite book|last=Kolb|first=Robert|title=Lutheran Ecclesiastical Culture: 1550 – 1675|url=https://archive.org/details/lutheranecclesia00robe|url-access=limited|year=2008|publisher=[[Brill Publishers]]|language=en|isbn=9789004166417|page=[https://archive.org/details/lutheranecclesia00robe/page/n292 282]|quote=The North German church ordinances of the late 16th century all include a description of private confession and absolution, which normally took place at the conclusion of Saturday afternoon vespers, and was a requirement for all who desired to commune the following day.}}</ref> A [[General Confession|General Confession and Absolution]], known as the [[Penitential Rite#Usage in Lutheranism|Penitential Rite]], is proclaimed in the Eucharistic liturgy.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Sacraments of the Lutheran Church |url=https://www.byfaithalone.org/learn-more |publisher=Christ The King Lutheran Church |access-date=14 May 2023 |language=English|quote=The Sacrament of Holy Absolution has two forms: the General Confession (known as the Penitential Rite or Order of Confession of Sins) that is done at the beginning of the Divine Service. In this case, the entire congregation says the confession, as the pastor says the absolution. Private Confession – done privately to a pastor, where the penitent confesses sins that trouble him/her and pleads to God for mercy, and the pastor announces God's forgiveness to the person, as the sign of the cross is made. Private confession is subject to total confidentiality by the pastor. In historic Lutheran practice, Holy Absolution is expected before partaking of Holy Communion. General confession, as well as Private Confession, are still contained in most Lutheran hymnals. Two works which are part of the Book of Concord lend support to the belief that Holy Absolution is for Lutherans the third sacrament. The Apology of the Augsburg Confession acknowledges outright that Holy Absolution is a sacrament, referring to it as the sacrament of penitence. In the Large Catechism, Luther calls Holy Absolution the third sacrament.}}</ref> ====Baptism==== [[Image:LutheranBaptism.JPG|thumb|Lutherans practice [[infant baptism]].|alt=]] Lutherans hold that [[Luther's Small Catechism#IV. THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM,|Baptism]] is a saving work of God,<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Pet.%203:21;&version=49; 1 Pet. 3:21], Mueller, J.T., ''Christian Dogmatics''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. pp. 491–496, section "The Doctrine of Baptism", part 4. "Baptism a True Means of Grace", and 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> mandated and instituted by Jesus Christ.<ref>Martin Luther, ''Small Catechism'' [http://www.projectwittenberg.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/little.book/book-4.txt 4]</ref> Baptism is a "[[Means of Grace#Lutheran theology|means of grace]]" through which God creates and strengthens "saving faith" as the "washing of regeneration"<ref>{{bibleverse||Titus|3:5|KJV}}</ref> in which infants and adults are reborn.<ref>{{bibleverse||John|3:3–7|KJV}}</ref> Since the creation of faith is exclusively God's work, it does not depend on the actions of the one baptized, whether infant or adult. Even though baptized infants cannot articulate that faith, Lutherans believe that it is present all the same.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=2607 |title=Baptism and Its Purpose |publisher=[[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod]] |access-date=24 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206220443/http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=2607 |archive-date=6 February 2009 }}</ref> It is faith alone that receives these divine gifts, so Lutherans confess that baptism "works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare".<ref>{{cite book |first=Martin |last=Luther |author-link=Martin Luther |chapter=The Sacrament of Holy Baptism |chapter-url=http://www.bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.html#baptism |title=Luther's Small Catechism |year=2009 |orig-year=1529 |isbn=978-0-89279-043-2 |title-link=Luther's Small Catechism |publisher=Evangelical Lutheran Synod |access-date=10 March 2009 |archive-date=20 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920070231/http://www.bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.html#baptism |url-status=dead }}</ref> Lutherans hold fast to the Scripture cited in 1 Peter 3:21, "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."<ref>1 Peter 3:21</ref> Therefore, Lutherans administer Baptism to both infants<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mat.