Concerning Christian Liberty By Martin Luther

8/13/2019 Concerning Christian Liberty By Martin Luther

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Concerning Christian Liberty

ConcerningChristian Liberty

Martin Luther

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CONTENTS

LETTER OF MARTIN LUTHER TO POPE LEO X

CONCERNIN! CHRI"TIAN LI#ERT$

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LETTER OF MARTIN LUTHER TO POPE LEO X.

A&ong those &onstro's e(i)s o* this age +ith +hich I ha(e

no+ *or three years been +aging +ar, I a& so&eti&es

co&-e))e. to )oo/ to yo' an. to ca)) yo' to &in., &ost b)esse.

*ather Leo In tr'th, since yo' a)one are e(ery+here consi.ere.

as being the ca'se o* &y engaging in +ar, I cannot at any ti&e*ai) to re&e&ber yo'0 an. a)tho'gh I ha(e been co&-e))e. by

the ca'se)ess raging o* yo'r i&-io's *)atterers against &e to

a--ea) *ro& yo'r seat to a *'t're co'nci)*ear)ess o* the *'ti)e

.ecrees o* yo'r -re.ecessors Pi's an. ')i's, +ho in their

*oo)ish tyranny -rohibite. s'ch an actionyet I ha(e ne(er

been so a)ienate. in *ee)ing *ro& yo'r #)esse.ness as not to

ha(e so'ght +ith a)) &y &ight, in .i)igent -rayer an. crying to

!o., a)) the best gi*ts *or yo' an. *or yo'r see #'t those +ho

ha(e hitherto en.ea(o're. to terri*y &e +ith the &a3esty o*

yo'r na&e an. a'thority, I ha(e beg'n 4'ite to .es-ise an.

tri'&-h o(er One thing I see re&aining +hich I cannot .es-ise,

an. this has been the reason o* &y +riting ane+ to yo'r

#)esse.ness5 na&e)y, that I *in. that b)a&e is cast on &e, an.that it is i&-'te. to &e as a great o**ence, that in &y rashness I

a& 3'.ge. to ha(e s-are. not e(en yo'r -erson

No+, to con*ess the tr'th o-en)y, I a& conscio's that, +hene(er

I ha(e ha. to &ention yo'r -erson, I ha(e sai. nothing o* yo'

b't +hat +as hono'rab)e an. goo. I* I ha. .one other+ise, I

co'). by no &eans ha(e a--ro(e. &y o+n con.'ct, b't sho').

ha(e s'--orte. +ith a)) &y -o+er the 3'.g&ent o* those &en

concerning &e, nor +o'). anything ha(e -)ease. &e better,

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than to recant s'ch rashness an. i&-iety I ha(e ca))e. yo'

7anie) in #aby)on0 an. e(ery rea.er thoro'gh)y /no+s +ith

+hat .isting'ishe. 8ea) I .e*en.e. yo'r cons-ic'o's innocenceagainst "i)(ester, +ho trie. to stain it In.ee., the -'b)ishe.

o-inion o* so &any great &en an. the re-'te o* yo'r b)a&e)ess

)i*e are too +i.e)y *a&e. an. too &'ch re(erence. thro'gho't

the +or). to be assai)ab)e by any &an, o* ho+e(er great na&e,

or by any arts I a& not so *oo)ish as to attac/ one +ho&

e(erybo.y -raises0 nay, it has been an. a)+ays +i)) be &y

.esire not to attac/ e(en those +ho& -'b)ic re-'te .isgraces Ia& not .e)ighte. at the *a')ts o* any &an, since I a& (ery

conscio's &yse)* o* the great bea& in &y o+n eye, nor can I be

the *irst to cast a stone at the a.')teress

I ha(e in.ee. in(eighe. shar-)y against i&-io's .octrines, an.

I ha(e not been s)ac/ to cens're &y a.(ersaries on acco'nt, not

o* their ba. &ora)s, b't o* their i&-iety An. *or this I a& so *ar*ro& being sorry that I ha(e bro'ght &y &in. to .es-ise the

3'.g&ents o* &en an. to -erse(ere in this (ehe&ent 8ea),

accor.ing to the e9a&-)e o* Christ, +ho, in His 8ea), ca))s His

a.(ersaries a generation o* (i-ers, b)in., hy-ocrites, an.

chi).ren o* the .e(i) Pa'), too, charges the sorcerer +ith being

a chi). o* the .e(i), *')) o* a)) s'bt)ety an. a)) &a)ice0 an.

