Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and…

But according to his mercy he saved us. It is marvel how the credit of these words can stand, wherein the Apostle affirmeth that we are already saved, although living yet in earth, and therefore in continual misery. But he did so speak, that he might more fully express the power of the divine grace, and the nature of faith against hypocrites, who as though salvation were yet far of, do in vain endeavour to get and obtain it by their works.¹ For Christ hath already saved us: he hath performed all things which are required hereunto, that we may be saved: he hath overcome and subdued sin, death, hell, &c. so that he hath left nothing, for any man to care for, he hath also given all these things unto us in Baptism, that who soever believeth in Christ, that he hath performed them, hath them together in the same moment, so that he hath need of nothing more unto salvation, but faith alone, that he may firmly believe that these things are so performed. But mark how incomparable riches of his grace God hath poured upon us in Baptism, who hath delivered us even from those works, whereby those foolish holy ones go about to merit heaven, and to be saved. For we must have heaven, and be saved before we can do any good works, for that works can not merit heaven, but heaven being before given of mere grace; causeth us to do good works, and that for no hope of merit or reward, but only to the commodity of our neighbours, and the glory of God, until this body also be delivered from sin and death.

But according to his mercie he saued vs. It is maruell how the credit of these wordes can stand, wherein the Apostle affirmeth that we are alreadie saued, although liuing yet in earth, and therefore in continuall miserie. But he did so speake, that he might more fully expresse the power of the diuine grace, and the nature of faith against hypocrites, who as though saluatiō were yet farre of, do in vaine endeuour to get and obtaine it by their workes.¹ For Christ hath already saued vs: he hath perfourmed all things which are required hereunto, that we may be saued: he hath ouercome and subdued synne, death, hell, &c. so that he hath left nothing, for any man to care for, he hath also giuen all these things vnto vs in Baptisme, that who soeuer beleueth in Christ, that he hath perfourmed them, hath them togither in the same moment, so that he hath neede of nothing more vnto saluation, but faith alone, that he may firmely beleeue that these things are so perfourmed. But marke how incōparable riches of his grace God hath poured vpon vs in Baptisme, who hath deliuered vs euen from those workes, whereby those foolish holy ones go about to merit heauen, and to be saued. For we must haue heauen, and be saued before we can do any good workes, for that workes can not merit heauen, but heauen being before giuen of meere grace; causeth vs to do good workes, and that for no hope of merit or reward, but onely to the commoditie of our neighbours, and the glorie of God, vntill this bodie also be deliuered from sinne and death.