“We do not become righteous by doing righteous deeds but, having been made righteous, we do righteous deeds.”
— MARTIN LUTHER, "Disputation against Scholastic Theology"
“Many have been deceived by outward appearances and have proceeded to write and teach about good works and how they justify without even mentioning faith.... Wearying themselves with many works, they never come to righteousness. ”
— MARTIN LUTHER, The Freedom of a Christian
“A Christian has no need of any law in order to be saved, since through faith we are free from every law. Thus all the acts of a Christian are done spontaneously, out of a sense of pure liberty.”
— MARTIN LUTHER, The Freedom of a Christian
“God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong (sin boldly), but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides. We, however, ... are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where justice will reign.”
— MARTIN LUTHER, Dr. Martin Luther's Saemmtliche Schriften
“Christ ought to be preached with this goal in mind—that we might be moved to faith in him so that he is not just a distant historical figure but actually Christ for you and me.”