.e*a&es certain -ersons as e(i) +or/ers, .ogs, an. .ecei(ers Inthe o-inion o* those .e)icate:eare. -ersons, nothing co'). be

&ore bitter or inte&-erate than Pa');s )ang'age


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to o'r a.(ersaries


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Ch'rch o* Ro&e, *or&er)y the &ost ho)y o* a)) Ch'rches, has

beco&e the &ost )a+)ess .en o* thie(es, the &ost sha&e)ess o*

a)) brothe)s, the (ery /ing.o& o* sin, .eath, an. he))0 so that note(en antichrist, i* he +ere to co&e, co'). .e(ise any a..ition to

its +ic/e.ness

Mean+hi)e yo', Leo, are sitting )i/e a )a&b in the &i.st o*

+o)(es, )i/e 7anie) in the &i.st o* )ions, an., +ith E8e/ie), yo'

.+e)) a&ong scor-ions


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is, the &ore -ros-ero's)y he can 'se yo'r na&e an. a'thority

*or the r'in o* the -ro-erty an. so')s o* &en, *or the

&')ti-)ication o* cri&es, *or the o--ression o* *aith an. tr'than. o* the +ho)e Ch'rch o* !o.= Oh, LeoB in rea)ity &ost

'n*ort'nate, an. sitting on a &ost -eri)o's throne, I te)) yo' the

tr'th, beca'se I +ish yo' +e))0 *or i* #ernar. *e)t co&-assion

*or his Anastasi's at a ti&e +hen the Ro&an see, tho'gh e(en

then &ost corr'-t, +as as yet r')ing +ith better ho-e than no+,

+hy sho'). not +e )a&ent, to +ho& so &'ch *'rther corr'-tion

an. r'in has been a..e. in three h'n.re. years=

Is it not tr'e that there is nothing 'n.er the (ast hea(ens &ore

corr'-t, &ore -esti)entia), &ore hate*'), than the Co'rt o*

Ro&e= "he inco&-arab)y s'r-asses the i&-iety o* the T'r/s, so

that in (ery tr'th she, +ho +as *or&er)y the gate o* hea(en, is

no+ a sort o* o-en &o'th o* he)), an. s'ch a &o'th as, 'n.er

the 'rgent +rath o* !o., cannot be b)oc/e. '-0 one co'rsea)one being )e*t to 's +retche. &en5 to ca)) bac/ an. sa(e so&e

*e+, i* +e can, *ro& that Ro&an g')*

#eho)., Leo, &y *ather, +ith +hat -'r-ose an. on +hat

-rinci-)e it is that I ha(e stor&e. against that seat o* -esti)ence

I a& so *ar *ro& ha(ing *e)t any rage against yo'r -erson that I

e(en ho-e. to gain *a(o'r +ith yo' an. to ai. yo' in yo'r

+e)*are by stri/ing acti(e)y an. (igoro's)y at that yo'r -rison,

nay, yo'r he)) For +hate(er the e**orts o* a)) &in.s can

contri(e against the con*'sion o* that i&-io's Co'rt +i)) be

a.(antageo's to yo' an. to yo'r +e)*are, an. to &any others

+ith yo' Those +ho .o har& to her are .oing yo'r o**ice0

those +ho in e(ery +ay abhor her are g)ori*ying Christ0 in

short, those are Christians +ho are not Ro&ans#'t, to say yet &ore, e(en this ne(er entere. &y heart5 to

in(eigh against the Co'rt o* Ro&e or to .is-'te at a)) abo't her

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For, seeing a)) re&e.ies *or her hea)th to be .es-erate, I )oo/e.

on her +ith conte&-t, an., gi(ing her a bi)) o* .i(orce&ent,

sai. to her, @He that is 'n3'st, )et hi& be 'n3'st sti))0 an. he thatis *i)thy, )et hi& be *i)thy sti)), gi(ing &yse)* '- to the -eace*')

an. 4'iet st'.y o* sacre. )iterat're, that by this I &ight be o*

'se to the brethren )i(ing abo't &e


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)itt)e +or., since I at that ti&e -ro&ise. to be si)ent an. to