%2019:14;&version=31; Mat. 19:14], [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Act%202:38-39;&version=47; Acts 2:38–39], Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. p. 90, Part XXIII. "Baptism", paragraph 122.</ref> and adults.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Cor.%201:14;&version=31; 1 Cor. 1:14], Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. p. 90, Part XXIII. "Baptism", paragraph 122.</ref> In the special section on [[infant baptism]] in his ''Large Catechism'', Luther argues that infant baptism is God-pleasing because persons so baptized were reborn and [[Sanctification#Lutheranism|sanctified]] by the Holy Spirit.<ref>{{cite book |first=Martin |last=Luther |author-link=Martin Luther |chapter=Of Infant Baptism |chapter-url=http://www.bookofconcord.org/largecatechism/6_baptism.html |year=2009 |orig-year=1529 |title=Luther's Large Catechism |isbn=978-1-4264-3861-5 |title-link=Luther's Large Catechism |access-date=10 March 2009 |archive-date=13 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613061118/http://bookofconcord.org/largecatechism/6_baptism.html |url-status=dead }}[http://bookofconcord.org/lc-6-baptism.php#para6 Luther's Large Catechism – Holy Baptism] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223161712/http://www.bookofconcord.org/lc-6-baptism.php#para6 |date=23 February 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.php#article9.1|title=Augsburg Confession – Book of Concord|access-date=5 March 2015}}</ref> ====Eucharist==== {{Main|Eucharist in the Lutheran Church}} [[File:JohntheSteadfast.JPG|thumb|[[Martin Luther]] communing [[John, Elector of Saxony|John the Steadfast]]]] Lutherans hold that within the [[Eucharist in the Lutheran Church|Eucharist]], also referred to as the Sacrament of the Altar or the Lord's Supper, the true body and blood of Christ are truly present "in, with, and under the forms" of the [[Sacramental bread|consecrated bread]] and wine for all those who eat and drink it,<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Cor.%2010:16;&version=50; 1 Cor. 10:16], [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Cor.%2011:20,%2027;&version=47; 11:20, 27], Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. p. 95, Part XXIV. "The Lord's Supper", paragraph 131.</ref> a doctrine that the ''Formula of Concord'' calls the [[sacramental union]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bookofconcord.com/fc-sd/supper.html |title=The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, Article 8, The Holy Supper |access-date=20 April 2007 |archive-date=21 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121030003/http://bookofconcord.com/fc-sd/supper.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> ====Confession==== {{Main|Confession (Lutheran Church)}} Many Lutherans receive the sacrament of penance before receiving the Eucharist.<ref name="Richard1909">{{cite book|last=Richard|first=James William|title=The Confessional History of the Lutheran Church|url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924084658248|year=1909|publisher=Lutheran Publication Society|language=en |page=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924084658248/page/n128 113]|quote=In the Luthearn Church, private confession was at first ''voluntary''. Later, in portions of the Lutheran Church, it was made obligatory, as a test of orthodoxy, and as a preparation of the Lord's Supper.}}</ref><ref name="Kolb2008"/> Prior to going to Confessing and receiving Absolution, the faithful are expected to examine their lives in light of the [[s:Luther's Small Catechism#I. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS,|Ten Commandments]].<ref name="Wendel1997"/> An [[s:Luther's Small Catechism#V. HOW THE UNLEARNED SHOULD BE TAUGHT TO CONFESS.|order of Confession and Absolution]] is contained in the Small Catechism, as well as in liturgical books.<ref name="Wendel1997"/> Lutherans typically kneel at the [[communion rail]]s to confess their sins, while the confessor listens and then offers absolution while laying their [[Stole (vestment)|stole]] on the penitent's head.<ref name="Wendel1997">{{cite book|last=Wendel|first=David M. |title=Manual for the Recovery of a Parish Practice of Individual Confession and Absolution|url=http://www.societyholytrinity.org/oldsite/confession.pdf|year=1997|publisher=The Society of the Holy Trinity|pages=2, 7, 8, 11}}</ref> Clergy are prohibited from revealing anything said during private Confession and Absolution per the [[Seal of the Confessional (Lutheran Church)|Seal of the Confessional]], and face [[excommunication]] if it is violated. Apart from this, [[Laestadian Lutheran]]s have a practice of [[lay confession]].<ref name="Granquist2015">{{cite book|last=Granquist|first=Mark A.