I am not a Lutheran nor do I hold to the teachings of the Lutheran church. I am a Christian and have no affiliation with any religious group. I do enjoy reading what others say and believe about Jesus Christ. Having studied the writings of some of what I believe to be the most prominent Christian scholars of our day, I always have one question when reading what they have said and that is "Where is what they have said leading me"?
If you read the writings of most religious denominations they do not lead you to Christ, they lead you into yourself who is a sinner. When you read "The Canons of Dort" or "The Council of Trent" you must ask yourself "Have I been predestinated, or am I doing enough good works to be saved"? In the light of the Gospel these questions are not important. What you should be asking yourself is the work of Jesus Christ sufficient to save me?
Martin Luther Comments on Free Will.
"Free-will is plainly a divine term, and can be applicable to none but the divine majesty only: for He alone "Doth, (as the Psalm sings) what he will in heaven and earth." (Ps.cxxxv. 6.) Whereas if it be ascribed unto men, it is not more properly ascribed, than the divinity of God himself would be ascribed unto them: which would be the greatest of all sacrilege. Wherefore it becomes Theologians to refrain from the use altogether, whenever they wish to speak of human ability, and leave it to the applied God only. And morover, to take this same term out of the mouths and speech of men; and thus to assert, as it were, for their God, that which belongs to His holy sacred name. . . .
But, if we do not like to leave out this term altogether, (which would be most safe and also most religious) we may nevertheless, with a good conscience teach, that it be used so far as to allow man a "Free-will" not in respect of those things which are above him, but in respect only of those things which are below him: that is he may be allowed to know, that he has as his goods and possessions the right of using, acting and omitting, according to his "Free-will;" although at the same time, that same "Free-will" is overuled by the Free-will of God alone, just as he pleases: but that, God-ward, or in things which pretain to salvation or damnation, he has no "Free-will," but is a captive slave, and servant, either to the will of God, or to the will of Satan".
- Bondage of the will, XXV1, pp. 76-79.
If you read the writings of most religious denominations they do not lead you to Christ, they lead you into yourself who is a sinner. When you read "The Canons of Dort" or "The Council of Trent" you must ask yourself "Have I been predestinated, or am I doing enough good works to be saved"? In the light of the Gospel these questions are not important. What you should be asking yourself is the work of Jesus Christ sufficient to save me?
Martin Luther Comments on Free Will.
"Free-will is plainly a divine term, and can be applicable to none but the divine majesty only: for He alone "Doth, (as the Psalm sings) what he will in heaven and earth." (Ps.cxxxv. 6.) Whereas if it be ascribed unto men, it is not more properly ascribed, than the divinity of God himself would be ascribed unto them: which would be the greatest of all sacrilege. Wherefore it becomes Theologians to refrain from the use altogether, whenever they wish to speak of human ability, and leave it to the applied God only. And morover, to take this same term out of the mouths and speech of men; and thus to assert, as it were, for their God, that which belongs to His holy sacred name. . . .
But, if we do not like to leave out this term altogether, (which would be most safe and also most religious) we may nevertheless, with a good conscience teach, that it be used so far as to allow man a "Free-will" not in respect of those things which are above him, but in respect only of those things which are below him: that is he may be allowed to know, that he has as his goods and possessions the right of using, acting and omitting, according to his "Free-will;" although at the same time, that same "Free-will" is overuled by the Free-will of God alone, just as he pleases: but that, God-ward, or in things which pretain to salvation or damnation, he has no "Free-will," but is a captive slave, and servant, either to the will of God, or to the will of Satan".
- Bondage of the will, XXV1, pp. 76-79.