&a/e an en. o* &y case, i* he +o'). co&&an. &y a.(ersaries

to .o the sa&e #'t that &an o* -ri.e, not content +ith thisagree&ent, began to 3'sti*y &y a.(ersaries, to gi(e the& *ree

)icence, an. to or.er &e to recant, a thing +hich +as certain)y

not in his co&&ission Th's in.ee., +hen the case +as in the

best -osition, it ca&e thro'gh his (e9atio's tyranny into a &'ch

+orse one There*ore +hate(er has *o))o+e. '-on this is the

*a')t not o* L'ther, b't entire)y o* Ca3etan, since he .i. not

s'**er &e to be si)ent an. re&ain 4'iet, +hich at that ti&e I +asentreating *or +ith a)) &y &ight


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thoro'gh .isor.er, con*'sion, an. *estering soreness, that,

+hiche(er +ay the sentence &ight )ean, a greater con*)agration

+as s're to arise0 *or he +as see/ing, not a*ter tr'th, b't a*terhis o+n cre.it In this case too I o&itte. nothing +hich it +as

right that I sho'). .o

I con*ess that on this occasion no s&a)) -art o* the corr'-tions

o* Ro&e ca&e to )ight0 b't, i* there +as any o**ence in this, it

+as the *a')t o* Ecci's, +ho, in ta/ing on hi& a b'r.en beyon.

his strength, an. in *'rio's)y ai&ing at cre.it *or hi&se)*,

'n(ei)e. to the +ho)e +or). the .isgrace o* Ro&e

Here is that ene&y o* yo'rs, Leo, or rather o* yo'r Co'rt0 by his

e9a&-)e a)one +e &ay )earn that an ene&y is not &ore bane*')

than a *)atterer For +hat .i. he bring abo't by his *)attery,

e9ce-t e(i)s +hich no /ing co'). ha(e bro'ght abo't= At this

.ay the na&e o* the Co'rt o* Ro&e stin/s in the nostri)s o* the

+or)., the -a-a) a'thority is gro+ing +ea/, an. its notorio'signorance is e(i) s-o/en o*


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ca'se o* Christ &y Master For yo'r #)esse.ness +i)) be ab)e

by one short an. easy +or. to ca)) these contro(ersies be*ore

yo' an. s'--ress the&, an. to i&-ose si)ence an. -eace onboth si.esa +or. +hich I ha(e e(er )onge. to hear

There*ore, Leo, &y Father, be+are o* )istening to those sirens

+ho &a/e yo' o't to be not si&-)y a &an, b't -art)y a go., so

that yo' can co&&an. an. re4'ire +hate(er yo' +i)) It +i))

not ha--en so, nor +i)) yo' -re(ai) $o' are the ser(ant o*

ser(ants, an. &ore than any other &an, in a &ost -itiab)e an.

-eri)o's -osition Let not those &en .ecei(e yo' +ho -reten.

that yo' are )or. o* the +or).0 +ho +i)) not a))o+ any one to be

a Christian +itho't yo'r a'thority0 +ho babb)e o* yo'r ha(ing

-o+er o(er hea(en, he)), an. -'rgatory These &en are yo'r

ene&ies an. are see/ing yo'r so') to .estroy it, as Isaiah says,

@My -eo-)e, they that ca)) thee b)esse. are the&se)(es

.ecei(ing thee They are in error +ho raise yo' abo(e co'nci)san. the 'ni(ersa) Ch'rch0 they are in error +ho attrib'te to yo'

a)one the right o* inter-reting "cri-t're A)) these &en are

see/ing to set '- their o+n i&-ieties in the Ch'rch 'n.er yo'r

na&e, an. a)asB "atan has gaine. &'ch thro'gh the& in the

ti&e o* yo'r -re.ecessors

In brie*, tr'st not in any +ho e9a)t yo', b't in those +ho

h'&i)iate yo' For this is the 3'.g&ent o* !o.5 @He hath cast

.o+n the &ighty *ro& their seat, an. hath e9a)te. the h'&b)e

"ee ho+ 'n)i/e Christ +as to His s'ccessors, tho'gh a)) +i))

ha(e it that they are His (icars I *ear that in tr'th (ery &any o*

the& ha(e been in too serio's a sense His (icars, *or a (icar

re-resents a -rince +ho is absent No+ i* a -onti** r')es +hi)e

Christ is absent an. .oes not .+e)) in his heart, +hat e)se is heb't a (icar o* Christ= An. then +hat is that Ch'rch b't a

