Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance. It is laying hold of His willingness.
Martin LutherRead
He that will maintain that man's free will is able to do or work anything in spiritual cases, be they never so small, denies Christ.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of divine grace in spiritual matters, suggesting that human free will alone is insufficient for salvation.
Martin Luther's quote argues that if one believes that human free will can achieve anything in spiritual contexts, no matter how minor, then they are essentially denying the role of Christ in salvation. It reflects Luther's theological stance on the nature of sin and grace, which posits that only through Christ can individuals attain spiritual redemption, thus diminishing the significance of human effort in this realm.
Themes
Free WillSpiritualityGraceChristRedemption
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on free will in a philosophy class.
More from Martin Luther
All quotes βNow 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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