To give a detailed overview of Lutheran theology would be too lengthy for this page, but it intends to give an overview of what we teach. The Pastor is happy to answer questions. Links are provided for further reading and study. It is important to note that Lutherans do not claim to have discovered new truths in the Bible that had not previously been found. Rather, Martin Luther “re-discovered” the truths that were there all along and had become ignored, darkened, and altered by the Roman Catholic church of the time.
Lutherans believe that the center of the Bible is Jesus Christ and His work of salvation. The Old Testament is not simply a historical record of stories and morals, but points to the coming Messiah-Jesus Christ. The Gospels tell us of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. The Epistles teach us of the truth and application of the message of the cross.
The Three “Solas”:
Sola is a Latin word meaning “only” or “alone.” The Lutheran Church emphasizes three solas: by grace alone, through faith alone, in Scripture alone.
1. Our salvation is entirely a gift of grace from God and not our own doing. Grace shows God’s mercy and love toward us. By definition, grace is shown when it is not deserved. If someone “deserves” grace then it is not really grace at all, but a reward that they have earned. We deserve nothing from God but His wrath, but He has chosen to show us grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus who died in our place, taking the punishment that we deserved (Romans 5:8).
2. We receive this grace through faith and not by any works we might do (Ephesians 2:8-9). Faith (trust) in Christ is saving faith. Other religions point to what we must do to please God, but Christianity points to what God has done to make us right with God. Even this faith is not something that we create. Saving faith is a gift from God by the working of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3).
3. The sole rule and norm of all doctrine (teaching) is the Holy Scripture. The Bible is the Word of God and is without error. God’s Word (John 17:7), not man’s, is the source of truth and what all teachings and actions are judged against.
Law and Gospel:
Lutherans often speak of the terms “Law and Gospel”. These are the two great doctrines of the Bible and Scripture is rightly divided when they are properly distinguished. The Law is that doctrine of the Bible in which God tells us how we are to be and what we are to do and not to do (the most well known example of this is the 10 Commandments). No one has ever, or can keep the Law perfectly (except for Jesus). Thus we are guilty as lawbreakers and stand under God’s just condemnation in our natural state (original sin). The Gospel is that doctrine of the Bible in which God tells us the good news of our salvation in Jesus Christ. God did what no one could do-live a perfect life and died as the atonement for sin. The Gospel is a perfect God dying for His sinful and rebellious creation so that they may be forgiven of their sin (declared righteous) and live eternally with him. The Gospel is that the Law has been fulfilled for us. So in summary, the Law shows us our sin and the wrath of God; the Gospel shows us our Savior and the grace of God.
How does does the grace of God come to us so that we may receive faith and thus eternal salvation?
Lutherans often use the term “Means of Grace” to describe this. Faith is worked by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament. While the word “Sacrament” is not used in the Bible, the term describes something that 1. Was instituted and commanded by God Himself. 2. Has a visible element attached to it. 3. In which we receive the forgiveness of sins.
1. The Preaching of the Word. When God’s Word (the Bible) is proclaimed verbally or read the Holy Spirit creates faith-faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17). Jesus is the Word made flesh so when His Word is spoken, saving faith may be created in the hearts of those that hear it.
Lutherans generally recognize two Sacraments (see the definition above): Baptism and The Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar). It is important to remember that in both Baptism and Holy Communion God is doing the work. There are visible elements, but without the gift of faith from God Himself they would not have any benefit to us.
2. Baptism. “It (Baptism) works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.” (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21)
3. Holy Communion. In the Lord’s Supper we receive not only bread and wine, but the very body and blood for the forgiveness of sins (read Jesus’ words in the Gospels when He instituted the Lord’s Supper as well as 1 Corinthians 10:16 and 11:27). Faith is strengthened and sins forgiven when Christians partake of this sacred meal (Matthew 26:28).
The Small Catechism was written by Martin Luther in 1529 to explain the “6 Chief Parts” of the Christian faith in a simple way that the head of the household would use to teach his family. Much of it is in question and answer format. It also contains an introduction, prayers and a table of duties. The Small Catechism is still used to this day to help teach the faith in the Lutheran Church. The 6 Chief Parts are:
1. The Ten Commandments
2. The Apostles’ Creed (the Apostles’ Creed is a brief summary of the core teachings of the Christian faith)
3. The Lord’s Prayer
4. Holy Baptism
5. The Office of the Keys and Confession
6. The Sacrament of the Altar
You can read the Small Catechism for yourself by going to the following link:
http://www.bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php
Christ the King is a local congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. We are what is called a “Confessional Lutheran Church.” This does not relate to going to a confessional with a priest, but rather that we “confess”, meaning that we declare what we believe. Confessional Lutherans believe that the Book of Concord (1580) is a right and true explanation of what the Bible teaches. The Book of Concord, or the Lutheran Confessions, is not divinely inspired like the Bible and introduces no new teachings to the Church. It simply states and explains what the Bible teaches and refutes errors that false teachers were promoting. So we do not view the Book of Concord as additional Scriptures such as the Mormons do with the Book of Mormon, but hold to these confessions since they are a summary and defense of what God had already revealed in the Bible. Unfortunately, not all church bodies that call themselves Lutherans today are “confessional” and some have retreated from the historical truths of the faith. We in the Missouri Synod and at Christ the King Lutheran Church continue to believe and proclaim what God has clearly revealed in the Bible and the Lutheran church Fathers staked their very lives on.
The 11 documents that make up the Book of Concord are:
1. The Apostles’ Creed
2. The Nicene Creed
3. The Athanasian Creed
4. The Augsburg Confession
5. The Apology (Defense) of the Augsburg Confession
6. The Smalcald Articles
7. The Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope
8. The Small Catechism
9. The Large Catechism
10. The Formula of Concord, Epitome
11. The Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration
You can read any of these documents at the following link:
http://www.bookofconcord.org/
Finally, if you have questions on the beliefs and teachings of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod their website contains a wealth of information. Use this link to go to the “Belief and Practice” section of the website:
http://www.lcms.org/belief-and-practice