God loves us

 “God does not love us because we are valuable, but we are valuable because God loves us.”

-Martin Luther

Prayer

 "Every prayer is long enough if it be fervent and proceed from a heart that understands the necessity of the saints.”

Martin Luther

We are not little sinners.

 “If you see yourself as a little sinner, you will see Jesus as a little Savior.”

-Martin Luther

You should not believe

 “You should not believe your conscience and your feelings more than the Word.”

-Martin Luther

Afraid of My Own Heart

 “I am more afraid of my own heart than of the pope and all his cardinals.

I have within me the great pope, Self.”

— Martin Luther —

{We do not have to "live in" fear, as our fears are removed by the promise, power, love, grace of Jesus}

Line of Attack

 This one line of attack the devil pursues to the utmost against us, undertaking to break down our faith and confidence by the thought that God is angry with us.

- Martin Luther

You are free.

 “Either sin is lying on your shoulders, or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God - and if it is resting on Christ, you are free."

-Martin Luther

Luther on Prayer

 “Father, do not call us into judgment, for in Your presence no one is righteous. Please do not condemn us for being ungrateful for all of Your unspeakable goodness—both spiritual and physical—and for our daily blunders and sins, which are more than we know or mark (Psalm 19:12).

Furthermore, do not consider how good or bad we have been, but look upon us with Your infinite compassion, bestowed upon us by Christ, Your beloved Son. Forgive also all our enemies and all those who have harmed us or done us an injustice, even as we forgive them from the heart. For they do themselves irreparable harm when they vent their anger against us. We gain nothing by their ruin. Rather, we would rather see them blessed with us. Amen.”

— Martin Luther on the fifth petition for of the Lord’s Prayer

Luther on Galatians

 Luther: But where Christ is truly seen, there there must be full and perfect joy in the Lord and peace of heart, where the heart declares: “Although I am a sinner according to the Law, judged by the righteousness of the Law, nevertheless I do not despair. I do not die, because Christ lives who is my righteousness and my eternal and heavenly life. In that righteousness and life I have no sin, conscience, and death. I am indeed a sinner according to the present life and its righteousness, as a son of Adam where the Law accuses me, death reigns and devours me. But above this life I have another righteousness, another life, which is Christ, the Son of God, who does not know sin and death but is righteousness and eternal life. For His sake this body of mine will be raised from the dead and delivered from the slavery of the Law and sin, and will be sanctified together with the spirit.”

Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 26: Lectures on Galatians, 1535, Chapters 1-4, ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald, and Helmut T. Lehmann (Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1999), 8–9.

Humility in Controversy.

 May we also follow his humility in controversy

“Often have I been wont to declare, that even although he[Luther] were to call me a devil, I should still not the less hold him in such honour that I must acknowledge him to be an illustrious servant of God” -Calvin, Letters, 4:433

Unworthy Prayer

 "Do you doubt whether God has heard you, because you are a sinner? then cling to the word and say: Though I am a sinner and unworthy, yet I have the command of God, that tells me to pray, and his promise that he will graciously hear me, not because of my worthiness, but for the sake of the Lord Christ…

Pray, not regarding your worthiness or unworthiness, but your need and his word upon which he tells you to build; especially since he has placed before you and put into your mouth the words how and what you are to pray for…so that you joyously send up these prayers through him, and can lay them in his bosom, that he may lay them by his own worthiness before the Father…

As a Father he has promised to hear and help us…pray with hearty confidence, and rely upon this prayer, as assuredly heard, and await help."

—Martin Luther, Commentary on the Sermon on the Mount

Continually

 “I sin continually. But Christ has died and forever lives as my Redeemer, Priest, Advocate and King.”

-Martin Luther

I Despair Not

 Although I am a sinner, yet I despair not: for Christ, who is my Redeemer and my righteousness, lives. In Him I have no sin, no fear, no sting of conscience, and no fear of judgment: for in Him there is no condemnation. I am indeed a sinner as touching this present life; but I have a righteousness of God which is above this life, who is Christ my Lord. In Him I rejoice!

— Martin Luther

So few are changed!

 Preach the Word.

“For one should not quit simply because so few are changed for the better in hearing the preaching of the gospel. But do what Christ did: He rescued the elect and left the rest behind. This is what the apostles did also. It will not be better for you.” —Martin Luther

We must Look Away.

 For Christians struggling with assurance of salvation, consider:

True Christian righteousness is the righteousness of Christ who lives in us. We must look away from our own person. Christ and my conscience must become one, so that I can see nothing else but Christ crucified and raised from the dead for me. If I keep on looking at myself, I am gone. If we lose sight of Christ and begin to consider our past, we simply go to pieces. We must turn our eyes to the brazen serpent—Christ crucified—and believe with all our heart that He is our righteousness and our life. - Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians

Look at Christ

 “When I look at myself, I do not see how I can be saved.  But when I look at Christ, I do not see how I can be lost.”

