Short Quotes

Luther Short Quotes

I trust these will be a blessing to you and spur you on to investigate Luther’s writings in more detail and depth. What a wonderful Gift God has given to his beloved church. Please read these short quotes as I pray your mind will be filled with the truth of the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and your heart will be filled with the sweetness of God’s grace and mercy. Tim Vance, M.A., LPC

These excerpts are taken from Luther’s Sermons, volumes 1-8.

Yea, what is such faith, but pure prayer. It continually looks for divine grace, and if it looks for it, it also desires it with all the heart. And this desire is really the true prayer, that Christ teaches and God requires, which also accomplishes all things. "And because it does not trust or seek comfort in self, its works or worthiness, but builds upon God’s pure grace, therefore whatever it believes, desires, hopes, and prayers, also comes to pass.

THE GOSPEL IS A DOCTRINE THAT SHOULD BECOME A LIVING POWER AND BE PUT INTO PRACTICE: IT SHOULD STRENGTHEN AND COMFORT THE PEOPLE, AND MAKE THEM COURAGEOUS AND AGGRESSIVE.

Our life and Christian character consist of two parts, of faith and of love. The first points us to God, the other to our neighbor. The first, namely faith, is not visible, God alone sees that; the other is visible, and is love, that we are to manifest to our neighbor.

My anxiety should be how others are to receive something from me.

If we believed that everything comes to us from God’s grace and mercy, we would daily run and rejoice; our hearts would continually rise and dwell in heaven. When we once get to heaven we will see that this is true.

God permits man to fall so deeply into danger and anxiety, until no help or advice is within reach, and still He desires that we should not doubt, but trust Him who out of an impossible thing can make something possible, and make something out of nothing.

The miracles in Scripture are related in order that we may recognize Him as our Helper in all times of need, that we love Him, thank Him for His benefits, and willingly suffer and endure whatever he allows to befall us, especially since we know with certainty that He does not permit anything to happen to us in order to destroy us, but only to try our faith, to see whether our trust and refuge securely rest in him, or in something else.

Yea, the more misery and death are in us, the more richly shall we find comfort and life in him, provided we hold fast to Him by faith.

Love and necessity should control all law.

Human nature alone will never be able to accomplish what God requires, namely, that we surrender our will to the will of God, so that we renounce our reason, our will, our might and power, and say from the heart: Thy will be done.

Our new man despises the present life, desires to die, rejoices in all adversity, and submits himself wholly and entirely to the will of God.

Yea, they say, "You must do better and climb much higher." How high then must I climb. Thus I say, my friends, and would beseech you not to esteem that spirit great who proposes to you any kind of work, call it what you may, even if it would raise the dead. But by this you shall truly experience which spirits are of God, and which are not. For if you give me a work to do, it is not the Holy Spirit who does it; but He goes and first brings me the grace of Christ, and then leads me to works. For thus He speaks: "Thy sins are forgiven, be of good cheer, and the like. He does not first insist on works, but first leads up to God through His sweet grace, and does not immediately refer you to do some work; but later you will find works enough to do unto your neighbor.

"THY SINS ARE FORGIVEN." These words are to be taken to heart and meditated upon, since they are nothing but pure grace, and no work, by which the conscience is oppressed and forced to do something.

I have now been teaching and studying this subject of grace with all diligence for many years (more than any one of those who imagine they know it all), in preaching, writing and reading, yet I cannot boast of having mastered it and am glad that I still remain a pupil with those who are just beginning to learn. FOR THIS REASON I MUST ADMONISH AND WARN ALL SUCH AS WANT TO BE CHRISTIANS, BOTH TEACHERS AND PUPILS, THAT THEY GUARD THEMSELVES AGAINST SUCH SHAMEFUL DELUSION AND SURFEIT, AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SUBJECT IS MOST DIFFICULT AND THE GREATEST ART THAT CAN BE FOUND ON EARTH.

