Short Course On
Lutheranism

Martin Luther (1483-1546), a German priest, in 1517 nailed a list of 95 theses on the door of Castle Church (Wittenberg, Germany) condemning the Catholic Church for "selling salvation" in the form of indulgences and challenging the Pope's authority to forgive sins.  In so doing, Luther unwittingly sparked a theological revolt...the Protestant Reformation.... which ultimately splintered the Catholic Church and created (among others) the Lutheran denomination.  Lutheranism teaches that man's salvation is not purchased with money or earned through good works but, rather, is given freely by God to all who believe that Jesus Christ is their savior and that He suffered and died for their sins.

A cross on a heart, resting on the center of the Messianic Rose and surrounded by a circle to symbolize eternity, was adopted by Luther as his own Coat of Arms and as an expression of trust in God.

The colors are usually gold for the circle; the outlines of the petals, red; the background for the rose, a heavenly blue; the heart, red, and the cross, black.