p. 146 | THE LAW IS SPIRITUAL by Martin Luther

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 10, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 10.

“THE LAW IS SPIRITUAL.”

By Martin Luther

PAUL says (Rom. 7, 14), “The law is spiritual.” What does this mean? Answer: If the law was carnal, it could be satisfied with works. But now that it is spiritual, no one can satisfy it, unless all that he does in accordance with it be done freely and from the heart. But such a heart no one can give except the Spirit of God, who brings the man so to receive the law that he delights in it from his heart, and obeys it in every part, not from fear or by compulsion, but freely and cheerfully. Thus the law is spiritual, and is to be loved and obeyed in a spirit of holy love, every one of its precepts demanding the same spirit. Where this spirit is not in the heart, there dwelleth sin, aversion, and enmity against that law which is ever holy, just, and good. Let it then be deeply impressed on your heart, that it is a very different thing to “do the deeds of the law,” from what it is to “keep the law.” . . . To keep or fulfill the law is to obey it with heartfelt delight and love; to lead a just and godly life freely and from choice, and not from constraint of either law or penalty. Such delight in unconstrained love, the Holy Spirit pours abroad in our hearts, as Paul says (Rom. 5:5). But this Spirit is not given except in, with, and by faith in Jesus Christ, as we are taught in the introductory part of the epistle. In like manner, faith comes only by the word of God, the gospel, which preaches Christ—that he is the Son of God and the Son of man, and how he died and rose again for our sakes. See Rom. 3:25; 4:25; 10:9.

And hence it is that faith alone justifies and causes the law to be fulfilled in us; for it brings to us the Spirit of the treasury of Christ’s merits. The Spirit makes the heart buoyant and free as the law requires it to be, and thus good deeds proceed from faith itself. Of this the apostle speaks (chap. 3:31), after rejecting all “the deeds of the law,” so that it almost seems as though he was about to abolish the law of faith. “God forbid,” says he; “yea, we establish the law by faith.” . . .

Sin, in Scripture language, is not merely the outward work done by the body, but all that which inwardly stirs and impels to outward action, namely, the heart with its springs and powers. The Scriptures regard particularly the heart and look to the root and the main-spring of all sin, which is the “evil heart of unbelief.” Thus, just as faith alone justifies, and imparts to the soul a delight in good outward works, so unbelief, the only spring of sin, excites the carnal mind to wicked outward acts, as was the case with Adam and Eve in Paradise. Gen. 3:6. Hence it is that Christ designates unbelief as the great sin. John 16:8, 9. The Spirit will “reprove the world . . . of sin, because they believe not in me.” Therefore also, as with the good or bad fruits of the tree, before good works are done there must be faith in the heart, or there will be unbelief, the root, sap, and power of all sin. . . .

Faith is not what many fancy it to be, who talk a great deal about faith but without regard to its connection with sanctification of life or good deeds accompanying faith; they fall into error, and say, We are not justified by faith alone, but by good works also. Thus men deceive themselves, because, when they hear the gospel, they are at once ready to make to themselves a faith in their own strength. But as this is merely a human imagination by which the heart itself is not reached, it produces no good fruit, and no sanctification follows such a faith.

But true faith is a divine work in us, which changes us, and regenerates us, so that we are “born of God.” John 1:13. It mortifies the old man, and makes us different men in heart and mind, accompanied as that faith is by the Holy Spirit. Oh, this faith is living, active, efficient, powerful, so that it is quite impossible that it should not incessantly be doing good. It does not stop to ask whether any good work is to be done, but before the question can be put it has accomplished it; it is continually up and doing. And he that is not such is a faithless man; he gropes about in the dark for faith and good works, and knows nothing of either, but merely multiplies words about faith and works without true knowledge.

Faith is a living confidence in the grace of God, so firm that a man may die a thousand deaths rather than doubt. And such confidence in and experience of divine grace makes us happy, frank, and cheerful towards God and all creatures. This is wrought by the Holy Ghost through faith. Hence such a man is willing and forward without any compulsion, to do good to everyone—to serve all men, and to suffer all things, for the love and glory of that God who hath shown towards him such grace. Thus it is as impossible and absurd to separate works from faith as it is to separate heat and light from fire. Beware, therefore, of thine own preconceived notions about faith, and pray to God that he will work faith in you; for without his power you will remain without faith eternally.—Martin Luther, in “Key to Romans.”