Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin.
Romans 1:17 states "For in the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith: as it is written, "The one who is righteous will live by faith." " Luther struggled with his quest for sanctification. It was through this verse that his eyes were opened and his bitter sweet struggle of early days began to subside, and Lutheranism was birthed. He learned that God's justice is not comparable to punishment, but instead relative to righteousness. Thus is the beginning of the "justification by faith" that constructs the backbone of Luther's theological premise. Luther had very definitive ideas as it related to the knowledge of God, law and gospel, and the church and sacraments. .
While Luther agreed that it was possible to know God, he disagreed in the manner in which one comes to know God. He unlike others, believed that the highest relationship with God came at the time of the cross through Jesus; thus leading to his "theology of the cross." He rationalizes that we see God at his weakest point on the cross, and while we would never fathom that God could be weak, he demonstrates his unpredictability at that precise moment. Luther argues that all preconceived notions, through this understanding, are destroyed. Law and Gospel are the two ways in which God reveals himself to his people. At the same time, God is in the midst of judgment (law) and forgiveness (gospel); as we are at the same time sinful and justified. Or in common terms, we are free yet bound.
Finally, Luther feels that although we are all sufficient enough to go to God on our own, we need a common body that can intercede on our behalf as well; this being the church. We experience an understanding of the word within the church through the sacraments. Luther specifically defines, what makes a rite a sacrament, baptism and communion. Baptism demonstrates the death and the resurrection of Jesus.
