December 2005

My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.

I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.
–Eliza E. Hewitt, 1891

In this excerpt from his introduction to Romans, Martin Luther explains that good works spring naturally from faith; he writes, “Faith cannot help doing good works constantly.” Why? Because

faith is God’s work in us, that changes us and gives new birth from God (John 1:13). It kills the Old Adam and makes us completely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits, our thoughts and all our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit with it.