&')tit'.e +itho't Christ=


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antichrist an. an i.o)= Ho+ &'ch &ore right)y .i. the A-ost)es

s-ea/, +ho ca)) the&se)(es ser(ants o* a -resent Christ, not the

(icars o* an absent oneBPerha-s I a& sha&e)ess)y bo). in see&ing to teach so great a

hea., by +ho& a)) &en o'ght to be ta'ght, an. *ro& +ho&, as

those -)ag'es o* yo'rs boast, the thrones o* 3'.ges recei(e their

sentence0 b't I i&itate "t #ernar. in his boo/ concerning

Consi.erations a..resse. to E'geni's, a boo/ +hich o'ght to

be /no+n by heart by e(ery -onti** I .o this, not *ro& any

.esire to teach, b't as a .'ty, *ro& that si&-)e an. *aith*')

so)icit'.e +hich teaches 's to be an9io's *or a)) that is sa*e *or

o'r neighbo'rs, an. .oes not a))o+ consi.erations o*

+orthiness or 'n+orthiness to be entertaine., being intent on)y

on the .angers or a.(antage o* others For since I /no+ that

yo'r #)esse.ness is .ri(en an. tosse. by the +a(es at Ro&e, so

that the .e-ths o* the sea -ress on yo' +ith in*inite -eri)s, an.that yo' are )abo'ring 'n.er s'ch a con.ition o* &isery that yo'

nee. e(en the )east he)- *ro& any the )east brother, I .o not

see& to &yse)* to be acting 'ns'itab)y i* I *orget yo'r &a3esty

ti)) I sha)) ha(e *')*i))e. the o**ice o* charity I +i)) not *)atter in

so serio's an. -eri)o's a &atter0 an. i* in this yo' .o not see

that I a& yo'r *rien. an. &ost thoro'gh)y yo'r s'b3ect, there is

One to see an. 3'.ge

In *ine, that I &ay not a--roach yo' e&-ty:han.e., b)esse.

Father, I bring +ith &e this )itt)e treatise, -'b)ishe. 'n.er yo'r

na&e, as a goo. o&en o* the estab)ish&ent o* -eace an. o*

goo. ho-e #y this yo' &ay -ercei(e in +hat -'rs'its I sho').

-re*er an. be ab)e to occ'-y &yse)* to &ore -ro*it, i* I +ere

a))o+e., or ha. been hitherto a))o+e., by yo'r i&-io's*)atterers It is a s&a)) &atter, i* yo' )oo/ to its e9terior, b't,

'n)ess I &ista/e, it is a s'&&ary o* the Christian )i*e -'t

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together in s&a)) co&-ass, i* yo' a--rehen. its &eaning I, in

&y -o(erty, ha(e no other -resent to &a/e yo', nor .o yo'

nee. anything e)se than to be enriche. by a s-irit'a) gi*t Ico&&en. &yse)* to yo'r Paternity an. #)esse.ness, +ho& &ay

the Lor. es's -reser(e *or e(er A&en


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e(ery one

A)tho'gh these state&ents a--ear contra.ictory, yet, +hen they

are *o'n. to agree together, they +i)) &a/e e9ce))ent)y *or &y-'r-ose They are both the state&ents o* Pa') hi&se)*, +ho

says, @Tho'gh I be *ree *ro& a)) &en, yet ha(e I &a.e &yse)*

ser(ant 'nto a)) G1 Cor i9 1, an. @O+e no &an anything,

b't to )o(e one another GRo& 9iii D No+ )o(e is by its o+n

nat're .'ti*') an. obe.ient to the be)o(e. ob3ect Th's e(en

Christ, tho'gh Lor. o* a)) things, +as yet &a.e o* a +o&an0

&a.e 'n.er the )a+0 at once *ree an. a ser(ant0 at once in the

*or& o* !o. an. in the *or& o* a ser(ant

Let 's e9a&ine the s'b3ect on a .ee-er an. )ess si&-)e

-rinci-)e Man is co&-ose. o* a t+o*o). nat're, a s-irit'a) an.

