Differences between Calvinism and Lutheranism

Last Updated on March 19, 2022 by QCity Editorial Stuff

Calvinism and Lutheranism are two of the most prominent denominations in Christianity. But they have many differences that set them apart from one another, such as their views on sin, salvation, and predestination. This blog post is going to look at some of the key differences between Calvinism and Lutheranism so you can decide which side you lean more towards.

Most people think of a “Calvinist” as someone who has an extreme belief about God’s sovereignty over everything, but this is not true for all Calvinists. A Calvinist believes that God chooses certain individuals (predestines) to be saved before he created anything or anyone else (even Satan). However, Lutherans believe that we do not know how God will choose who will be saved.

Calvinism and Lutheranism are two different Christian beliefs. Calvinism is a Protestant Christian belief and Lutheranism is a mainline Protestant Christian belief. One of the biggest differences between these two religions is their view on salvation. In Calvinist beliefs, people are gifted with free will so they can choose whether or not to accept God’s grace to be saved. On the other hand, Lutherans believe that you’re already saved by faith alone without any need for good works or deeds on your part; it’s all about what Jesus did for you when he died on the cross centuries ago. 

Comparison between Calvinism and Lutheranism

Parameters of Comparison  CalvinismLutheranism
SystemCalvinism is a Protestant Christian theological system that emphasizes the doctrine of predestinationLutheranism teaches a doctrine of justification by faith
SalvationIn Calvinism, salvation can be lost through sin and unbeliefLutheranism, salvation cannot be lost.
God offerIn Calvinism, man has no free will to choose or reject God’s offer of graceLutheranism, man can accept or reject God’s offer
TheologyIn Calvinist theology, Jesus died for all people so they might have a life with him eternallyLutheran theology, Jesus died only for those who believe
TeachesCalvinism teaches that those who are not predestined will spend eternity in hellLutherans believe they will be with Jesus in heaven

What is Calvinism?

Calvinism is the theology of John Calvin who was a French theologian in the 16th century. The basic principle of Calvinism is that people are born with an innate sense of good and evil, which leads them to sin when they have free will. This means that God can’t be blamed for all our ills but rather we are responsible for them ourselves. It also means that Jesus only died on the cross because he loved us enough to sacrifice himself for us, not because it’s necessary or anything like that–he did it out of love, not duty. 

Calvinism is a theological perspective that originated from the work of French theologian John Calvin. It emphasizes God’s sovereignty and predestination, but it also stresses humanity’s responsibility to live a holy life. This perspective includes the doctrines of total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints.

The name “Calvinism” comes from its founder John Calvin (1509-1564). He was born in France but later settled in Geneva where he founded his church which attracted many followers including William Farel who helped him with missionary work in France until their return when they were both exiled because of religious persecution.  John Calvin’s theology became well known through his books Institutes of the Christian Religion and the  Heidelberg Catechism.

Differences between Calvinism and Lutheranism

What is Lutheranism?

Lutheranism is a Protestant denomination that traces its origins to the teachings of Martin Luther. It is one of the largest Christian denominations in the world, with over 68 million members worldwide. Lutheranism has a rich history and many distinctive beliefs and practices. In this article, we will explore some of the key aspects of Lutheranism, including its history, doctrines, and worship practices. We will also take a look at some of the challenges and opportunities facing Lutheranism today.

Lutheranism is a branch of Christianity that follows the teachings of Martin Luther. It centers around justification by faith alone and holds to the five Solas. Lutheranism spread rapidly during the Protestant Reformation, and today there are millions of Lutherans across the globe. While there are many similarities between different Lutheran denominations, there are also some key differences. This article will explore some of the basics of Lutheranism, and provide a brief overview of its history and beliefs.

Differences between Calvinism and Lutheranism

10 Differences between Calvinism and Lutheranism

1. Calvinism is a Protestant Christian theological system that emphasizes the doctrine of predestination, while Lutheranism teaches a doctrine of justification by faith.

2. In Calvinism, salvation can be lost through sin and unbelief; in Lutheranism, salvation cannot be lost.

3. In Calvinism, man has no free will to choose or reject God’s offer of grace; in Lutheranism, man can accept or reject God’s offer.

4. In Calvinist theology, Jesus died for all people so they might have a life with him eternally; in Lutheran theology, Jesus died only for those who believe. 

5. The Bible is seen as being accurate and true in all its parts by both Protestants and Catholics alike but it is not always clear how each denomination interprets scripture differently.

6. There are many different types of Lutherans – some groups teach that baptism should take place when infants are eight days old (the Evangelical-Lutheran Church) while others teach that baptism should take place at conversion (The Methodist Church).

7. Calvinism teaches that God has predestined certain people to be saved and others not.

8. Lutheranism believes that salvation is available for all who believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

9. Calvinism teaches that those who are not predestined will spend eternity in hell, whereas Lutherans believe they will be with Jesus in heaven.

10. In Calvinism, it is believed that man cannot do anything to earn his salvation; however, Lutherans believe a man can work for his salvation by following God’s commandments and doing good deeds.

Interesting Statistics or Facts of Calvinism

1. Calvinism is the second most popular form of Protestant Christianity.

2. The first and most famous work in which Calvinist beliefs were set out was John Calvin’s “Institutes of the Christian Religion”.

3. There are many different types of Calvinists, including Presbyterians, Baptists, Congregationalists.

4. Some people believe that God predestines some people to be saved and others to be damned from before they were born.

5. Those who follow this belief often say that it is because God has chosen those who will go to heaven based on his good pleasure or plan for them.

6. This means they do not choose salvation themselves but rather they have been given a gift by God.

Conclusion

Calvinism and Lutheranism are two different forms of Protestant Christianity. Calvinists believe that humans cannot do anything to gain salvation, including faith in Jesus Christ, which is a gift from God; they also emphasize the doctrine of predestination. Lutherans reject this idea because it eliminates human choice and responsibility for their actions; instead, they see faith as something that must be done by both individuals and communities together. The differences between these two schools of thought can seem like opposites at first glance but there are many similarities too: Both groups rely on scripture as an authoritative source for teaching Christian beliefs, take seriously the importance of baptism (though not always), have a strong emphasis on good works being necessary to be saved.

References:

Resource 01: https://www.christianity.com/church/denominations/what-is-calvinism.html
Resource 02: https://www.lhm.org/about/whatlutheransbelieve.asp

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