Martin Luther and Faith vs Works
- by Sola Scriptura
Nice article. Of course you are right for the most part in what you say -- though I'd add that there are many churches doing many good things. Which I'm sure you'd agree with. I know you can't say everything in one article.
Anyway, I was interested in the discussion of Faith vs Works. There's a fascinating letter that Luther wrote back in 1530 that provides much insight into his thinking and how the protestant position of Sola Fide (salvation by faith alone) came to be.
As you say, there are scriptures supporting both views. But, it's interesting to read the Luther admitted to having inserted the word "alone" in the passage in Romans 3 I think about salvation by "faith alone."
He was so sure he was right about the issue that he thought inserting the word was the right thing to do to make it clear for everyone.
Here's a bit from the letter:
You also tell me that the Papists are causing a great fuss because St. Paul's text does not contain the word sola (alone), and that my changing of the words of God is not to be tolerated....
I was not depending upon or following the nature of language when I inserted the word "solum" (alone) in Rom. 3 as the text itself, and St. Paul's meaning, urgently necessitated and demanded it. He St. Paul is dealing with the main point of Christian doctrine in this passage - namely that we are justified by faith in Christ without any works of the Law....
Please do not give these asses any other answer to their useless braying about that word "sola" than simply "Luther will have it so, and he says that he is a doctor above all the papal doctors.
There are brazen idiots among them who have never learned their own art of sophistry - like Dr. Schmidt and Snot-Nose.
Luther was quite a character. Anyway, you can read the whole letter at Martin Luther 1530 Letter.
Comments for Martin Luther and Faith vs Works:
Bible Interpretation and Homosexuality - by Mo
Thanks, you might be interested in this discussion on facebook about homosexuality and bible interpretation.
The Biblical Basis for Salvation - by Anonymous
The scriptures do not teach the popular doctrine of salvation by faith alone. True, salvation is by faith apart from works but the works Paul speaks of are works, or actions, motivated by the idea that salvation can be earned if one does enough good works the way the Pharisees thought.
James, on the other hand, speaks of works that are motivated by one's appreciation for the offer of forgiveness which, when the terms are obeyed, obtain forgiveness for a repentant sinner. Thus, baptism is a work of faith and not merit as long as the motive is one of appreciation for being allowed to be forgiven and not an effort to earn it.
Motive is what makes the difference between whether or not anything done in obedience to any of God's commandments is a work of merit or a work of faith. Faith that is approved by God is not mere intellectual assent minus any corresponding actions. It just happens that upon hearing the gospel and then repenting, baptism is the point of actual acceptance and reception of forgiveness allowing one to enter the kingdom of God, the church.
From there on, as long as one continues to do good because they trust in God, the blood of Christ will continue to "wash away" sin. This is what the Bible really teaches.
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