a bo.i)y As regar.s the s-irit'a) nat're, +hich they na&e the

so'), he is ca))e. the s-irit'a), in+ar., ne+ &an0 as regar.s the

bo.i)y nat're, +hich they na&e the *)esh, he is ca))e. the*)esh)y, o't+ar., o). &an The A-ost)e s-ea/s o* this5 @Tho'gh

o'r o't+ar. &an -erish, yet the in+ar. &an is rene+e. .ay by

.ay G2 Cor i( 1? The res')t o* this .i(ersity is that in the

"cri-t'res o--osing state&ents are &a.e concerning the sa&e

&an, the *act being that in the sa&e &an these t+o &en are

o--ose. to one another0 the *)esh )'sting against the s-irit, an.

the s-irit against the *)esh G!a) ( 1


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o't o* the &o'th o* !o. GMatt i( 6

Let 's there*ore ho). it *or certain an. *ir&)y estab)ishe. that

the so') can .o +itho't e(erything e9ce-t the +or. o* !o.,+itho't +hich none at a)) o* its +ants are -ro(i.e. *or #'t,

ha(ing the +or., it is rich an. +ants *or nothing, since that is

the +or. o* )i*e, o* tr'th, o* )ight, o* -eace, o* 3'sti*ication, o*

sa)(ation, o* 3oy, o* )iberty, o* +is.o&, o* (irt'e, o* grace, o*

g)ory, an. o* e(ery goo. thing It is on this acco'nt that the

-ro-het in a +ho)e Psa)& GPsa)& c9i9, an. in &any other

-)aces, sighs *or an. ca))s '-on the +or. o* !o. +ith so &any

groanings an. +or.s

Again, there is no &ore cr'e) stro/e o* the +rath o* !o. than

+hen He sen.s a *a&ine o* hearing His +or.s GA&os (iii 11,

3'st as there is no greater *a(o'r *ro& Hi& than the sen.ing

*orth o* His +or., as it is sai., @He sent His +or. an. hea)e.

the&, an. .e)i(ere. the& *ro& their .estr'ctions GPsa)& c(ii2 Christ +as sent *or no other o**ice than that o* the +or.0

an. the or.er o* A-ost)es, that o* bisho-s, an. that o* the +ho)e

bo.y o* the c)ergy, ha(e been ca))e. an. instit'te. *or no ob3ect

b't the &inistry o* the +or.

#'t yo' +i)) as/,


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to e(ery one that be)ie(eth GRo& 9 6, an. @The 3'st sha)) )i(e

by *aith GRo& i 1 For the +or. o* !o. cannot be recei(e.

an. hono're. by any +or/s, b't by *aith a)one Hence it is c)earthat as the so') nee.s the +or. a)one *or )i*e an. 3'sti*ication,

so it is 3'sti*ie. by *aith a)one, an. not by any +or/s For i* it

co'). be 3'sti*ie. by any other &eans, it +o'). ha(e no nee. o*

the +or., nor conse4'ent)y o* *aith

#'t this *aith cannot consist at a)) +ith +or/s0 that is, i* yo'

i&agine that yo' can be 3'sti*ie. by those +or/s, +hate(er they

are, a)ong +ith it For this +o'). be to ha)t bet+een t+o

o-inions, to +orshi- #aa), an. to /iss the han. to hi&, +hich is

a (ery great ini4'ity, as ob says There*ore, +hen yo' begin to

be)ie(e, yo' )earn at the sa&e ti&e that a)) that is in yo' is

'tter)y g'i)ty, sin*'), an. .a&nab)e, accor.ing to that saying,

@A)) ha(e sinne., an. co&e short o* the g)ory o* !o. GRo&

iii 2%, an. a)so5 @There is none righteo's, no, not one0 they area)) gone o't o* the +ay0 they are together beco&e 'n-ro*itab)e5

there is none that .oeth goo., no, not one GRo& iii 1:12


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+or/ There*ore the *irst care o* e(ery Christian o'ght to be to

)ay asi.e a)) re)iance on +or/s, an. strengthen his *aith a)one

&ore an. &ore, an. by it gro+ in the /no+)e.ge, not o* +or/s,b't o* Christ es's, +ho has s'**ere. an. risen again *or hi&, as

Peter teaches G1 Peter ( +hen he &a/es no other +or/ to be a

Christian one Th's Christ, +hen the e+s as/e. Hi& +hat they

sho'). .o that they &ight +or/ the +or/s o* !o., re3ecte. the

&')tit'.e o* +or/s, +ith +hich He sa+ that they +ere -'**e.

