“But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord,? So who hath believed our report then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.“ Romans 10: 6-17
I am republishing part of Martin Luther’s comments from his commentary on the book of Romans. I added the Scripture from the Romans Epistle and also edited my comments below. I look forward to the time of Reformation as we gather for the 23rd time in the last 24 years in our Seattle Church. It started as a way for our local Congregation to remember God’s powerful work in the 1500’s by the reformers. Over the years many of our brothers and sisters in Christ have joined us in giving thanks to God for the gift of faith through grace. We welcome those that can join us. We have started calling two Pastors, one from the West coast congregations and one from afar. May we continue to give the Glory to God each and every day and may the Scripture point us to Christ who is our life!-Pastor Stan
Faith and Works:
“The main tenet of Christianity is that of being justified by faith. Yet is often found to be the most difficult to understand. The book of James is devoted to the relationship between faith and works. Many have struggled with this relationship, including Martin Luther. At one point he called James an “epistle of straw”. Yet he ultimately concluded it to be a “good book”. If this is one of your struggles, don’t be discouraged. Consider yourself in good company! It is proof that the Word is important to you. Continue to look to the Lord, He will supply. I found this writing by Martin Luther to be very helpful in my meditation on the relationship between faith and works. – Pastor Stan”
Martin Luther on Faith from the Preface to his Commentary on the Romans:
“Faith is not that human illusion and dream that some people think it is. When they hear and talk a lot about faith and yet see that no moral improvement and no good works result from it, they fall in to error and say, “Faith is not enough. You must do works if you want to be virtuous and get to heaven.” The result is that, when they hear the Gospel, they stumble and make for themselves with their own powers a concept in their hearts which says, “I believe.” This concept they hold to be true faith. But since it is a human fabrication and thought and not an experience of the heart, it accomplishes nothing, and there follows no improvement.
Faith is a work of God in us, which changes us and brings us to birth anew from God (cf. John 1). It kills the old Adam, makes us completely different people in heart, mind, senses, and all our powers, and brings the Holy Spirit with it. What a living, creative, active powerful thing is faith! It is impossible that faith ever stop doing good. Faith doesn’t ask whether good works are to be done, but, before it is asked, it has done them. It is always active. Whoever doesn’t do such works is without faith; he gropes and searches about him for faith and good works but doesn’t know what faith or good works are. Even so, he chatters on with a great many words about faith and good works.
Faith is a living, unshakeable confidence in God’s grace; it is so certain, that someone would die a thousand times for it. This kind of trust in and knowledge of God’s grace makes a person joyful, confident, and happy with regard to God and all creatures. This is what the Holy Spirit does by faith. Through faith, a person will do good to everyone without coercion, willingly and happily; he will serve everyone, suffer everything for the love and praise of God, who has shown him such grace. It is as impossible to separate works from faith as burning and shining from fire. Therefore, be on guard against your own false ideas and against the chatterers who think they are clever enough to make judgements about faith and good works but who are in reality the biggest fools. Ask God to work faith in you; otherwise you will remain eternally without faith, no matter what you try to do or fabricate.”
Submitted by Pastor Stan
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