Lutherans believe that salvation was made possible 100% by the work of Jesus Christ. This gives rise to the Lutheran phrase “Christ alone!”
Lutherans believe that we are saved by God’s mercy and forgiveness and not by works of righteousness to atone for our past or even by a personal action of deciding to follow Jesus. Rather, the work is entirely God’s. This gives rise to the Lutheran phrase of “Grace alone!”
Lutherans do believe that trust in Jesus is necessary for salvation. However, we understand that such trust is the work of God the Holy Spirit working through the Scriptures and the Sacraments to create such faith. We understand that simple trust in the promises of God in Jesus Christ are sufficient to secure an individual’s salvation. This gives rise to the Lutheran phrase of “Faith Alone!”