2 August 2024
But God speaks thus: If thou wilt be rid of sin, thou must do other
works wherewith to pay the price. But with all the works which thou dost, thou
canst do nothing but sin, even with the works wherewith thou thinkest to
reconcile me and to do penance for thy sins. How wilt thou then, thou fool,
blot out sin with sin? For even in the works which thou considerest the best
and which thou canst do, thou sinnest if thou dost not do them willingly and
from the heart. For if thou didst not fear punishment, thou wouldst rather not
do them at all. Thus thou dost no more than that thou seekest to blot out
little sins by doing greater ones; or else to commit such great ones that thou
mayest lay aside others.
Wherefore, it is ever great blindness that a man does not see what sin
is, nor know what good works are, but accepts sin for good works. When the Holy
Spirit comes, he convicts the people and says: The works which thou hast done,
as well as those which thou art still doing, are nothing but sin; therefore, it
is all in vain that thou dost attempt to make satisfaction for thy sin
according to thy ability. Then they feel compelled to say: Behold, this I did
not know. Then says he: For this purpose I am here, in order to tell thee this.
If thou hadst known it, it would not have been necessary for me to come and
make it known. What wilt thou do now in order to be helped? This thou must do:
Believe on the Savior, the Lord Christ, that he has taken away thy sin. If thou
believest this, he is thine and thy sins will disappear; if not, then thou wilt
never get rid of sin, but wilt always fall into it deeper and deeper.
Martin Luther
Why Forgiveness Must be Found in Christ and Not Our Works
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