What Do Lutheran's

Believe

about Jesus?

Lutheran belief is Christocentric, that is centered on Jesus.  So it would not be inaccurate to say that almost everything that Lutheran's believe is related somehow to Jesus.  Why?  Because we believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and that the way to the Father is through Him.  Jesus is the door, the only way to heaven and the only way to have a proper relationship with God.  Without faith in Jesus it is impossible to please God. 

NAU John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Lutherans believe that Jesus is both true God and true man in one person. The divine and human natures of Jesus are so united in His person that He is one person and not two and yet fully human and fully divine.  We confess that Jesus is true God, the second person of the Trinity which a word that describes the One God and not three gods.  We also believe Jesus is a true man born of the virgin Mary.

Lutherans believe that Jesus came into this world to save sinners.  We believe Jesus loves all people.  We believe He wants to forgive all people and to bring all people into a relationship of love with God.  This He did by dying on the cross for the sins of all human beings.  Our sin was taken upon Him and His suffering and death have reconcilled us with God. His righteousness, for He is without sin, is given to us and covers our sin.  Through His action we are declared to be righteous.  We are justified in God's sight.   We believe ". . . that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor, and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake, who, by His death, has made satisfaction for our sins. This faith God imputes for righteousness in His sight. Rom. 3 and 4." (Book of Concord, Augsburg Confession Article IV)

We believe that Jesus truly died and was buried. We believe He truly rose again from the dead.  We believe that Jesus ascended into heaven where He rules all things for the good of His work in this world to make disciples and save souls.  We believe Jesus is going to come again on a final day of judgment and then recreate all the universe (a new heaven and a new earth) in its pristine nature that it enjoyed before the fall into sin. 

We believe that even though Jesus has ascended into heaven, no work is too great for Him.  Through His divine power He is yet present upon the earth working to save and create faith in people.  You may hear Lutherans talk of Word and Sacrament ministry, that is talk of the importance of preaching, baptism, and communion.  Lutherans believe that Jesus has promised in His Scripture to be present and to work in the world through these means to create faith.  These passages best describe our position.

Preaching -- "Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of Christ."  Rom 10:17   ". . . these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." John 20:31

Baptism -- "Get up and be baptized and wash away your sins calling on His name." Acts 22:16  NAU Romans 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  Romans 6:5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,

Communion --   1 Corinthians 10:16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 

Lutherans look to the Bible hearing what it says about Him and we believe Jesus keeps His promises.