Luther recognized this book as his most important work and even said that if all his other books perished, he would hope that this one, along with his Small Catechism, would be the only ones to remain.
This is one of the most important books of the early Reformation, for it deals with what Luther saw to be the heart of the Gospel.
Luther here refutes the Romish notion of 'free will' in man and upholds the absolute sovereignty of God in the salvation of sinners -- as well as justification by faith alone.
Luther clearly saw the issue of free will as the primary cause of his separation from Rome.
In this book he replied to the Roman Catholic scholar, Erasmus, and his diatribe The Freedom of the Will. Though disagreeing with just about everything else Erasmus wrote, Luther commended Erasmus for recognizing the crux of the matter at issue between Rome and the Bible believers, the debate over 'free will.'
In this regard Luther wrote,
that unlike all the rest, you alone have attacked the real issue, the essence of the matter in dispute (i.e. man's so-called free-will--RB)... You and you alone saw, what was the grand hinge upon which the whole turned, and therefore you attacked the vital part at once; for which, from my heart, I thank you.
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For additional information about Martin Luther, the Reformation, and Biblical salvation, please visit SWRB's home page at the 'Outside Web Link' below.
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“ Great Sermon! ” All those who believe in "Open Theism"
should hear this interesting reading!
(Open Theism is the view that God is not omniscient in the way that we normally think of it. It claims that the future is open and unsettled, so God does not know what will happen. According to Open Theism, God knows all past and present events. He can settle what he wants to in the future, can make logical guesses about other things, but does not know the rest - i.e. most of the future is unknown to God...)
Martin Luther (November 10, 1483 – February 18, 1546) was a German monk, theologian, and church reformer. He is also considered to be the founder of Protestantism. Luther's theology challenged the authority of the papacy by emphasizing the Bible as the sole source of religious...