It is not possible for man in times of temptation and distress, when his conscience smites him, to cease from groping around for works on which to stand and rest. Then we seek and enumerate the many deeds, which we would like to do, or have done, and because we find none, the heart begins to doubt and despair.

Let every man examine his own heart, and he will find a false Christian who imagines that he knows all about grace before he has learned the first principles of it.

Do not be terrified if you feel too entirely unworthy and impure; for if your thoughts are fixed on that you will forget and lose confidence and trust in Christ. But you must heed the Word Christ speaks to you: "Although you are full of sin, death and perdition, yet you have My righteousness and life, which I apply and give to you."

Such a great treasure as faith should be firmly guarded, so that it may not be easily lost or taken from us. I may have it indeed in its entirety, although I hold it only in a paper sack, but it is not so well preserved as if I had it locked in an iron chest.

Where faith is not continually kept in motion and exercised, it weakens and decreases, so that it must indeed vanish; and yet we do not see nor feel this weakness ourselves, except in times of need and temptation, when unbelief rages too strongly; and yet for that very reason faith must have temptations in which it may battle and grow.

The conscience is tormented when sin comes and smarts deeply until a man feels in what a sad state he is in before God; then he has no rest, runs hither and thither, seeks help here and there, to become free from sin, and in his presumption thinks he can do enough to pay God in full. Now a heart that is thus smitten with the Law, and feels its blows and distress, is truly humiliated. Therefore it falls before the Lord and asks for grace, except that it still makes the mistake that it will help itself; for this we cannot root out of our nature. When the conscience feels such misery, it dare promise more than all the angels in heaven are able to do.

Those who regard God as angry toward them will find Him so. But whoever can say: "I know that He will be a gracious father to me and forgive my sins," they will have that experience with him.

A person can easily be pious, but not a Christian. A Christian knows nothing to say about his piety, for he finds in himself nothing good or pious. If he is pious, he must look for a different piety, a piety in some one else.

If you look at what you do, you have already lost the Christian name.

It is a great art to persuade people that they are poor and in need of grace. It is a difficult matter, nor does the devil permit it to be done, but always diverts the people to their good works, that they may under no circumstances receive the idea that they stand in need of the grace and mercy of Christ.

THE CONSCIENCE CAN NEVER BE QUIETED BY OUR GOOD WORKS.

The sleeper does not recognize—is not sensitive to—the real spiritual blessings extended him through the Gospel; he regards them as valueless. When the unbeliever awakes to faith, the transitory things of earth will pass from his contemplation, and their futility will appear.

No one ever gets to the point of knowledge where it is not necessary to admonish him—continually to urge him—to new reflections upon what he already knows; for there is danger of his untiring enemies—the devil, the world and the flesh—wearying him and causing him to become negligent and ultimately lulling him to sleep.

The Christian’s whole purpose in life is to be useful to mankind. We are not to take pleasure in ourselves; that is, not to consider ourselves good because of abilities superior to those of our neighbors.

MARK YOU, THE REAL MISSION OF SCRIPTURES IS TO COMFORT THE SUFFERING, DISTRESSED AND DYING. THEN HE WHO HAS HAD NO EXPERIENCE OF SUFFERING AND DEATH CANNOT AT ALL UNDERSTAND THE COMFORT OF THE BIBLE.

Nothing is more intolerable and pernicious to the Christian faith and the Church than prejudice.

The weak in conscience should accept as right what they of strong faith and sound conscience observe. The effort should be for a oneness of faith and conscience, and a sameness of opinion; and to avoid the wrangling occasioned by conflicting personal ideas of what is right.

All the good we can do to God is to praise and to thank Him. This is the only true service we can render Him, according to His words in Psalm 50:23.

The motives and desires of man are deep and deceitful beyond recognition: No saint, even, can wholly comprehend them.

One cannot realize the falseness of his motives until God permits him to endure many severe temptations.

To whatever does not do violence to our faith, and benefits others, we should fully conform.

