Martin Luther Quotes

[halifaxchristian]

Martin Luther wrote these things shortly before his death. How do these statements affect your faith and doctrine?

"'If you had the pope and cardinals in your power, what would you do?' (asked by Prince Frederick) 'I would show them all respect and honour.'"

"...I conceded human right to the pope, which nevertheless, unless it is founded on divine authority, is a diabetical lie. For we obey parents and magestrates not because they themselves command it, but because it is God's will...For that reason I can bear with a less hateful spirit those who cling too pertinaciously to the papacy, particularly those who have not read the sacred Scriptures, or also the profane, since I, who read the Scriptures most diligently so many years, still clung to it so tenaciously."

"I denied that the pope is the head of the church by divine right."

"I was so drunk, yes, submerged in the popes dogmas, that I would have been ready to murder all, if I could have...from obedience to the pope. So great a Saul was I, as are many this day."

"I certainly thought that in this case I should have a protector in the pope, on whose trustworthiness I then leaned strongly."

"I humbly conceeded to the pope in my earlier writings, which I later and how hold and execrate as the worst blasphemies and abomination...ascribe this error, or, as they (opponents) slander, contradiction, to the time and my inexperience. At first I was all alone and certainly very inept and unskilled...I call upon God Himself as witness."

"I had also acquired the beginning of the knowledge of Christ and faith in Him, i.e., not by works but by faith in Christ are we made righteous and saved...nevertheless, I did not draw the conclusion, namely, that the pope must be of the devil. For what is not of God must of necessity be of the devil."

"Though I lived as a monk without reproach, I felt that I was a sinner before God with an extremely disturbed conscience. I could not believe that He was placated (satisfied) by my satisfaction (good works). I did not love, yes, I hated the righteous God...I was angry with God."

"At last, by the mercy of God, meditating day and night, I gave heed to the context of the words (of Romans)...There I began to understand that the righteousness of God is...by a gift of God, namely by faith."

"Here I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates. There a totally OTHER FACE OF THE ENTIRE SCRIPTURE SHOWED ITSELF TO ME."

"And I extolled my sweetest word with a LOVE AS GREAT AS THE HATRED WHICH I HAD BEFORE."

"I relate these things, good reader, so that, if you are a reader of my puny works, you may keep in mind, that...I was all alone...I was not of those who from nothing suddenly became the topmost, though they are nothing."

"Farewell in the Lord, reader, and pray for the growth of the Word against Satan. Strong and evil...he knows his time is short and THE KINGDOM OF HIS POPE IS IN DANGER."

This, my dear friends, was a Protestant. How and does this affect your doctrinal stance???

[ayin jade]

It has little effect, if any. I do not venerate Luther. Im born again by faith in Jesus, not by faith in Luther. My faith rests in the Lord, not in man's doctrines, or man's actions.

[yomotalking]

AllI can say is:

God used Martin Luther in amazing ways.

His quotes are his own.

Not mine to build a doctrine on.

Very good quotes, but they are from a man. Not God.

[halifaxchristian]

It has little effect, if any. I do not venerate Luther. Im born again by faith in Jesus, not by faith in Luther. My faith rests in the Lord, not in man's doctrines, or man's actions.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am not venerating Luther in any way. I am merely wondering if anyone who reads these quotes recognises the Spirit behind Luther's character, and, in turn, how and does this affect your personal approach to the history and reformation of the Gospel. Luther would be the first to dispell any notion that he should be looked to as anything:

"My books...are accordingly crude and disordered chaos...persuaded by these reasons, I wished that all my books were buried in perpetual oblivion, so that there might be room for better ones."

"For a long time I streniously resisted those who wanted my books, or more correctly, my confused lucubrations, published. I did not want the labors of the ancients to be buried by my new works and the reader kept from reading them (works of ancients)."

There is nothing wrong if the quotes of Martin Luther do nothing for you. No...they are not Scripture at all. If you walk away saying...oh well...well, then, oh well. It doesn't really matter. But if you have been touched by the above quotes in one way or another I would like to know.

Billy Graham is not God but there are some wonderful stories behind much of his preaching...and to Jesus be the glory!!!!

