Luther

Joy is the natural fruit of faith.—Sermon for Advent IV, Epistle (CP VI:93).

Luther

Mark you, beloved, to serve Christ, or to serve God, is defined by Paul himself as to fulfil a Christ-ordained office, the office of preaching. This office is a service or ministry proceeding from Christ to us, and not from us to Christ.—Sermon for Advent III, Epistle (CP VI:66)

Luther

[On 1 Cor. 4:1] The same limit here made concerning apostles applies also to bishops. It designates the character of their office and the extend of their power. So when we see a bishop assuming more than this text gives him warrant for, we may safely regard him as a wolf, and an apostle of the devil, and avoid him as such.—Sermon on Epistle for Advent IV, CP VI:65

Luther

Let him who desires to fast and make confession, do so, but let no one censure, judge, condemn or quarrel with his fellow over the matter.—Sermon for Advent II, Epistle (Church Postil VI:47).

Luther

Paul says God grants patience and comfort; we do not possess them of ourselves. If they are granted they are not of nature, but of grace, and are gifts.—Sermon for Advent II, Church Postil, VI:45

Luther

This life is simply a mortification of the old Adam, which must die. So patience is essential. Again, since the life to come is not evident to mortal sense, it is necessary for the soul to have something to which it may cleave in patience, something to help it to a partial comprehension of that future life, and upon which it can rest. That something is God’s Word.—Sermon for Advent II, Epistle (CP VI:43)

Luther

Now, the Christian hatred of sin discriminates between the vices and the individual. It endeavors to exterminate only the former and to preserve the later. It does flee from, evade, reject or despise anyone: rather it receives every man, takes a warm interest in him and accords him treatment calculated to relieve him of his vices. —Sermon for Advent II (Epistle), CP VI:35

Luther

We are to avoid as heathen those who obstinately attempt to justify their sins and are unwilling to forsake them.—Sermon for Advent II Epistle, Church Postils (VI:37)

Luther

All foods are good creations of God and to be used. Only take heed to be temperate in appropriating them and to abstain when it is necessary to the conquest of the works of darkness. It is impossible to lay down a common rule of abstinence, for all bodies are not constituted alike. One needs more, another less. Everyone must judge for himself, and must care for his body according to the advice of Paul: “Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” [Note: Luther’s German reads, Make provision for the flesh, yet not so as to fulfill the lusts thereof.”]—Homily for Advent I Epistle, Church Postils

Luther

A Christian ought to live as he would be found on the last day before all men.—CP VI:20 (Advent I Epistle) 

Luther

That (Matthew XXV:41) ought to be a strong and earnest warning that we as Christians should so study and live that we shall be able to stand with honour and unafraid at the right hand of this Lord of Majesty, where there will be no fear or terror, but only pure eternal comfort and joy.—Sermon on 26 Trinity, 1544. 

Luther

The Prophet Isaiah speaks the truth about Him, for He hides His omnipotence, His wisdom, power, and strength, and makes it appear as though He could do nothing, know nothing, understand nothing, or does not wish to. Now He lets our enemies do as they like with His Word, Sacraments, and Christians; He lets us call and cry, and keeps silence.—Sermons, 1531

Luther

Thus it is written in Psalm cxlix: ‘Let the saints hold a two-edged sword in their hands.’ Those are not material swords, but spiritual swords of the mouth of Christ. With these swords and with their wisdom Christians must rush into battle and smite down heathen nations and kings, with all their visions of holiness, and take them prisoner and subject them to Christ. Such is the honour of God’s warriors and saints.—Day by Day, p. 389.

Luther

For where God through His Word and faith has gathered together a Church, the devil cannot be at peace, and where he cannot achieve her destruction through sectarianism he strikes at her with persecution and violence, so that we must risk body and life in the fight, and all we have.—Sermon for Trinity 3, 1544

Luther

Yet each Christian should be so armed that he himself is sure of his belief and of the doctrine and is so equipped with sayings from the Word of God that he can stand up against the devil and defend himself, when men seek to lead him astray, and so can help to fight the battle for maintaining the true doctrine.—Sermon, 1531

Luther

The Word and doctrine will create Christian unity and fellowship. Where they reign all else will follow. Where they are not no concord will ever abide. Therefore, do not talk to me about love and friendship, if that means breaking with the Word, or the faith, for the Gospel does not say that love brings eternal life, God’s grace, and all heavenly treasures, but the Word.—Sermon, 1531

Luther

Out of love, Christ, with all His saints, takes on our form and fights with us against sin, death, and all evil, so that we, being kindled with love, take His form, trust ourselves to His righteousness, His life and blessedness, and so through the fellowship of the good that belongs to Him and the wretchedness that belongs to us, we become one loaf, one bread, one body, one drink, and all is common.—Sermon on the Sacrament of the Body of Christ, 1519

Luther

To them [the Christian people] is given the Gospel, Baptism, and the Sacrament to convert the people, to win souls from the devil, to snatch them out of hell and death, and take them up to heaven; and again to strengthen, comfort, and uphold the poor and instruct and advise afflicted consciences in their sore temptations; and again to teach all people in all occupations how to do their work as good Christians.—Exposition Jn xiv, xv

Luther

The mysteries of God are those hidden things which God gives and which dwell in God.—Gaudete, 1522

Luther

And thus the Christian Church has held her own from the beginning until now among innumerable false spirits which have been from the beginning and may still come. And yet she goes on standing firmly by her Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, Gospel, Christ, and Ten Commandments, and true and pure prayer, and thus she judges and separates herself from all false teaching which is opposed to her—yes, even though the devil should become an angel of light and as a beautiful and radiant figure should present himself as God.—Exposition of Jn xiv, xv