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

We have therefore believed, and we do also believe, to wit the Fathers and we, with a like and common faith in the same Christ, although not after the same manner, as it is said. And as by reason of this communion of faith which we have a like in the same Christ, we say: we have believed, or we did believe, when as not we, but the Fathers have believed or did believe: so they again did say, that they should hear, see, and believe in Christ, when as not they, but we do live in that time. We read not in a few places of the Scriptures, that they which were before the incarnation of Christ, took upon them the person of them which are after it, and they which are after it, of them which were before it, because of the communion of faith, and the same Christ, which they have in common, and so there is as it were one company of believers. Now whereas the Apostle saith,¹ that salvation is now nearer unto us then when we believed, that is, when our Fathers those ancient believers did look for it to come, we must not understand it of the nearness of possession, as though we now had it nearer and more certainly then they, for the Fathers had altogether the same faith, as it is said, and the same Christ, wherefore salvation was as near unto them as unto us. For Christ yesterday, and to day, the same also is for ever. Heb. 13. Christ continueth the same from the beginning of the world even unto the end, by whom all are saved alike. But Paul speaketh of the nearness of revealing, that what soever things were said before concerning Christ, they were now fulfils, death being overcome, the Lord did sit at the right hand of the Father, ⟨p. 240⟩the Gospel was preached abroad in the world, by which Christ did come unto all in the whole world, for this cause Paul saith that our salvation is nearer then when it was hidden, and known unto few men: because that Christ being not yet glorified, it was not meet that the preaching of salvation should be made public or common.

We haue therefore beleeued, and we do also beleeue, to wit the Fathers and we, with a like and common faith in the same Christ, although not after the same maner, as it is saide. And as by reason of this communion of faith which we haue a like in the same Christ, we say: we haue beleeued, or we did beleeue, when as not we, but the Fathers haue beleeued or did beleeue: so they againe did say, that they should heare, see, and beleeue in Christ, when as not they, but we do liue in that time. We read not in a few places of the Scriptures, that they which were before the incarnation of Christ, tooke vpon them the person of them which are after it, and they which are after it, of them which were before it, because of the communion of faith, and the same Christ, which they haue in common, and so there is as it were one companie of beleeuers. Now whereas the Apostle saith,