[Fiosh]

From Encyclopedia Britannica:

Luther - "if the Lord commanded me to eat crab apples and manure I would do it"

"That these words of Christ 'This is my body', still stand firm against the Fanatics"

Luther, with simple biblicism, insisted that Christ's words, "This is my body" must be literally interpreted

...in his insistence on the Real Presence in the Eucharist---his theology differs from the patterns that emergd in the Reformed churches

(end of quotes from Britannica)

so, HC, how reliable is Luther??????

Love ya,

Fiosh

(believer in Luther's doctrine of "Real Presence)

[halifaxchristian]

From Encyclopedia Britannica:

Luther - "if the Lord commanded me to eat crab apples and manure I would do it"

"That these words of Christ 'This is my body', still stand firm against the Fanatics"

Luther, with simple biblicism, insisted that Christ's words, "This is my body" must be literally interpreted

...in his insistence on the Real Presence in the Eucharist---his theology differs from the patterns that emergd in the Reformed churches

(end of quotes from Britannica)

so, HC, how reliable is Luther??????

Love ya,

Fiosh

(believer in Luther's doctrine of "Real Presence)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I differ with ML on topics such as the eucharist, baptism, predestination, etc. The list goes on. I am FAR, FAR from a Lutheran. Far.....................far.

However, I believe that Martin Luther was a sincere seeker who desire the truth and was ever-changing as a result. His soul did not rest and his doctrines changed almost weekly. He admits this and I believe that this is the fruits of the Spirit purging him...not allowing him to rest in pride or arrogance.

Fiosh, BTW...martin luther greatly diverges from the RCC on the doctrine of the eucharist. Although I differ from his stance also...it would be plain wrong and deceptive to say that ML agreed wholly and fully with the RCC conception of the Mass.

God was leading his heart away from the heretical Bread God. There is no question that Martin struggled with this doctrine...and for good reason.

[Fiosh]

From Encyclopedia Britannica:

Luther - "if the Lord commanded me to eat crab apples and manure I would do it"

"That these words of Christ 'This is my body', still stand firm against the Fanatics"

Luther, with simple biblicism, insisted that Christ's words, "This is my body" must be literally interpreted

...in his insistence on the Real Presence in the Eucharist---his theology differs from the patterns that emergd in the Reformed churches

(end of quotes from Britannica)

so, HC, how reliable is Luther??????

Love ya,

Fiosh

(believer in Luther's doctrine of "Real Presence)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I differ with ML on topics such as the eucharist, baptism, predestination, etc. The list goes on. I am FAR, FAR from a Lutheran. Far.....................far.

However, I believe that Martin Luther was a sincere seeker who desire the truth and was ever-changing as a result. His soul did not rest and his doctrines changed almost weekly. He admits this and I believe that this is the fruits of the Spirit purging him...not allowing him to rest in pride or arrogance.

Fiosh, BTW...martin luther greatly diverges from the RCC on the doctrine of the eucharist. Although I differ from his stance also...it would be plain wrong and deceptive to say that ML agreed wholly and fully with the RCC conception of the Mass.

God was leading his heart away from the heretical Bread God. There is no question that Martin struggled with this doctrine...and for good reason.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Or perhaps the Holy Spirit held him fast to this most sacred and central doctrine.

But, as you demonstrate here, HC, I guess you CAN have it both ways.

F

[halifaxchristian]

From Encyclopedia Britannica:

Luther - "if the Lord commanded me to eat crab apples and manure I would do it"

"That these words of Christ 'This is my body', still stand firm against the Fanatics"

Luther, with simple biblicism, insisted that Christ's words, "This is my body" must be literally interpreted

...in his insistence on the Real Presence in the Eucharist---his theology differs from the patterns that emergd in the Reformed churches

(end of quotes from Britannica)

so, HC, how reliable is Luther??????

Love ya,

Fiosh

(believer in Luther's doctrine of "Real Presence)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I differ with ML on topics such as the eucharist, baptism, predestination, etc. The list goes on. I am FAR, FAR from a Lutheran. Far.....................far.

However, I believe that Martin Luther was a sincere seeker who desire the truth and was ever-changing as a result. His soul did not rest and his doctrines changed almost weekly. He admits this and I believe that this is the fruits of the Spirit purging him...not allowing him to rest in pride or arrogance.