|title=Scandinavian Pietists: Spiritual Writings from 19th-Century Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland|year=2015|publisher=Paulist Press|language=en|isbn=9781587684982|page=34|quote=Initially, Laestadius exercised his ministry mainly among the indigenous Sami (Lapp) people, but his influence soon spread into areasa of northern Finland, and the Laestadian (or Apostolic Lutheran) movement became predominantly Finnish. Even though he was a university-trained pastor and scientist (he was a renowned botanist), his powerful preaching and spiritual example ignited a lay-awakening movement in the north, a movement that is known for its distinctive religious practices, including lay confession and absolution.}}</ref> ===Conversion=== In Lutheranism, conversion or [[Regeneration (theology)|regeneration]] in the strict sense of the term is the work of divine grace and power by which man, born of the flesh, and [[s:Augsburg Confession#Article II: Of Original Sin.|void of all power]] to think, to will, or to do any good thing, and dead in sin is, through the gospel and holy baptism, taken from a state of sin and [[spiritual death]] under God's wrath into a state of spiritual life of faith and grace, rendered able to will and to do what is spiritually good and, especially, made to trust in the benefits of the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.<ref>Augustus Lawrence Graebner, [https://books.google.com/books?id=93ErAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA136 Lutheran Cyclopedia] p. 136, "Conversion"</ref> During conversion, one is moved from impenitence to repentance. The ''Augsburg Confession'' divides repentance into two parts: "One is contrition, that is, terrors smiting the conscience through the knowledge of sin; the other is faith, which is born of the Gospel, or of absolution, and believes that for Christ's sake, sins are forgiven, comforts the conscience, and delivers it from terrors."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.php#article12|title=Augsburg Confession – Book of Concord|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-date=11 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311215248/https://bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession/#article12|url-status=dead}}</ref> ===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> ===Divine providence=== [[File:Der breite und der schmale Weg 2008.jpg|thumb|''The Broad and the Narrow Way'', a popular 1866 German Pietist portrait]] According to Lutherans, God preserves his creation, cooperates with everything that happens, and guides the universe.<ref>Mueller, J.T., ''Christian Dogmatics''. Concordia Publishing House. 1934. pp. 189–195 and Fuerbringer, L., ''[https://archive.org/details/concordiacyclope009499mbp Concordia Cyclopedia]'' Concordia Publishing House. 1927. p. 635 and [http://www.lcms.org/ca/www/cyclopedia/02/display.asp?t1=P&word=PROVIDENCE Christian Cyclopedia] article on Divine Providence. For further reading, see [https://books.google.com/books?id=IxsRAAAAIAAJ&q=editions:0qGARztO5CYpYL7QTFJ The Proof Texts of the Catechism with a Practical Commentary, section Divine Providence], p. 212, Wessel, Louis, published in Theological Quarterly, Vol. 11, 1909.</ref> While God cooperates with both good and evil deeds, with evil deeds he does so only inasmuch as they are deeds, but not with the evil in them. God concurs with an act's effect, but he does not cooperate in the corruption of an act or the evil of its effect.<ref>Mueller, Steven P.,''Called to Believe, Teach, and Confess''. Wipf and Stock. 2005. pp. 122–123.</ref> Lutherans believe everything exists for the sake of the Christian Church, and that God guides everything for its welfare and growth.<ref>Mueller, J.T., ''Christian Dogmatics''. Concordia Publishing House: 1934. pp. 190 and Edward. W. A.,''A Short Explanation of Dr. Martin Luther's Small Catechism''. Concordia Publishing House. 1946. p. 165. and [http://www.wlsessays.net/node/1122 Divine Providence and Human Adversity] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707130929/http://www.wlsessays.net/node/1122 |date=7 July 2010 }} by Markus O. Koepsell</ref> The explanation of the Apostles' Creed given in the ''Small Catechism'' declares that everything good that people have is given and preserved by God, either directly or through other people or things.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bookofconcord.com/smallcatechism.html#creed|title=The Small Catechism|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-date=10 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010210410/http://www.bookofconcord.com/smallcatechism.html#creed|url-status=dead}}</ref> Of the services others provide us through family, government, and work, "we receive these blessings not from them, but, through them, from God".