Let us learn from Paul that no meats, drinks, apparel, colors, times, attitudes, are forbidden and none are prescribed. In all these things, everyone is given freedom, if only they be used in soberness, or moderation. Only the abuse of them, only excess and disorder therein, is prohibited. Where there is distinction and emphasis on such matters, there you will surely find human laws; not evangelical doctrine, not Christian liberty.

MAKE USE OF ALL EARTHLY THINGS WHEN AND WHERE YOU PLEASE, GIVING THANKS TO GOD. DILIGENTLY GUARD AGAINST NARROWNESS.

To fear God is to look upon our own devises as pure ungodliness in the light of His manifest grace.

The individual yields to God when he gives himself wholly to God, ATTEMPTING NOTHING OF HIMSELF but permitting the Lord to work in and to rule him; when his whole concern and fear, his continual prayer and desire, are for God to withhold him from following his own works and ways, which he now recognizes as ungodly and deserving of wrath, and to rule over and work in him through grace.

God says: "Let me work; perform not thine own works. Let me help thee in thy need. For everything, look to me. Let me alone direct thy life. Then wilt thou be able to know me and my grace; to love and praise me." This is the true road to salvation.

To live right in this present world, mark you, is like living soberly in a saloon, chastely in a brothel, godly in a gaiety hall, uprightly in a den of murderers.

If we claim there is anything in us not bound in sin, we disparage the grace whereby, according to the Gospel, we are redeemed.

ENTERTAIN NO DOUBT OF GOD’S LOVE AND KINDNESS TOWARD YOU, AND YOU SHALL REALIZE HIS BLESSINGS.

None of the self-righteous are really humble, mild, moderate and good in their hearts. This fact is revealed when one crosses them and rejects their works.

When we accept him, when we believe He has purified us, He dwells within us because of, and by, our faith, daily continuing to cleanse us by His own operation; and nothing apart from Christ in any way contributes to the purification of our sins.

Note how great an enemy and at the same time how great a friend true love can be; how severe its censures and how sweet its aid. It is like a nut with a hard shell and a sweet kernel. Bitter to our old Adam nature, it is exceedingly sweet to the new man in us.

In proportion as one distrusts himself, his own abilities, and feels he is in all things a sinner before a just God, will he find consolation outside himself, in the grace of God, and thus become righteous in all his works.

Faith enables the conscience to feel in Righteousness all the security, desire, and love that a child finds in its mother or a husband in his new bride.

God respects the individual, Cain the works. God rewards the works for the sake of the doer; Cain would have the doer crowned because of his works.

The Christian should entertain no fear—he should not doubt—that he is righteous and a child of God through grace. Rather he needs to entertain anxiety as to how he shall endure steadfast to the end.

The law was given merely to reveal to man his graceless and servile condition and his lack of filial affection; to show him how he serves God without faith and confidence, and a free, spontaneous spirit.

We know from experience that those youths most strictly reared are, when given liberty, more wicked than young men less rigidly brought up. So impossible is it to improve human nature with commandments and punishments; something else is necessary.

How many righteous individuals, men of honorable character, think you, would there be today if neither heaven nor shame, punishment and hell were before them?

When Christ effects much suffering, indications are favorable and good. Whenever His garment is in evidence, He unceasingly purifies with various forms of suffering.

God knows of no better way to deal with the pernicious light of reason than utterly to condemn and obscure it—"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent" (I Cor.1:19-20).

When we are driven, we do a thing with displeasure and against our will. This is not what God desires; therefore it is done in vain. But when I see that God deals with me graciously, He wins my heart.

Why does God permit His own to be persecuted and hounded? In order to suppress and subdue the free will, so that it may not seek an expedient in their works; but rather become a fool in God’s works and learn thereby to trust and depend upon God alone.

Many know Christ only as foam on the water; it does not enter the heart. But to truly know Christ is to know that he died for me and transferred the load of my sin upon Himself; to so know this that I realize that all my doings amount to nothing.

Comfort and truth, when the product of the Holy Spirit, are concealed and deeply hidden in faith. Christians themselves do not at all times experience them, but in their weakness sometimes miss the presence of these.

