Quotes About Martin Luther

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.

he says "firm place" because spiritual goods do not persist in themselves but in God, from whom they gush forth without ceasing.

is not our business to terrify any godless person.

No flesh, not even that of the true believer, is so completely under the influence of the Spirit that it will not bite or devour, or at least neglect, the commandment of love.

He is wonderful in His Holy One because He brings Him into tribulation and thus crowns Him.

Gnatho was the attendant of Thraso in the Eunuchus of Terence, one of Luther's favorite plays; cf. Luther's Works, 13, p. 182; 23, p. 217.

If all men have "free will" and yet all without exception are under God's wrath, then it follows that "free will" leads them in only one direction—"ungodliness and unrighteousness" (i.e., wickedness). So where is the power of "free will" helping them to do good? If "free will" exists, it does not seem to be able to help men to salvation because it still leaves them under the wrath of God.

what cruel and bloodthirsty beasts are smug presumption, vain-glory, pride, and carelessness

Hence it is great wisdom to know that we are nothing but sin, so that we do not think of sin as lightly as do the pope's theologians, who define sin as "anything said, done, or thought against the Law of God." Define sin, rather, on the basis of this psalm, as all that is born of father and mother, before a man is old enough to say, do, or think anything.

Unless a sharp distinction is maintained between the purpose and function of the Law and the Gospel, the Christian doctrine cannot be kept free from error.

For His righteousness rises above the sins of all men; His life is more powerful than all death; His salvation is more unconquerable than all hell.

For such unjust acts of robbery lead automatically to vengeance and punishments, as Augustine's statement bears out. "Gain in the coffer," he says, "harm in the conscience." 55 No unjust gain is without most unjust harm.

O how many follow them today, people full of envy and the gall of vengefulness who fashion I do not know what kind of idol of jealousy for themselves and lie about the severity of righteousness as they seek the most obstinate lie!

Who can love Him if He wants to deal with sinners according to righteousness? Therefore remember that the righteousness of God is that by which we are justified, or the gift of the forgiveness of sins.

and preserve Your doctrine true at this place, that our children after us may be still praising You. Amen.

For repentance comes from the law of God, but faith or grace from the promises of God, as it is said, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God

I only ask in all kindness that the man who wishes at this time to have my books will by no means let them be a hindrance to his own study of the Scriptures, but read them as I read the orders and the ordures of the pope[5] and the books of the sophists.

First, self-love is already present in all people. Second, if God had wanted to command you to love yourself, he would have said, "You should love yourself and your neighbor as yourself." But he said instead, "Love your neighbor as yourself." In other words, "as yourself " means the way you already love yourself, without a commandment to do so.

For all our life should be baptism, and the fulfilling of the sign, or sacrament, of baptism; we have been set free from all else and wholly given over to baptism alone, that is, to death and resurrection. This glorious liberty of ours, and this understanding of baptism have been carried captive in our day

There is nothing more insufferable and poisonous on earth than a barefoot monk.

Therefore the whole meaning is that he who by the grace of God believes suffers persecution either from the world or from the flesh.

Therefore we are taught here that true vengeance is carried out, not by our passion but by God's command and on account of God. We are only the instruments of the avenging God, and we arrogate nothing of the vengeance to ourselves, as you see here.

If we want to talk about natural powers on the basis of this psalm and on the basis of the Holy Spirit's manner of speaking, then we should call "natural" the fact that we are in sin and death and that we desire, understand, and long for things that are corrupt and evil.

Gospel bestows all good things spiritual: forgiveness of sins, true righteousness, peace of conscience, everlasting life; and all good things temporal: good judgment, good government and peace.