The Word Did It All: The Power of God’s Word in Church Reformation
Luther argues that while the private mass is sinful and must be abolished, Christian love demands that reform be accomplished through preaching and teaching God's Word rather than force or coercion. He emphasizes that only God's Word—not human effort—can transform hearts and create faith, and therefore believers should rely on God's sovereign work rather than compulsion in matters of ecclesiastical reform.
Dear Friends: You heard yesterday the characteristics of a Christian man, how his whole life is faith and love. Faith is directed toward God, love toward man and one's neighbor, and consists in such love and service for him as we have received from God without our work and merit. Thus there are two things: the one, which is the most needful, and which must be done in one way and no other; the other, which is a matter of choice and not of necessity, which may be kept or not, without...
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