Gerhard and Walther

By His descent into hell, Christ demonstrated that He has destroyed the devil’s kingdom so that it also would be destroyed in us. However, anyone who from now on still wants to live by sinning against conscience, in such a person the kingdom of the devil is once again re-established. Is it not to be pitied that we would want to again rebuilt and restore that which Christ has broken down and destroyed?—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis, I:63.

If Jesus had only spoken God’s Word and failed to perform God’s works, a person could excuse himself by saying that in spiritual matters he is like a blind man and unable to examine and appraise the excellence of His doctrine. But anyone, even a child, can and must recognize the divinity of His works.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 43.