Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance. It is laying hold of His willingness.
Martin LutherRead
The first care of every Christian ought to be to lay aside all reliance on works, and strengthen his faith alone more and more, and by it grow in the knowledge, not of works, but of Christ Jesus, who has suffered and risen again for him.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of faith over works in the Christian life, urging believers to focus on their relationship with Christ.
In this quote, Martin Luther stresses that Christians should prioritize their faith in Jesus Christ rather than relying on their own good deeds or works for salvation. He highlights the necessity of deepening one's understanding of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, which forms the foundation of their faith, rather than becoming preoccupied with the efforts they can contribute to their spiritual standing.
Themes
FaithWorksChristSalvationLuther
In practice
Example use cases
In a church sermon discussing the principles of faith and grace.
More from Martin Luther
All quotes →Now if I believe in God's Son and remember that He became man, all creatures will appear a hundred times more beautiful to me than before. Then I will properly appreciate the sun, the moon, the stars, trees, apples, as I reflect that he is Lord over all things. ...God writes the Gospel, not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.
Martin LutherRead
It is the part of a Christian to take care of his own body for the very purpose that, by its soundness and wellbeing, he may be enabled to labour, and to acquire and preserve property, for the aid of those who are in want, that thus the stronger member may serve the weaker member, and we may be children of God, and busy for one another, bearing one another's burdens, and so fulfiling the law of Christ.
Martin LutherRead
Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but more frequently than not struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God.
Martin LutherRead
We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands.
Martin LutherRead
In a mouse we admire God's creation and craft work. The same may be said about flies.
Martin LutherRead
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