A06521:428
Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and…
Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and preachings for the necessary instruction and edification of such, as hunger and seek after the perfect knowledge and inestimable glory which is in Christ Jesus, to the comfort and salvation of their souls. Englished by VV.G.Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and preachings for the necessary instruction and edification of such, as hunger and seeke after the perfect knowledge and inestimable glorie which is in Christ Iesu, to the comfort and saluation of their soules. Englished by VV.G.
London: printed by Thomas Vautroullier, 1578
Sermon salvation through Christ › The exposition of the text.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The exposition of the text.
This text teacheth us nothing else but christian faith, and stirreth it up in us, as surely John through his Gospel, doth almost no other thing but instruct us, how we must believe in the Lord Christ. And such a faith as is grounded on the true promise of God made unto us in Christ,1 shall save us, as this text plainly declareth. Also they are here all proved fools, which have taught us an other way and means to obtain righteousness. Whatsoever mans mind can invent, although it be holy, although it have a fair show before men, it must needs utterly fall, if that he will have salvation to come thereby. For albeit that man is exercised with the duties of godliness, he shall not be able to attain unto heaven, unless ⟨p. 227⟩God prevent him with his word, which may offer his divine grace unto him, and lighten his hart, that he may walk in the right way. Now this way is the Lord Jesus Christ,2 he that will seek an other way, as the most part of men with their outward works commonly do, hath now erred from the right and high way. For Paul saith Gal. 2: If righteousness be by the law, that is, by the works of the law, then Christ died without a cause. Therefore I say, that a man must by the Gospel be as it were bruised and broken, & humbled even from the bottom of his hart, as being frail & weak, which can move neither hands nor feet, but only lieth prostrate and crieth: Help me O omnipotent God, merciful Father, I am not able to help my self: Help O Lord Christ, mine own help is nothing. That so against this corner stone which is Christ all may be broken, as he saith of him self in Luke, when he asked the Pharisees and Scribes:3 What meaneth this then that is written: The stone that the builders refused, that is made the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone, shall be broken: & on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. Wherefore either let us fall upon it by our imbecility and weakness, by denying our selves, & so be broken, or else he will break us for ever in his strait judgement. But it is better that we fall upon it, then that it fall upon us. Upon this foundation Christ saith here in this text.