Friday, April 2, 2021

Luther's Observation on 1st Commandment

"Now this is the work of the First Commandment, which commands: “Thou shalt have no other gods,” [Exo. 20:3] which means: ............as this Commandment is the 
--very first, highest and best, 
from which all the others proceed, 
--in which they exist, 
--and by which they are directed and measured, 
--so also its work, that is, the faith or confidence in God’s favor at all times, is the very first, highest and best, from which all others must proceed, exist, remain, be directed and measured
*Compared with this, other works are just as if the other if there were no God.
Therefore .... the works of the First Commandment are faith, hope and love
As I said above, such faith and confidence bring love and hope with them." 
Martin Luther