Gospel-Centered Sanctification: November 2005 Archives

“No matter where you are reading in the Bible, faith is the first mystery you should recognize. Faith is not believing that the story you are reading is true as written. That does nothing for anyone. Even unbelievers can believe the Bible story of Jesus’ birth is true. Faith is not a natural work apart from God’s grace…Rather the right kind of faith, the kind that flows from Grace and that God’s Word demands, is firmly believing that Christ was born for you. His birth is yours and occurred for your benefit. For the Gospel teaches that Christ was born for our benefit and that everything He did and suffered was for us.”

Martin Luther, By Faith Alone

(HT: Tom Wood of Graced Again)