However great, both in word and deed, God’s promise of grace is toward those that fear Him, yet they cannot lift up their hearts and joyfully look upon God. They are still constantly harassed with anxiety and fear lest God may be angry with them on account of their unworthiness and the weakness which is theirs.

In addition to the grace by which man begins to believe and to hold fast to the Word, God also rules in man through His divine power and agency, so that he constantly grows more and more enlightened, becomes richer and stronger in spiritual understanding and wisdom, and better fitted to understand all matters of doctrine and practice. He furthermore makes daily progress in life and good works, becomes eventually a kind, gentle, patient man, ready to serve everyone with doctrine, advice, comfort and gifts; is useful to God and man; through him and because of him men and countries receive benefit; in short he is a man through whom God speaks, in whom He lives and works, and such a man’s words, life and doings are God’s. His tongue is God’s tongue, his hand is God’s hand, and his word is no more the word of man, but God’s Word.

It is easy to say: "We must be blind to our reason, disregard our feelings, close our eyes and only cling to theWord—finally die and yet live." But to persevere in this, when it becomes a matter of experience and when we are really tested, requires pains and labor. It is a very bitter experience. Man does not desire the destruction of the flesh.

Our neighbor is to be sought as a lost sheep, that his shame is to be covered with our honor, that our piety is to be a cover for his sins.

Despair makes monks.

Two things must be well maintained over against each other, namely, that we must work, and that our work accomplishes nothing.

Pray thus: Oh my God, thou hast placed Christ, thine only beloved Son, before me as an example, so that I might lead a like life; but I am not ale to do this. O my God, change me, grant me thy grace! God then comes and says: Behold, since you know yourself and seek grace from me, I will change you and do as you desire. And though you are not so perfect as Christ, as indeed you should be, I shall nevertheless have my Son’s life and perfection cover your imperfections. So you see we must always have something to keep us in the right humility and fear.

Thus we err on both sides in saying, a person must only believe, then he will neglect to do good works and bring forth good fruits. Again, if you preach works, the people immediately comfort themselves and trust in works. Therefore we must walk upon the common path. Faith alone must make us good and save us. But to know whether faith is right and true, you must show it by your works.

He who will not cheerfully respond to friendly admonition is no Christian.

The Scriptural sense of the word "mind" is sufficiently defined as "belief," which is the source of either vice or virtue. For what I value, I believe to be right. I observe what I value, as do others. But WHEN BELIEF IS WRONG, CONSCIENCE AND FAITH HAVE NOT CONTROL. Where unity of mind among men is lacking, love and peace cannot be present; and where love and faith are not present, only the world and the devil reign.

Spiritual fervor increases with undertaking and effort. It is the nature of spirit not to know weariness. Spirit grows faint and weary only with idleness. Laboring, it increases in strength.

If you would live, die; if you would not be imprisoned, incarcerate yourself; if you do not desire to go to hell, descend there; if you object to being a sinner, be a sinner; if you would escape the cross, take it upon yourself; if you would conquer the devil, let him vanquish you; would you overcome a wicked individual, permit him to overcome you.

It is not right that my charity be liberal enough to tolerate unsound doctrine. A defective life does not destroy Christianity; it exercises it. But defective doctrine—false belief—destroys all good. So, then, toleration and mercy are not permissible in the case of unsound doctrine; only anger, opposition and death are in order, yet always in accordance with the Wordof God.

Whoso recognizes Christianity as a progressive order yet in its beginning, will not be offended at the occasional manifestation of ungentleness, unkindness and impatience on the part of a Christian. We are in a state of progression; but during the progress much of the old and as yet untransformed nature is intermingled.

Love must be exercised by opposition.

It is a strange sort of strength which is weak and by its weakness grows stronger. Who ever heard of weak strength? Or more absurd still, that strength is increased by weakness? Human strength increases with enhancement and decreases with enfeeblement. But God’s power—His Word in us—rises in proportion to the pressure it receives. It is characteristic of God the Creator that He creates all things from naught, and again reduces to naught all created things.