Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance. It is laying hold of His willingness.
Martin LutherRead
One is not righteous who does much, but the one who, without work, believes much in Christ. The law says, 'Do this,' and it is never done. Grace says, 'Believe in this,' and everything is already done.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Righteousness comes from faith in Christ rather than mere actions or works.
This quote by Martin Luther emphasizes the idea that true righteousness is achieved through faith rather than the performance of good deeds. Luther contrasts the demands of the law, which require continuous actions that can never be fully accomplished, with the grace offered through belief in Christ, where salvation and righteousness are considered complete through faith alone.
Themes
RighteousnessFaithGraceChristWorks
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a sermon to illustrate the concept of salvation through faith.
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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