'-, an. co&&an.e. the& one thing on)y, saying, @This is the

+or/ o* !o.5 that ye be)ie(e on Hi& +ho& He hath sent, *orHi& hath !o. the Father sea)e. Gohn (i 2, 2

Hence a right *aith in Christ is an inco&-arab)e treas're,

carrying +ith it 'ni(ersa) sa)(ation an. -reser(ing *ro& a)) e(i),

as it is sai., @He that be)ie(eth an. is ba-tise. sha)) be sa(e.0

b't he that be)ie(eth not sha)) be .a&ne. GMar/ 9(i 1?

Isaiah, )oo/ing to this treas're, -re.icte., @The cons'&-tion.ecree. sha)) o(er*)o+ +ith righteo'sness For the Lor. !o. o*

hosts sha)) &a/e a cons'&-tion, e(en .eter&ine. G(erb'&

abbre(iat'& et cons'&&ans, in the &i.st o* the )an. GIsa 9

22, 2% As i* he sai., @Faith, +hich is the brie* an. co&-)ete

*')*i))ing o* the )a+, +i)) *i)) those +ho be)ie(e +ith s'ch

righteo'sness that they +i)) nee. nothing e)se *or 3'sti*ication

Th's, too, Pa') says, @For +ith the heart &an be)ie(eth 'ntorighteo'sness GRo& 9 1

#'t yo' as/ ho+ it can be the *act that *aith a)one 3'sti*ies, an.

a**or.s +itho't +or/s so great a treas're o* goo. things, +hen

so &any +or/s, cere&onies, an. )a+s are -rescribe. to 's in the

"cri-t'res= I ans+er, #e*ore a)) things bear in &in. +hat I ha(e

sai.5 that *aith a)one +itho't +or/s 3'sti*ies, sets *ree, an.sa(es, as I sha)) sho+ &ore c)ear)y be)o+

Mean+hi)e it is to be note. that the +ho)e "cri-t're o* !o. is

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.i(i.e. into t+o -arts5 -rece-ts an. -ro&ises The -rece-ts

certain)y teach 's +hat is goo., b't +hat they teach is not

*orth+ith .one For they sho+ 's +hat +e o'ght to .o, b't .onot gi(e 's the -o+er to .o it They +ere or.aine., ho+e(er,

*or the -'r-ose o* sho+ing &an to hi&se)*, that thro'gh the&

he &ay )earn his o+n i&-otence *or goo. an. &ay .es-air o*

his o+n strength For this reason they are ca))e. the O).

Testa&ent, an. are so

For e9a&-)e, @Tho' sha)t not co(et, is a -rece-t by +hich +e

are a)) con(icte. o* sin, since no &an can he)- co(eting,

+hate(er e**orts to the contrary he &ay &a/e In or.er

there*ore that he &ay *')*i) the -rece-t, an. not co(et, he is

constraine. to .es-air o* hi&se)* an. to see/ e)se+here an.

thro'gh another the he)- +hich he cannot *in. in hi&se)*0 as it

is sai., @O Israe), tho' hast .estroye. thyse)*0 b't in Me is thine

he)- GHosea 9iii No+ +hat is .one by this one -rece-t is.one by a))0 *or a)) are e4'a))y i&-ossib)e o* *')*i)&ent by 's

No+ +hen a &an has thro'gh the -rece-ts been ta'ght his o+n

i&-otence, an. beco&e an9io's by +hat &eans he &ay satis*y

the )a+*or the )a+ &'st be satis*ie., so that no 3ot or titt)e o*

it &ay -ass a+ay, other+ise he &'st be ho-e)ess)y con.e&ne.

