The Gospel Seminar

"Luther Quotations": #4B

"...who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present age..."


Hear Luther on this matter of the Christian being "rescued" (justified) by Christ alone without any contribution (good efforts and deeds) on the part of the Christian:

"So, by the words 'to rescue us...', Paul shows the nature of this letter's argument-namely, that we need grace, we need Christ (ALONE), and no other creature, neither human or angel, can 'rescue us from this present evil age', for that work belongs only to the divine majesty (CHRIST ALONE) and is not in the power of any human being or angel. Christ (ALONE) has put away (YOUR) sin and rescued us from the tyranny and kingdom of the devil..."

Next, Luther warns religious people that their religious efforts will not make them acceptable (justified) in God's sight, but also can lead them away from faith in Christ and the gospel:

"...the more wise, righteous, and holy people are without Christ, the more harm they do to the gospel. So we also, who were religious (BEFORE COMING TO FAITH IN CHRIST), were doubly wicked until God enlightened us with the knowledge of the Gospel despite our apparent true piety and (SUPPOSED) holiness..."  (p.44)

Can you see it yet? You cannot rescue yourself. The first step in being "rescued" is to recognize your most fundamental need to be rescued from yourself (Matthew 5; 3, 4)