Quotes from Martin Luther

Whenever you are being praised, remember it is not you who is being praised but Christ, to whom all praise belongs.

Thus it has come about that out of the Word they have made Law, out of faith works, out of truth a show; and therefore they have finally been forced to employ the sword.

Here we must first of all resist all wrong, where truth or righteousness suffers violence or need, and dare make no distinction of persons, as some do, who fight most actively and busily against the wrong which is done to the rich, the powerful, and their own friends; but when it is done to the poor, or the despised or their own enemy, they are quiet and patient.

We despise the grace of God when we observe the Law for the purpose of being justified. The Law is good, holy, and profitable, but it does not justify. To keep the Law in order to be justified means to reject grace, to deny Christ, to despise His sacrifice, and to be lost.

But Simeon is the most abject tribe of all, for he is cursed by his father Jacob and is passed over in silence by Moses. Jerome, as I have stated, is of the opinion that no mention is made of Simeon because Judas Iscariot was to be born from that tribe.

So also in the terrors of sin and death, I do not exchange death with life, and Christ with the devil, although in the midst of temptation it seems like this.

Thus Augustine says: "We know that we owe our existence to His goodness. We know that we are creatures because of the kindness of God, not because of merit. For it has pleased God that no one should glory except in the Lord.

Scripture alone is the true lord and master of all writings and doctrine on earth.

The article of justification is fragile. Not in itself, of course, but in us. I know how quickly a person can forfeit the joy of the Gospel. I know in what slippery places even those stand who seem to have a good footing in the matters of faith. In the midst of the conflict when we should be consoling ourselves with the Gospel, the Law rears up and begins to rage all over our conscience. I say the Gospel is frail because we are frail.

For it is the explicit statement of Sacred Scripture that one who is outside of tribulation is outside the condition and hope of salvation.

In all evils we must confess that God is the author and say: "Since You have done it, we must be silent and dumb," lest we murmur or blaspheme against Him. And He must be implored to remove the evil. For he who does not know who brings in the evil becomes impatient in vain and attempts to banish it. It is as if a spear were hurled from an unknown place, and the one struck is angry in vain.

These words are like so many thunderclaps of protest from heaven against every kind and type of self-merit.

To be a Christian without praying is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.

Iniquities forgiven and sins covered can be said to differ in this way, that iniquity is that by which a man is turned toward the creature because he prefers its love to the love of God, and that is evil; sin, however, is that by which a man is turned away from God, which is to transgress the commandment and law of God. According to Cassiodorus and blessed Jerome, iniquities

If there is only mercy and the prince lets everyone milk him and kick him in the teeth and does not punish or become angry, then not only the court but the land, too, will be filled with wicked rascals; all discipline and honor will come to an end. On the other hand, if there is only anger and punishment or too much of it, then tyranny will result, and the pious will be breathless in their daily fear and anxiety.

So the salvation of Christ is called "salvations" and "mercies" (cf. Ps. 28:8; 17:7; 25:6), because it saves many and ascribes a manifold salvation to all.

The world glories and trusts in honor, power, riches, and the favor of men. Our psalm, however, glories in none of these, for they are all uncertain and perishable.

I do not always pray, nor do I always meditate on the Law of the Lord and struggle continually with sin, death, and the devil; but I put on my clothes, I sleep, I play with the children, eat, drink, etc. If all these things are done in faith, they are approved by God's judgment as having been done rightly. This

For we Germans are snoring, buried in sleep and wine, and we are destitute of leaders who could measure up in wisdom, strategy, and strength of heart to manage such great undertakings.

And this is a clear demonstration that the world is the image of hell and a model and forerunner of the damned, yes, like the lodging of the devil and ungodliness, which consistently ignores the Word of God and its immeasurable benefits and does not see them and most basely despises them.

And had it not been for our prayer and word, Germany would doubtless be in a different condition; and if she had been without the word which we teach and without our prayers, conditions in Germany would be in a most wretched plight.

Therefore, beware of such misleading, shameful, and deceptive prattle, which represents Christ solely as a Teacher of works, as though He had taught and showed us nothing but proper conduct and behavior. In that capacity He could not be called the Way; then He would be no more than a cross or a votive picture on the wayside. This indeed directs the wayfarer correctly, but it itself does not bear him along.

But the kingdom of grace is a kingdom of mercy, of pardon, of redemption, and of liberation from sins and the punishments for sins.

The vicious character of sin is brought out by the words "who gave himself for our sins." So vicious is sin that only the sacrifice of Christ could atone for sin.