Can anyone explain what Lutherans believe?

Baptism:What benefits does Baptism give? It 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. Which are these words and promises of God? Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark:“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,but whoever does not believe will be condemned”(Mark 16:16). In and through Baptism,God cleanses us from all of our sins, snatches us from the power of Satan, and gives us everlasting life.It is all God’s doing as He gives us His blessing.It is His promise.In Baptism,our Triune God imparts to each of us personally the gifts the Lord Jesus Christ won for the world through His life,suffering,death,and resurrection. Please see especially Gal.3:27;Col.1:13–14; 1 Peter 3:21;Titus 3:5–7 and 1 Cor.6:11.

Losing Salvation: Yes, one can lose their salvation by denying God and His grace, and turning away from the Triune God. (Sin against the Holy Spirit) We do NOT teach "one saved, always saved".

Universalists: (View that all moral creatures will finally be saved) No. While we hope and pray that all would be accepting of God's grace, we know that there are many who purposely turn from God, either through other religions or denying His existence altogether. Some of the Lutheran doctrines generally denied by universalists include vicarious atonement, justification by imputation of Christ's righteousness, original sin, existence of the devil, resurrection of the body, Christ's final coming, the final judgment, efficacy of sacraments, real presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper.

We confess the 3 Christian Creeds, we believe the Bible is in the inerrant word of God. We believe and practice Infant Baptism. We believe Christ's body and blood is truly present in,with, and under the bread and wine at Holy Communion. We believe Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura. By grace we are saved, through faith, not by our own doing. God's grace is given to all, but some choose to turn away. We cannot save ourselves through works or deeds. Sola Scriptura - all doctrine and dogma are scripturally based, and are not of man. The Bible interprets the Bible, man can read the Bible and understand it by asking for guidance from the Holy Spirit and turning to the Bible itself for further understanding. Our doctrine and dogma are outlined in the Book of Concord, complete with all scriptural references.

I used to be a Lutheran and I wasn't even sure about that. I looked it up and apparently Baptism does give salvation, but it also says that Salvation is granted by God alone. So, it seems that somebody can lose salvation even if baptized.

Apparently, Lutherans are not typically Universalists but some say a Lutheran can be a Universalist.

Baptism is a symbol of devotion, not a guarantee.

Salvation is a world-view more than it is a deed to property in Heaven.

Some believe that all believers are guaranteed eternal life with many many non-believers also guaranteed eternal life (due to their world-views)

Others believe that only believers are guaranteed.

Some also believe that ALL are guaranteed eternal life.

Lutheranism has split into a number of different synods, and they vary in their schools of thought, but the core of their teaching when Luther first broke away from the Catholic Church, was that we are saved by the grace of God, and the sacrifice of Jesus who died for our sins, and not by works, that is, anything we do.

You can start by reading the writings of Mr. Martin Luther.

► Martin Luther's dirty little book:

http://www.nobeliefs.com/luther.htm

On the Jews and their lies - A precursor to Nazism

Read the entire book online:

► On the Jews and their lies

http://www.humanitas-international.org/showcase/ch...