Fiosh, BTW...martin luther greatly diverges from the RCC on the doctrine of the eucharist. Although I differ from his stance also...it would be plain wrong and deceptive to say that ML agreed wholly and fully with the RCC conception of the Mass.

God was leading his heart away from the heretical Bread God. There is no question that Martin struggled with this doctrine...and for good reason.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Or perhaps the Holy Spirit held him fast to this most sacred and central doctrine.

But, as you demonstrate here, HC, I guess you CAN have it both ways.

F

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No one can serve God and mammon. No, we cannot have it both ways. But I don't pretend that each and every believer in Christ has reached full maturity in the faith and knows everything there is to know on a spiritual level. All believers must grow in grace, faith, and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

What I am projecting is this: not that Martin Luther was perfect...but that Martin Luther exhibited FRUITS. There were obvious signs about ML that the Spirit was working in his life.

Fiosh, I ask you this: Can you have it both ways? Martin Luther didn't believe in the Mass exactly as you do, nor salvation, nor the Pope, nor Catholicism...so which is he? A demon or a saint?

I believe that Christians can and do err...but that there will nonetheless be spiritual fruits in their lives. You believe that Catholicism is the one True Church...if Martin Luther theretofore LEFT that Church and preached AGAINST that Church...do yo STILL call and label this the FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT???

[Fiosh]

From Encyclopedia Britannica:

Luther - "if the Lord commanded me to eat crab apples and manure I would do it"

"That these words of Christ 'This is my body', still stand firm against the Fanatics"

Luther, with simple biblicism, insisted that Christ's words, "This is my body" must be literally interpreted

...in his insistence on the Real Presence in the Eucharist---his theology differs from the patterns that emergd in the Reformed churches

(end of quotes from Britannica)

so, HC, how reliable is Luther??????

Love ya,

Fiosh

(believer in Luther's doctrine of "Real Presence)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I differ with ML on topics such as the eucharist, baptism, predestination, etc. The list goes on. I am FAR, FAR from a Lutheran. Far.....................far.

However, I believe that Martin Luther was a sincere seeker who desire the truth and was ever-changing as a result. His soul did not rest and his doctrines changed almost weekly. He admits this and I believe that this is the fruits of the Spirit purging him...not allowing him to rest in pride or arrogance.

Fiosh, BTW...martin luther greatly diverges from the RCC on the doctrine of the eucharist. Although I differ from his stance also...it would be plain wrong and deceptive to say that ML agreed wholly and fully with the RCC conception of the Mass.

God was leading his heart away from the heretical Bread God. There is no question that Martin struggled with this doctrine...and for good reason.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Or perhaps the Holy Spirit held him fast to this most sacred and central doctrine.

But, as you demonstrate here, HC, I guess you CAN have it both ways.

F

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No one can serve God and mammon. No, we cannot have it both ways. But I don't pretend that each and every believer in Christ has reached full maturity in the faith and knows everything there is to know on a spiritual level. All believers must grow in grace, faith, and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

What I am projecting is this: not that Martin Luther was perfect...but that Martin Luther exhibited FRUITS. There were obvious signs about ML that the Spirit was working in his life.

Fiosh, I ask you this: Can you have it both ways? Martin Luther didn't believe in the Mass exactly as you do, nor salvation, nor the Pope, nor Catholicism...so which is he? A demon or a saint?

I believe that Christians can and do err...but that there will nonetheless be spiritual fruits in their lives. You believe that Catholicism is the one True Church...if Martin Luther theretofore LEFT that Church and preached AGAINST that Church...do yo STILL call and label this the FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT???

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I believe that Martin Luther was neither a demon nor a saint.

He was a flawed human being, just like the rest of us, who struggled against his sinful nature attempting to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I admire him greatly.

Fiosh

[Anne]

Well said Fiosh

Luther was just a man, a human like the rest of us, who struggled every single day of his life. An inspired man he certainly was, but that was it, we cannot base our faith in God and his Son Jesus, on humans who err.

Just my thoughts

Your Sister in Jesus Christ

Anne