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

Here perhaps some godly man will think: If the matter be so, and our works do not save us, but only to hear Christ and believe in him, who is given unto us of the Father to be our righteousness and salvation, to what end then are so many precepts given unto us, and why doth God so severely require that they be obeyed? The present text of the Apostle shall give unto us the solution of this question, and upon this fit occasion we will now enter into the exposition thereof. The Galatians being taught of Paul the faith of Christ, but afterwards seduced by false Apostles, thought that the matter of our salvation must be finished & made perfect by the works of the law, and that only faith doth not suffice. These Paul calleth back again from works unto faith with great diligence, and words marvellous effectual, plainly proving that the works of the law which go before saith, do make us only servants, and be of no importance to godliness & ⟨p. 284⟩salvation: but that faith doth make us the sons of God, & that from thence true good works do without constraint forth with most plentifully flow. But here we must accustom our selves to the words of the Apostle:¹ He calleth him a servant that is occupied in works without faith, whereof we have already entreated at large: he calleth him a son, which is righteous and liveth by faith alone, without works. The reason hereof is this: this servant, although he apply him self to good works, yet he doth it not with that mind, with which a son doth, that is with a mind that is free, willing, & certain that the inheritance and all the good things of the Father are his: but doth it as he that is hired with a stipend in an other mans house, who hopeth not that the inheritance shall come unto him. The works in deed of the son and the servant are like, & almost all one according to the outward appearance, but their minds do differ exceeding much, and their hope is nothing like, even as Christ him self saith: The servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the son abideth for ever. Joh. 8.

Here perhaps some godly man will thinke: If the matter be so, and our workes doe not saue vs, but onely to heare Christ and beleue in him, who is giuen vnto vs of the Father to be our righteousnes and saluation, to what ende then are so many precepts giuen vnto vs, and why doth God so seuerely require that they be obeyed? The present text of the Apostle shall giue vnto vs the solution of this question, and vpon this fit occasion we will now enter into the exposition thereof. The Galathians being taught of Paule the faith of Christ, but afterwards seduced by false Apostles, thought that the matter of our saluation must be finished & made perfect by the workes of the law, and that onely faith doth not suffize. These Paule calleth backe againe from workes vnto faith with great diligence, and words meruelous effectual, plainly prouing that the workes of the law which goe before saith, doe make vs onely seruaunts, and be of no importance to godlines &