— Martin Luther

The Supreme Art

"It's the supreme art of the devil that he can make the law out of gospel." Martin Luther

Over-whelmed

A young overwhelmed preacher complained to Luther that preaching was too heavy a burden for an inexperienced man like him and that he should have stayed in his former profession. Luther responded with words that, according to Roland Bainton, "Luther was constantly repeating to himself": "If Peter and Paul were here, they would scold you because you wish right off to be as accomplished as they. Crawling is something, even if one is unable to walk. Do your best. If you cannot preach an hour, then preach half an hour or a quarter of an hour. Do not try to imitate other people. Center on the shortest and simplest points, which are the very heart of the matter, and leave the rest to God. Look solely to his honor and not to applause. Pray that God will give you a mouth and to your audience ears. I can tell you preaching is not a work of man. Although I am old and experienced, I am afraid every time I have to preach. So pray to God and leave all the rest to him." Roland Bainton, Here I Stand, p. 361

Theology of the Cross (chatgpt)

 according to chatgpt:

Martin Luther's "Theology of the Cross" is a fundamental concept in his theology and a key aspect of his theological thought. It is important to understand this concept in the context of Luther's life and the religious landscape of his time.

Martin Luther was a 16th-century German theologian and the key figure in the Protestant Reformation. He challenged the teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church, leading to significant changes in Western Christianity. The "Theology of the Cross" is one of the central ideas that emerged from his theological writings.

Here is a comprehensive explanation of what Martin Luther's "Theology of the Cross" means:

Contrast with the "Theology of Glory": Luther introduced the concept of the "Theology of the Cross" in contrast to what he called the "Theology of Glory." The "Theology of Glory" represented the dominant medieval religious thinking, which emphasized human achievements, good works, and the pursuit of earthly success as a means of reaching God and finding salvation. In contrast, Luther argued that the true Christian understanding of God and salvation must begin with a different perspective.

The Hidden God and the Revealed God: Luther believed that there are two ways of understanding God. The first is what he called the "hidden God," which is beyond human comprehension and hidden from human reason. This hidden God operates in ways that are often contrary to human expectations. The second is the "revealed God," which is God as He has chosen to make Himself known through His Word and, most importantly, through Jesus Christ.

The Theology of the Cross vs. the Theology of Glory: Luther argued that the true knowledge of God comes not through human achievements or efforts but through the Cross of Christ. He asserted that God is most fully revealed in the suffering and death of Jesus on the Cross. This is a stark departure from the "Theology of Glory," which seeks to find God in human accomplishments and worldly success.

Paradox of the Cross: Luther emphasized the paradox of the Cross. On the surface, the Cross appears to be a symbol of weakness, failure, and suffering. However, Luther saw in the Cross the ultimate display of God's love and power. It is through Christ's crucifixion that God's redemptive work is accomplished, and humanity is reconciled with God.

Justification by Faith Alone: The "Theology of the Cross" is closely linked to Luther's doctrine of justification by faith alone (sola fide). Luther argued that it is through faith in Christ's atoning work on the Cross that individuals are justified and receive the gift of salvation. This is in contrast to the works-based righteousness emphasized by the Catholic Church of his time.

Embrace of Suffering and the Cross: Luther encouraged believers to embrace the challenges and sufferings of life, recognizing that these experiences can lead to a deeper understanding of God's grace. Through suffering, individuals can draw closer to God and find comfort in Christ's suffering on the Cross.

The "Theology of the Cross" Today: Luther's "Theology of the Cross" continues to be a significant theological concept in Protestant Christianity. It highlights the centrality of Christ's sacrificial death and the importance of faith in understanding God's grace and salvation.

In summary, Martin Luther's "Theology of the Cross" represents a radical shift in theological thinking, emphasizing the centrality of Christ's crucifixion as the ultimate revelation of God's love and the means of salvation. It contrasts with the prevailing emphasis on human achievements and worldly success in medieval Christianity, pointing believers toward a deeper understanding of God's grace through faith in Christ. This concept remains influential in Protestant theology to this day.

Quotes from Luther

 Luther: We, on the other hand, teach and comfort an afflicted sinner this way: “Brother, it is impossible for you to become so righteous in this life that your body is as clear and spotless as the sun. You still have spots and wrinkles (Eph. 5:27), and yet you are holy.” But you say: “How can I be holy when I have sin and am aware of it?” “That you feel and acknowledge sin—this is good. Thank God, and do not despair. It is one step toward health when a sick man admits and confesses his disease.” “But how will I be liberated from sin?” “Run to Christ, the Physician, who heals the contrite of heart and saves sinners. Believe in Him. If you believe, you are righteous, because you attribute to God the glory of being almighty, merciful, truthful, etc. You justify and praise God. In short, you attribute divinity and everything to Him. And the sin that still remains in you is not imputed but is forgiven for the sake of Christ, in whom you believe and who is perfectly righteous in a formal sense. His righteousness is yours; your sin is His.”

Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 26: Lectures on Galatians, 1535, Chapters 1-4, ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald, and Helmut T. Lehmann, vol. 26 (Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1999), 233.