The following are five quotations from Martin Luther on the subject of faith. They are taken from What Luther Says, compiled by Ewald M. Plass, Volume I, pages 477-479, paragraphs 1412-1415, and 1420.
Luther contended that salvation is the free gift of God, and therefore could be received only though faith, and that faith itself is a gift of God. Says Plass regarding paragraph 1412: Faith is “a work performed in us rather than by us.” Faith is a divine work that produces all the other works below it.
Paragraph 1412:
Faith is full of life and power. It is not an idle thought. It does not float on the surface of the heart, as a goose does on water; but it is as water that has been warmed by fire. Although such water remains water, it is no longer cold but warm and, therefore, an entirely different sort of water. So faith, which is the work of the Holy Spirit, makes the mind and the thinking of a person different and thereby makes an entirely new man of him. Faith, then, is an active, independent (difficilis), and powerful thing; and if we want truly to evaluate it, we should call it an influence (passio) on us rather than an act (actio) performed by us. For it changes our souls and our views.Paragraph 1413:
Do not think lightly of faith. It is a work that is of all works the most excellent and the most difficult. Through it alone you will be saved, even though you were obliged to do without all other works. For it is the work of God, not of man, as Paul teaches (Ephesians 1:19). The other works He performs with our co-operation and through us; this alone He works within us and without our co-operation (sine nobis).Paragraph 1414:
Faith is a divine work which God requires of us; but He Himself must give us the strength to do it.Paragraph 1415:
It is a mistake to place faith and its work alongside other virtues and works. Faith should be elevated above all and regarded, as it were, as a sort of constant and general influence above all works, through the movement and activity of which everything that is in man is sent into motion, works, is vigorous and pleasing.Paragraph 1420:
A Christian modestly says to God: Dear Lord, although I am sure of my position, I am unable to sustain it without Thee. Help Thou me, or I am lost. — He is indeed certain of his position, as Peter was on the water (Matthew 14:29). Peter could not be more certain than he was. The water was supporting him. He saw no obstacle in his way. But when the wind came rushing on, he saw what was lacking in him. This must be taken well to heart. For although we are sure of our position, have Scripture, and are covered and armed with clear passages in the very best way, yet our security depends on the power, the will, and the might of God, who protects us and defends us against the devil, our adversary and greatest enemy.
But this happens that God may make us determined and yet keep us fearful, so that we are always filled with concern and cry to Him: O Lord, help us, and increase our faith (Luke 17:5); for without Thee we are undone. At heart we should always feel as if we were just beginning to believe today, and every day we should feel as if we had never heard the Gospel before. We must believe anew every day.
