LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW - Brock University

64 LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW XV
Moreover therewith the goodness, favour and gifts of God which are in
thee, not only shall be known unto other[s], but also unto thine own self; and
thou shalt be sure that thy faith is right, and that the true Spirit of God is in
thee, and that thou art called and chosen of God unto eternal life, and loosed
from the bonds of Satan, whose captive thou wast; as Peter exhorteth, in the
first of his second epistle, through good works to make our calling and
election (where with we are called and chosen of God) sure. For how dare a
man presume to think that his faith is right, and that God’s favour is on him,
and that God’s Spirit is in him, when he feeleth not the working of the Spirit,
neither himself disposed to any godly thing Thou canst never know or be
sure of thy faith, but by the works: if works follow not, yea, and that of love,
without looking after any reward, thou mayest be sure that thy faith is but a
dream, and not right, and even the same that James calleth in his epistle, the
second chapter, dead faith, and not justifying. Abraham… 30
[Luther:] ‘Even so let your light shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.’ Otherwise it would
be but a buried treasure and a hidden light. But what profit is there in either
Yea, goodness does not only thereby become known to others, but we
ourselves also become certain that we are honest, as St. Peter in 2 Pet. 1:10
says: ‘Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and
election sure.’ For where works do not follow a man cannot know whether
his faith is right; yea, he may be certain that his faith is a dream, and not right
as it should be. Thus Abraham… 31
Tyndale resonates with Luther’s idea that works can serve as a sign of
true faith, but then spins the concept into works as certification of faith and
assurance of salvation:
[Tyndale (Luther underlined):] … such receiving into everlasting habitations
is not to be understand [sic] that men shall do it … so we meekly and
lovingly do our duty; yea, it is a sign of strong faith and fervent love, if we do
well to the evil, and study to draw them to Christ, in all that lieth in us. But
30 Works 1:60.
31 John Lenker, trans., Sermons of Martin Luther (Grand Rapids: Baker, repr. 1989), 4:307 13
[hereafter abbreviated Unjust Steward]; WA 10 III :287 -
‘Last leuchten ewr liecht fur den leutten auff das sie ewr gute werck sehen und got
preyssen’. Sonst were es wie eyn verborgener schatz und verholene weyßheyt, waß
sind die alle beyde nutz
Ja damit wirt die frumkeyt nicht alleyn andern bekant, ßondern auch yhr selb
gewiß, das sie recht schaffen sey, wie S. Peter. 2 Pet. 1. sagt ‘Vleyssigt euch durch
gutte werk ewr erwelung gewiß und fest tzu machen”. Denn wo nicht werck folgen,
kan der mensch nicht wissen, ob er recht glawbe, ja er ist gewiß, das seyn glawb eyn
trawm und nicht recht. Szo wirt Abraham Gen. 22 ….
(I am grateful to professor William Ewald, of Concordia University, River Forest, for his
assistance with the Weimar’s German.) Compare also The Mammon, Works 1:61 and Unjust
Steward, 308:14=WA 10 III :287-88 26ff .