As Brian Gerrish notes in his introduction to Grace and Reason, “‘Luther on reason’ is a vast subject—perhaps, surprisingly so—and even when the ground to be covered has been carefully mapped out, it would not be difficult to lose one’s path.”
Today, we’ll be examining snippets from this book and expanding our research using Logos. To start, I open the resource in my Logos software.
Grace and Reason
According to Gerrish, the primary basis for the distinction between grace and reason lies in “Luther’s fundamental dualism of an Earthly and a Heavenly Kingdom.” Since I have Luther’s Works, I’m going to setup a search using the power of Logos.
Search Luther’s Works
To search Luther’s works, Open a search tab and select “Basic”
By default, this should read, “Search Everything for.” But I’m only interested in Luther’s Works right now. We’ll need to create a custom search collection. To do this:
Select the dropdown menu from the word, “Everything”.
Type “Luther’s Works”
Logos immediately brings up the 57-resource collection. Note, for this to function properly, you must own the works of Luther.
Now I want to search for grace and reason. However, in order to get the best results, I’m going to use the operator “NEAR.”
Grace, verified by reason
Among the results, I find “The First Article,” a section from Luther’s Works, Volume 32, wherein Luther writes,
Without faith, no one can have any dealings with God, nor receive his grace.
All this is also verified by reason and the common sense of mankind.
As you can see, the software has highlighted the occurrences of “grace” and “reason” in contrasting colors.
According to Luther, reason cannot stand on its own. It can only verify grace.
Reason rages against grace
From what I’ve seen so far, it seems like Luther had a positive view of the relationship between grace and reason. But as I continue reading through our search results I find a surprising quote in the section, “The Gospel for the Main Christmas Service , John 1[:1-14]” in Luther’s Works, Volume 52:
Reason rages against grace and cries out against its light; reason accuses it of saying that it forbids good works. It does not want its way and manner of becoming godly to be rejected. It continues to rave that one must be godly and serve God. Thus the light of grace is made to appear foolish, indeed, to be error and heresy, which must be persecuted and banished.
My search results show me several other occurrences in this writing and I will continue to read through on my own. But for now, I have several instances of Luther’s writings to support the author’s contention that Luther saw grace and reason as intersecting, but diametrically opposed forces.
Save your research
I’d like to continue studying this topic as I read through Grace and Reason this month. So, I put all my research into a Clippings document for easy access later. To do this:
Select the “Documents” menu
Under “New” select “Clippings”
Rename your “Untitled Clippings” document. I’ve named mine, “Luther on Grace and Reason”
Select the text you’d like to add to your document.
Right click on the highlighted text.
Select “Add a clipping” from the context menu.
Now, I can add tags, notes, and continue my study when I return.
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• REDEEMED • Fanny J. Crosby, 1820–1915 • Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this— (Psalm 107:1, 2) • All my theology is reduced to this narrow compass—Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners. • —Archibald Alexander • The word redeemed implies the idea of a slave standing on the trader’s auction block being offered to the highest bidder.
• The Red Sea passage, it seems to me, simply typifies the death of Christ as it conquered Satan judicially and released the sinner from the guilt and judgment of sin. It separated the children of Israel from Egypt and introduced them into a life of pilgrimage and trial, just as we are separated from the world and made pilgrims and strangers there.
• “Ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone.” • — John 16:32 • Few had fellowship with the sorrows of Gethsemane. The majority of the disciples were not sufficiently advanced in grace to be admitted to behold the mysteries of “the agony.” Occupied with the passover feast at their own houses, they represent the many who live upon the letter, but are mere babes as to the spirit …
• Interest or identification? • I have been crucified with Christ. Gal. 2:20. • The imperative need spiritually is to sign the death-warrant of the disposition of sin, to turn all emotional impressions and intellectual beliefs into a moral verdict against the disposition of sin, viz., my claim to my right to myself. Paul says—“I have been crucified with Christ”; he does not say, ‘I have determined to imitate Jesus Christ,’ or, ‘I will endeavour to follow Him,’ …
• He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake • Ps. 23:3 • He always has a purpose in His leading. He knows where the bits of green pasture are, and He would lead His flock to these. The way may be rough, but it is the right way to the pasture. “Paths of righteousness” may not be straight paths; but they are paths that lead somewhere—to the right place.
This collection of scholarly essays tackles a number of questions based on Matthew’s gospel. In what sense does Matthew’s Gospel reflect the colonial situation in which the community found itself after the fall of Jerusalem and the subsequent humiliation of Jews across the Roman Empire? To what extent was Matthew seeking to oppose Rome’s claims to authority and sovereignty over the whole world, to set up alternative systems of power and society, to forge new senses of identity? If Matthew’s community felt itself to be living on the margins of society, where did it see the centre as lying? In Judaism or in Rome? And how did Matthew’s approach to such problems compare with that of Jews who were not followers of Jesus Christ and with that of others, Jews and Gentiles, who were followers?
• STANDING ON THE PROMISES • Words and Music by R. Kelso Carter, 1849–1928 • For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. (2 Corinthians 1:20 KJV) • All of us have times in life when a crisis or problem seems larger than we can possibly bear, and we become very fearful.
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• How often Israel marched out in battle array, and found the Lord already fighting their enemies and putting them to flight. And what a striking instance Jericho was of this. They did nothing at all towards conquering that city, except to go through some apparently utterly useless motions, and yet it is very evident that unless they had gone “through those motions,” God would not have given them the victory.
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• “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” • — 1 Corinthians 10:12 • It is a curious fact, that there is such a thing as being proud of grace. A man says, “I have great faith, I shall not fall; poor little faith may, but I never shall.” “I have fervent love,” says another, “I can stand, there is no danger of my going astray.”
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• He that eateth me, even he shall live by me • John 6:57 • To feed on Christ is to get His strength into us to be our strength. You feed on the cornfield, and the strength of the cornfield comes into you, and is your strength.
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• Obedience • His servants ye are to whom ye obey. Romans 6:16. • The first thing to do in examining the power that dominates me is to take hold of the unwelcome fact that I am responsible for being thus dominated because I have yielded. If I am a slave to myself, I am to blame for it because at a point away back I yielded myself to myself.
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These days i found videos and articles on ISRAEL, telling that 150 Rockets from Palestine went into ISRAEL, but 90 % have been destroyed in air by „Iron Dome“ batteries. Evenso many have been injured and- all have been shocked around the PURIM festival days.
Why is ISRAEL challenged in this hard way, like no other souvereign country on earth? And how can the people stand this pressure?- The answer is easy: GOD HIMSELF is fighting the battles for HIS PEOPLE. If they obbey in HIM, they keep the stand. The few messianic jewish believers, who take the HOLY SUPPER according to the SHABBATH Meal IN REMEMBERANCE OF Jesus-JESHUA HA MASCHIACH– get new strength in HIM!-
GLORY TO GOD- would the rest of the world take that message and encouragement and stand at the side of their elder brethren and sisters.!!
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