We stand in the tradition of the Lutheran Reformers of the
Sixteenth Century. At that time the church had all but lost
the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus was presented
to the people in the churches as a stern, righteous judge.
Martin Luther grew up in that medieval church, and later discovered
that the Bible presents Jesus as one who loves sinners. He
further discovered that we are saved by God's grace through
faith, and not by anything we can do. Jesus went to a cross
for us, and that covers everything.
So the Lutheran tradition has always stressed the freedom
of the Christian from "sin, death, and the power of the devil."
It is Christ who has set us free. We are free from an eternal
treadmill of good deeds done to try to buy God's favor, and
free for our neighbor whom we can joyfully serve in Christ's
name.
The Lutheran tradition is defined in the Book of Concord
which contains writings such as The Augsburg Confession and
The Small Catechism. These testify to the Scriptures as our
source of authority, to the unearned love of God, and to Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savior.
