Martin Luther was a man determined to never let justification – the legal declaration from God that a person is saved due to placing their trust in Jesus Christ alone, and sanctification – the daily process by which we grow in our trust of Christ, be mixed or confused. Martin Luther emerged from the Roman Catholic system that was rooted in “process” salvation – the receiving of God’s grace through the Sacraments based on the Church’s authority. If there was ever one person since the passing of the Apostles who would be passionate concerning a proper balance between trusting Christ alone and how we should view “works” being proof of that trust, it was Martin Luther.

Nevertheless, Luther also knew the danger in claiming to be a Christian and being devoid of a heart driver to obey Christ:

Faith is not something dreamed, a human illusion, although this is what many people understand by the term. Whenever they see that it is not followed by either an improvement in morals or some good works, while much is still being said about faith, they fall into the error of declaring that faith is not enough, that we must do “works” if we are to become upright and attain salvation. The reason is that, when they hear the gospel, they miss the point; in their hearts, and out of their own resources, they conjure up an idea they call “belief,” which they treat as genuine faith. All the same, it is but a human fabrication, an idea without a corresponding experience in the depth of the heart. It is therefore ineffective and not followed by a better kind of life. Faith, however, is something God effects in us. It changes us and we are reborn from God, John 1. Faith puts the old Adam to death and makes us quite different men in heart, in mind, and in all our powers; and it is accompanied by the Holy Spirit.

O, when it comes to faith, what a living, creative, active, powerful thing it is. It cannot do other than good at all times. It never waits to ask whether there is some good work to do, rather, before the question is raised, it has done the deed, and keeps doing it. A man not active in this way is a man without faith. He is groping about for a faith and searching for good works, but knows neither what faith is nor what good works are. Nevertheless he keeps on talking nonsense about faith and good works. …It is impossible, indeed, to separate works from faith, just as it is impossible to separate heat and light from fire.

Martin Luther, Commentary on Romans; by John Dillenberger (New York: Doubleday, 1961), 111-112.

Martin Luther on one side is addressing the need to not promote a sacrament/works-based salvation (speaking to the R.C.C. in particular), but he is also distancing himself from those who would call themselves Chrsitians but did not act like it. Martin would say both are wrong since the nature of saving faith is always to produce what it’s author intended – good works (c.f. Eph. 2:10). Martin refused to let true salvation be redefined by either side; the promoter of works or the proponent of belief without a change in life.

Questions/Comments?

FYI. We will be having a Grace-Talk after this current teaching series and encourage you to submit questions in order for you to better understand this teaching in your life.