<ref name="bookofconcord1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.bookofconcord.org/largecatechism/3_tencommandments.html |title=Luther's Large Catechism, First Commandment |access-date=9 March 2009 |archive-date=17 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517083644/http://bookofconcord.org/largecatechism/3_tencommandments.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Since God uses everyone's useful tasks for good, people should not look down upon some useful vocations as being less worthy than others. Instead people should honor others, no matter how lowly, as being the means God uses to work in the world.<ref name="bookofconcord1"/> ===Good works=== [[File:Die-Auferstahung-Christi 15.jpg|thumb|"Even though I am a sinner and deserving of death and hell, this shall nonetheless be my consolation and my victory that my Lord Jesus lives and has risen so that He, in the end, might rescue me from sin, death, and hell", said [[Martin Luther]] concerning the meaning of the Resurrection.<ref>quoted in {{Cite journal |last=Scaer |first=David P. |date=July 1983 |title=Luther's Concept of the Resurrection in his Commentary on I Corinthians 15 |url=http://www.ctsfw.net/media/pdfs/scaerlutherresurrection.pdf |access-date=2023-09-28|journal=[[Concordia Theological Quarterly]] |volume=47 |issue=3 |pages=219}}</ref>]] Lutherans believe that [[Augsburg Confession]]'s "Article XX: Of Good Works" are the fruit of faith,<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2015:5;&version=31; John 15:5], [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Tit.%202:14;&version=47; Tit. 2:14], Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. pp. 62–63, Part XV. "Conversion", paragraph 88 The New Obedience Is The Fruit Of Conversion, The Product Of Faith.</ref> always and in every instance.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Cor.%209:8;&version=31; 2 Cor. 9:8], 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. 313–314, Part D Confession of the Conservative Reformation: II, Secondary Confessions: Book of Concord, Formula of Concord, Part IV The Doctrinal Result, 2, Section iv, Of Good Works.</ref> Good works have their origin in God,<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Phil%202:13;&version=47; Phil 2:13], Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. p. 74, Part XIX. "Preservation in Faith", paragraph 102.</ref> not in the fallen human heart or in human striving;<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom.%207:18;&version=31; Rom. 7:18] [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Heb%2011:6;&version=49; Heb 11:6], Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. pp. 39–40, Part VIII. "Sin", paragraph 46 "Original Sin".</ref> their absence would demonstrate that faith, too, is absent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mat.%207:15-16;&version=31;|title=Mat. 7:15–16; NIV – True and False Prophets|work=Bible Gateway|access-date=5 March 2015}}</ref> Lutherans do not believe that good works are a factor in obtaining salvation; they believe that we are saved by the grace of God—based on the merit of Christ in his suffering and death—and faith in the Triune God. Good works are the natural result of faith, not the cause of salvation. Although Christians are no longer compelled to keep God's law, they freely and willingly serve God and their neighbors.<ref>Albrecht Beutel, "Luther's Life", tr. Katharina Gustavs, in ''The Cambridge Companion to Martin Luther'', ed. Donald K. McKim (New York: [[Cambridge University Press]], 2003), 11.</ref> ===Judgment and eternal life=== Lutherans do not believe in any sort of earthly [[Millennialism|millennial]] kingdom of Christ either before or after his second coming on the last day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joh%2018:36;&version=47;|title=Joh 18:36; ESV – Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of...|work=Bible Gateway|access-date=5 March 2015}}</ref> Lutherans teach that, at death, the souls of Christians are immediately taken into the presence of Jesus,<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2023:42-43;&version=31; Luke 23:42–43], [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Cor.%205:8;&version=31; 2 Cor. 5:8], Engelder, T.E.W., ''[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 Popular Symbolics]''. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. p. 130, Part XXXIV. "The State of the Soul in the Interval Between Death and the Resurrection", paragraph 185.</ref> where they await the [[s:Augsburg Confession#Article XVII: Of Christ's Return to Judgment.