The church authorities, namely the pope and many bishops, were not open to discussions of the nature proposed by Luther, and the result was a split in the church. Those who adhered to the teachings of Luther were called "Lutherans," even though Luther himself did not approve of that designation.

In Lutheran theology, the "article of faith by which the church stands or falls" is the doctrine of justification by grace through faith in Christ. This means that we are not saved by our own goodness, but we are given Christ's righteousness by grace. As it is written, For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). The message that God saves us by grace, and not by our merit, Lutherans call "the Gospel."

In continuity with the Church, Lutherans retain the ancient and ecumenical doctrines of the church( such as, for example, the Trinity and the two natures of Christ). A distinctive feature of the Lutheran church is the premise that Scripture alone is authoritative for all matters of Christian faith and life. Traditions, such as the historic liturgy, which do not compromise the Gospel are retained.

Martin Luther, the sixteenth century Augustinian monk who led the Reformation, should not be confused with Martin Luther King Jr., the twentieth century civil rights leader.