The Gospel Seminar

"Luther Quotations": #17

"I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preached among the Gentiles..." (Galatians 2;2)

Because Luther was adamant and persistent about faith as opposed to works he was greatly criticized for supposedly saying that Christians are NOT to be concerned about good and godly efforts at obedience. And, of course, there were some who misunderstood Luther on this important point and were altogether dismissive of any need for the godly to do good works. For that reason, Luther was also consistently careful to make sure there was no such misunderstanding:

"So we today do not reject fasting, and other good (OBEDIENT) exercises as damnable things; but we teach that we do not obtain remission of sins by these (OBEDIENT) exercises....The right way to become a Christian is to be justified (MADE PERFECTLY/LEGALLY ACCEPTABLE) by faith in Christ, and not by the observance of the law. Here we must stand and not upon the wicked interpretation who say that faith justifies when love and good works are combined with it...Of course, we must also teach good works and love, but it must be done in the right time and place -that is, when we are dealing with works, not justification. Here the question is how to be justified and attain eternal life...Love (GOOD WORKS), however, must follow faith, as a sort of thankfulness..."

Luther again (from 2;16):
"When we have taught faith in Christ in this way (ACCEPTABILITY WITH GOD THROUGH CHRIST ALONE, APART FROM ONE'S OWN EFFORTS ALTOGETHER), we also teach good works (ON OUR PART). Because you have laid hold of Christ by faith, and through Christ (ALONE) are made righteous, begin now to do right things. Love God and your neighbor; call upon God; give thanks to Him; praise Him; confess Him. These good works flow out of this faith, and this cheerfulness is conceived in the heart because we have free forgiveness of sins through Christ."
(all underlining above mine)