then, being tr')y h'&b)e. an. bro'ght to nothing in his o+n

eyes, he *in.s in hi&se)* no reso'rce *or 3'sti*ication an.

sa)(ation

Then co&es in that other -art o* "cri-t're, the -ro&ises o* !o.,

+hich .ec)are the g)ory o* !o., an. say, @I* yo' +ish to *')*i)

the )a+, an., as the )a+ re4'ires, not to co(et, )oB be)ie(e in

Christ, in +ho& are -ro&ise. to yo' grace, 3'sti*ication, -eace,

an. )iberty A)) these things yo' sha)) ha(e, i* yo' be)ie(e, an.sha)) be +itho't the& i* yo' .o not be)ie(e For +hat is

i&-ossib)e *or yo' by a)) the +or/s o* the )a+, +hich are &any

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an. yet 'se)ess, yo' sha)) *')*i) in an easy an. s'&&ary +ay

thro'gh *aith, beca'se !o. the Father has &a.e e(erything to

.e-en. on *aith, so that +hosoe(er has it has a)) things, an. he+ho has it not has nothing @For !o. hath conc)'.e. the& a)) in

'nbe)ie*, that He &ight ha(e &ercy '-on a)) GRo& 9i %2

Th's the -ro&ises o* !o. gi(e that +hich the -rece-ts e9act,

an. *')*i) +hat the )a+ co&&an.s0 so that a)) is o* !o. a)one,

both the -rece-ts an. their *')*i)&ent He a)one co&&an.s0 He

a)one a)so *')*i)s Hence the -ro&ises o* !o. be)ong to the

Ne+ Testa&ent0 nay, are the Ne+ Testa&ent

No+, since these -ro&ises o* !o. are +or.s o* ho)iness, tr'th,

righteo'sness, )iberty, an. -eace, an. are *')) o* 'ni(ersa)

goo.ness, the so'), +hich c)ea(es to the& +ith a *ir& *aith, is

so 'nite. to the&, nay, thoro'gh)y absorbe. by the&, that it not

on)y -arta/es in, b't is -enetrate. an. sat'rate. by, a)) their

(irt'es For i* the to'ch o* Christ +as hea)ing, ho+ &'ch &ore.oes that &ost ten.er s-irit'a) to'ch, nay, absor-tion o* the

+or., co&&'nicate to the so') a)) that be)ongs to the +or.B In

this +ay there*ore the so'), thro'gh *aith a)one, +itho't +or/s,

is *ro& the +or. o* !o. 3'sti*ie., sancti*ie., en.'e. +ith tr'th,

-eace, an. )iberty, an. *i))e. *')) +ith e(ery goo. thing, an. is

tr')y &a.e the chi). o* !o., as it is sai., @To the& ga(e He

-o+er to beco&e the sons o* !o., e(en to the& that be)ie(e onHis na&e Gohn i 12

Fro& a)) this it is easy to 'n.erstan. +hy *aith has s'ch great

-o+er, an. +hy no goo. +or/s, nor e(en a)) goo. +or/s -'t

together, can co&-are +ith it, since no +or/ can c)ea(e to the

+or. o* !o. or be in the so') Faith a)one an. the +or. reign in

it0 an. s'ch as is the +or., s'ch is the so') &a.e by it, 3'st asiron e9-ose. to *ire g)o+s )i/e *ire, on acco'nt o* its 'nion +ith

the *ire It is c)ear then that to a Christian &an his *aith s'**ices

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*or e(erything, an. that he has no nee. o* +or/s *or

3'sti*ication #'t i* he has no nee. o* +or/s, neither has he

nee. o* the )a+0 an. i* he has no nee. o* the )a+, he is certain)y*ree *ro& the )a+, an. the saying is tr'e, @The )a+ is not &a.e

*or a righteo's &an G1 Ti& i This is that Christian )iberty,

o'r *aith, the e**ect o* +hich is, not that +e sho'). be care)ess

or )ea. a ba. )i*e, b't that no one sho'). nee. the )a+ or +or/s

*or 3'sti*ication an. sa)(ation

Let 's consi.er this as the *irst (irt'e o* *aith0 an. )et 's )oo/

a)so to the secon. This a)so is an o**ice o* *aith5 that it hono'rs

+ith the 't&ost (eneration an. the highest re-'tation Hi& in

+ho& it be)ie(es, inas&'ch as it ho).s Hi& to be tr'th*') an.