|second coming]] of Jesus on the last day.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Cor.%2015:22-24;&version=47; 1 Cor. 15:22–24], Francis Pieper, ''Christian Dogmatics'', 505–515; Heinrich Schmid, ''The Doctrinal Theology of the Evangelical Lutheran Church'', 624–32; John Mueller, ''Christian Dogmatics'', 616–619</ref> On the last day,<ref>{{bibleverse||John|6:40|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|6:54|31}}</ref> all the bodies of the dead will be resurrected.<ref>{{bibleverse||John|5:21|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|5:28–29|31}}, {{bibleverse||Matthew|25:32|31}}, {{bibleverse|2|Corinthians|5:10|31}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|24:15|31}}</ref> Their souls will then be reunited with the same bodies they had before dying.<ref>{{bibleverse||Romans|8:11|31}}, {{bibleverse||Philippians|3:21|31}}, {{bibleverse|2|Corinthians|5:10|31}}, {{bibleverse||Job|19:26|9}}, {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|15:44|31}}, {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|15:53|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|5:28|31}}, {{bibleverse||Revelation|20:12|31}}</ref> The bodies will then be changed, those of the wicked to a state of everlasting shame and torment,<ref>{{bibleverse||Daniel|12:2|31}}, {{bibleverse||Matthew|25:41–46|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|5:29|31}}</ref> those of the [[Imputed righteousness|righteous]] to an everlasting state of celestial glory.<ref>{{bibleverse||Daniel|12:1–2|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|5:29|31}}, {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|15:52|31}}, {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|15:42–44|31}}, {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|15:49–53|31}}, {{bibleverse||Philippians|3:21|31}}, {{bibleverse||Matthew|13:43|31}}, {{bibleverse||Revelation|7:16|31}}</ref> After the resurrection of all the dead,<ref>{{bibleverse||John|6:40|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|6:44|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|11:24|31}}</ref> and the change of those still living,<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|15:51–52|31}}, {{bibleverse|1|Thessalonians|4:15–17|31}}</ref> all nations shall be gathered before Christ,<ref>{{bibleverse||Matthew|25:32|31}}, {{bibleverse||Romans|14:10|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|5:22|31}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|17:31|31}}, {{bibleverse||Revelation|1:7|31}}</ref> and he will separate the righteous from the wicked.<ref>{{bibleverse||Matthew|25:32|31}}, {{bibleverse||Mark|16:16|31}}</ref> Christ will publicly judge<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Corinthians|5:10|31}}, {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|4:5|31}}, {{bibleverse||Romans|2:5|31}}, {{bibleverse||Romans|2:16|31}}</ref> all people by the [[testimony]] of their deeds,<ref>{{bibleverse||Romans|2:6|31}}, {{bibleverse|2|Corinthians|5:10|31}}, {{bibleverse||Matthew|25:35–36|31}}, {{bibleverse||Matthew|25:42–43|31}}</ref> the good works<ref>{{bibleverse||Isaiah|43:25|31}}, {{bibleverse||Ezekiel|18:22|31}}, {{bibleverse|1|John|2:28|31}}</ref> of the righteous in evidence of their faith,<ref>{{bibleverse||Matthew|25:34–35|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|3:16–18|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|3:36|31}}, {{bibleverse||Revelation|14:13|31}}, {{bibleverse||Galatians|5:6|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|13:35|31}}</ref> and the evil works of the wicked in evidence of their unbelief.<ref>{{bibleverse||Matthew|25:42|31}}, {{bibleverse||Matthew|7:17–18|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|3:18|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|3:36|31}}</ref> He will judge in righteousness<ref>{{bibleverse||Romans|2:5|31}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|17:31|31}}, {{bibleverse||Romans|2:16|31}}</ref> in the presence of all people and [[Christian angelic hierarchy|angels]],<ref>{{bibleverse||Luke|9:26|31}}, {{bibleverse||Matthew|25:31–32|31}}</ref> and his final judgment will be just [[damnation]] to everlasting punishment for the wicked and a gracious gift of life everlasting to the righteous.<ref>{{bibleverse||Matthew|25:41|31}}, {{bibleverse||Matthew|25:34|31}}, {{bibleverse||Matthew|25:46|31}}, {{cite book |last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://www.projectwittenberg.org/etext/graebneral/eschatology.txt|title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |pages=233–8 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7}}</ref> {{Comparison among Protestants}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page