As Lutherans, we believe, teach, and confess that God’s Word in Scripture is the only source and norm for Christian teaching. From God’s Word we learn:
- Each and every person is a sinner, dead in trespasses and sins, separated from God and deserving only eternal punishment from him (Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:1).
- No one can earn salvation by good works (Galatians 2:16-21).
- While we were still sinners, God sent Jesus, true God and true man, to fulfill the Law for us, die in our place for our forgiveness, and rise on Easter (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
- God gives us salvation by grace alone through faith alone on account of Christ alone (Ephesians 2:4-10).
- God gives his life, forgiveness, and salvation today through his Word (Romans 10:17), Baptism (Matthew 28:18-20), and Christ’s true body and blood fed into our mouths in the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
As Lutherans, we summarize these teachings in the Book of Concord, to which we hold firmly because it is a true exposition of Scripture. The Small Catechism is the most well-known document in the Book of Concord and gives a simple introduction to what Lutherans believe.
For further information about our teaching and practice, please check out the “What About?” series here. If you would like to study the Book of Concord, including the Small Catechism, you can find the text here.