The Lutheran Message

I attended a Baptist church when I was a child.  And throughout my teen years, college years, and early adult life, I read all types of Christian books, visited different churches, and talked with people from various Christian traditions.  

This past week I was asked, "In what ways is the Lutheran church different from other denominations?"

That question is broad, and includes Lutheran beliefs and positions on many topics.  And I started listing them...

- Baptism
- The Lord's Supper
- Confession and Absolution
- Salvation
- Sinner vs Saint
- Law vs Gospel
- Stewardship/Money
- End Times

And the list goes on...

But, in thinking about the Lutheran difference, I realized that every topic is answered by looking to Jesus.  No mystery, nothing hidden!

From Luther's Small Catechism:

Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, is the heart and center of the Scripture and therefore the key to its true meaning.

To know about God, look to Jesus. 

Jesus said to him, "...Whoever has seen me has seen the Father..." John 14:9

To understand the Bible's message, look to Jesus.

...And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.  Luke 24:27

To distinguish Law vs Gospel...

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  John 1:17

To know forgiveness of sins...

...Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  Luke 24:46-47

 For the Lord's Supper...

And [Jesus] took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."  Matthew 26:27-28 

To pray...

And [Jesus] said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come...'"  Luke 11:2

Everything about the cross, sin, salvation, what we should believe, how we should live...everything is cohesive and explained through Jesus. 

Jesus came for our salvation, for my salvation, to die for the sins of the world.  That's the message.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.  John 1:12–13