SALVATION ALTOGETHER BY GRACE

http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/history/spurgeon/web/ss-0027.html ^ | July 29, 1866 | C. H. Spurgeon

[Dahlseide]

If you have an address you can reveal to a stranger (i.e. me) reply and I'll send you a copy.


The Bondage of the Will
by
Martin Luther

J. I. Packer and O.R. Johnston, translators of Luther's masterpiece from German and Latin to English, say in the Introduction: "Free will was no academic question to Luther; the whole Gospel of the grace of God, he held, was bound up with it, and stood or fell according to the way one decided it. . . . It is not the part of a true theologian, Luther holds, to be unconcerned, or to pretend to be unconcerned, when the Gospel is in danger. . .. The doctrine of the Bondage of the Will in particular was the corner-stone of the Gospel and the foundation of faith" (40-41, emphasis added).

"In particular, the denial of free will was to Luther the foundation of the Biblical doctrine of grace, and a hearty endorsement of that denial was the first step for anyone who would understand the Gospel and come to faith in God. The man who has not yet practically and experimentally learned the bondage of his will in sin has not yet comprehended any part of the Gospel" (44-45, emphasis added).

"Justification by faith only is a truth that needs interpretation. The principle of sola fide [by faith alone] is not rightly understood till it is seen as anchored in the broader principle of sola gratia [by grace alone]; . . for to rely on one’s self for faith is not different in principle from relying on one’s self for works" (59, emphasis added).

The Bible teaches that faith itself is and has to be, a gift of God, by grace, and not of self (Ephesians 2:8). It is safe to deduce that for Luther, any evangelist who advocates free will has not only "not yet comprehended any part of the Gospel," but also that he has not yet preached the Gospel at all; his is a counterfeit gospel.

Luther was ordered to recant his teachings on threat of excommunication. Luther thundered, "Unless I am convinced by Scriptures and plain reason [for Luther, this meant logic], my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything. Here I stand, I can do no other!"

[From a review in The Trinity Review]

Martin Luther (1483-1546) shattered the structure of the Medieval Church by demanding that the authority for doctrine and practice be the Scriptures rather than popes or councils, and ignited the famous Protestant Reformation. The Roman Catholic hierarchy could not refute his logic, so they attempted to have him killed. But he was protected by Frederic. It has been said that more books have been written about Luther than about any other person except Jesus Christ.



Paperback 5 1/2" x 8 1/2” , 164 pages
I.S.B.N. 1-878442-51-1

$10.99 Retail

[JWinNC]

Free Grace bump

JWinNC

[ponyespresso]

Thanks, but I managed to find a used copy here, which is the one I've been reading; the version translated by J.I.Packard & O.R.Johnston as well. I appreciate your offer thought.

I think part of this process I'm going through is also showing me how woefully inefficient Christian publishing companies are in supplying good, solid, classic books. It occured to me recently that, although I do tend to share the views of those who call themselves Arminians, I actually have not read anything by J. Arminius. However, when I have tried to order any of his works, they too are out of print. Then I noticed that works such as Calvins Institutes, Luthers Commentary on Romans or hardly anything at all by the early (pre-Nicean or early Post-Nicean) Fathers of the Church are nowhere to be found in most Christian bookstores.

I am really having to work way too hard to avoid the milk offered (I'm waiting for a book called Chicken Soup for the Jabez Soul that has been Left Behind) and find material that helps me with the solid food of the Word.