Christian Classics
‹ Assorted Sermons by Martin Luther
Contents
The Wheat & the TaresThe Parable of the SowerTHE DISCIPLES & THE FRUITS OF GOD'S WORDSECTION I. THE NATURE OF THE WORD SPOKEN HERE.SECTION II. THE DISCIPLES OF THIS WORD.SECTION IV. WHY CHRIST CALLS THE DOCTRINE CONCERNING THE DISCIPLES AND THE FRUITS OF THE WORD A MYSTERY.Christ Our Great High PriestChrist's Holy SufferingsSECTION I. THE FALSE VIEWS OF CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS.SECTION II. THE TRUE VIEW OF CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS.SECTION III. THE COMFORT OF CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS.The Twofold Use of the Law and GospelGOSPEL TRANSCENDS LAWPAUL'S CONVERTS LIVING EPISTLESTRUE PREACHERS COMMISSIONED BY GODHUMAN DOCTRINE NO PLACE IN THE CHURCH“But our sufficiency is from God.”THE NEW COVENANT“SPIRIT” & “LETTER”CHRIST SUPERSEDES MOSESCHRIST THE SOURCE OF LIFE GREATER THAN ADAM THE SOURCE OF DEATHTHE LAW INEFFECTUALTERRORS OF THE LAWEFFICACY OF THE GOSPELEnemies of the Cross of ChristEnemies of the Cross of Christ & The Christian's Citizenship in HeavenPURITY OF DOCTRINE ENJOINED.RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW IS VAIN.RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW OPPOSES THE CROSS.HUMAN RIGHTEOUSNESS IDOLATROUS.FRUITS OF FAITH.GOD'S PATIENCE WITH HUMAN RIGHTEOUSNESS.THE CHRISTIAN A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN.THE GLORIFIED BODY OF THE CHRISTIAN.On Faith & Coming to ChristON FAITH AND COMING TO CHRIST, AND THE TRUE BREAD OF HEAVEN:SECTION I. On Faith, And Coming To Christ.SECTION II. The Bread Of Heaven.by Martin Luther (1483-1546)OF THE OFFICE OF PREACHING & OF PREACHERS AND HEARERS:SECTION I. TRUE PREACHERS OF THE WORD MUST BE REGULARLY CALLED.SECTION II. PREACHERS OF THE WORD TO PREACH NOTHING BUT THE WORD.SECTION III. A TRUE PREACHER SHOULD FIRST USE THE LAW ARIGHT AND THEN PREACH THE GOSPEL.SECTION IV. THE HEARERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXAMINE AND JUDGE A SERMONV. PREACHERS ARE TO FORCE NO ONE TO BELIEVE.VI. THE MARKS OF FALSE PREACHERS.

Martin Luther · 31 of 46

FRUITS OF FAITH.

23. With the believers in Christ, them who have their in him, there should follow in this life on earth the fruits of upright living, in obedience to God. These fruits constitute the good works acceptable to God, which, being works of faith and wrought in Christ, will be rewarded in the life to come. But Paul has in mind the individuals who, rejecting faith in Christ, regard their self-directed lives, their humanly-wrought works, which conform to the Law, as availing in the sight of God. His reference is to them who so trust, though wholly ignorant of Christ, for whose sake, without any merit on our part, is to us by God. The only condition is we must believe in Christ; for he became man, died for our sins and rose from the dead, for the very purpose of liberating us from our sins and granting us his resurrection and life. Toward the heavenly life we should tend, in our life here walking in harmony with it; as Paul says in conclusion: “Our citizenship is in heaven [not earthly and not confined to this temporal life only]; also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

If we have no knowledge, no consciousness, of this fact, it matters not how beautiful and praiseworthy our human, earthly may be, it is merely a hindrance and an injury. For flesh and blood cannot help relying on its own and arrogantly boasting in this strain: “We are better, more honorable, more godly, than others. We Jews are the people of God and keep his Law.” Even Christians are not wholly free from the pernicious influence of human . They ever seek to bring their own works and merits before God. I know for myself what pains are inflicted by this godless wisdom, this figment of , and what effort must be made before the serpent’s head is bruised.

24. Now, this is the situation and there is no alternative: Either suffer hell or regard your human as loss and filth and endeavor not to be found relying on it at your last hour, in the and judgment, but rather stand in the of Christ. In the garment of Christ’s and reared in him you may, in the resurrection from sin and death, meet Christ and exclaim: “Hail, beloved Lord and Saviour, thou who hast me from the wretched body of sin and death, and fashioned me like unto thy holy, pure and glorious body!”