+orthy o* be)ie* For there is no hono'r )i/e that re-'tation o*

tr'th an. righteo'sness +ith +hich +e hono'r Hi& in +ho&

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*')*i))e. by s'ch an obe.ience=


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so') to Christ, as the +i*e to the h'sban., by +hich &ystery, as

the A-ost)e teaches, Christ an. the so') are &a.e one *)esh

No+ i* they are one *)esh, an. i* a tr'e &arriagenay, by *arthe &ost -er*ect o* a)) &arriagesis acco&-)ishe. bet+een

the& G*or h'&an &arriages are b't *eeb)e ty-es o* this one great

&arriage, then it *o))o+s that a)) they ha(e beco&es theirs in

co&&on, as +e)) goo. things as e(i) things0 so that +hatsoe(er

Christ -ossesses, that the be)ie(ing so') &ay ta/e to itse)* an.

boast o* as its o+n, an. +hate(er be)ongs to the so'), that

Christ c)ai&s as His

I* +e co&-are these -ossessions, +e sha)) see ho+ inesti&ab)e

is the gain Christ is *')) o* grace, )i*e, an. sa)(ation0 the so') is

*')) o* sin, .eath, an. con.e&nation Let *aith ste- in, an. then

sin, .eath, an. he)) +i)) be)ong to Christ, an. grace, )i*e, an.

sa)(ation to the so') For, i* He is a H'sban., He &'st nee.s

ta/e to Hi&se)* that +hich is His +i*e;s, an. at the sa&e ti&e,i&-art to His +i*e that +hich is His For, in gi(ing her His o+n

bo.y an. Hi&se)*, ho+ can He b't gi(e her a)) that is His= An.,

in ta/ing to Hi&se)* the bo.y o* His +i*e, ho+ can He b't ta/e

to Hi&se)* a)) that is hers=

In this is .is-)aye. the .e)ight*') sight, not on)y o* co&&'nion,

b't o* a -ros-ero's +ar*are, o* (ictory, sa)(ation, an.

re.e&-tion For, since Christ is !o. an. &an, an. is s'ch a

Person as neither has sinne., nor .ies, nor is con.e&ne., nay,

cannot sin, .ie, or be con.e&ne., an. since His righteo'sness,

)i*e, an. sa)(ation are in(incib)e, eterna), an. a)&ighty,+hen

I say, s'ch a Person, by the +e..ing:ring o* *aith, ta/es a share

in the sins, .eath, an. he)) o* His +i*e, nay, &a/es the& His

o+n, an. .ea)s +ith the& no other+ise than as i* they +ere His,an. as i* He Hi&se)* ha. sinne.0 an. +hen He s'**ers, .ies, an.

.escen.s to he)), that He &ay o(erco&e a)) things, an. since

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sin, .eath, an. he)) cannot s+a))o+ Hi& '-, they &'st nee.s be

s+a))o+e. '- by Hi& in st'-en.o's con*)ict For His

righteo'sness rises abo(e the sins o* a)) &en0 His )i*e is &ore-o+er*') than a)) .eath0 His sa)(ation is &ore 'ncon4'erab)e

than a)) he))

Th's the be)ie(ing so'), by the -)e.ge o* its *aith in Christ,

beco&es *ree *ro& a)) sin, *ear)ess o* .eath, sa*e *ro& he)), an.

en.o+e. +ith the eterna) righteo'sness, )i*e, an. sa)(ation o* its

H'sban. Christ Th's He -resents to Hi&se)* a g)orio's bri.e,

+itho't s-ot or +rin/)e, c)eansing her +ith the +ashing o*

+ater by the +or.0 that is, by *aith in the +or. o* )i*e,

righteo'sness, an. sa)(ation Th's He betrothes her 'nto

Hi&se)* @in *aith*')ness, in righteo'sness, an. in 3'.g&ent, an.

in )o(ing:/in.ness, an. in &ercies GHosea ii 1, 2

?, >

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Concerning Christian Liberty By Martin Luther

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Transcript of Concerning Christian Liberty By Martin Luther