Something from … Martin Luther on the sins of the saints

            We often get the idea that the saints were much more pure and, therefore, much more worthy of God’s love than we are.  Our sins constantly hound us.  Oh, that we could be as faithful and obedient as the heroes of faith!

            That might sound accurate, but the Bible paints a different picture.  God has no problem telling us the truth about all people, including those whom he has decreed to be his saints.  But their story is our story too; for, we are also his saints.  It is not a matter of how well we have kept God’s commands.  It is a matter of how faithfully Jesus Christ has served us to take away our sins and to bestow upon us his own righteousness.  This is what all saints have in common.

            From Luther: “Such errors and sins of the saints are set forth in order that those who are troubled and desperate may find comfort and that those who are proud may be afraid.  No man has ever fallen so grievously that he could not have stood up again.  On the other hand, no one has such a sure footing that he cannot fall.  If Peter fell, I, too, may fall; if he stood up again, so can I.

            “…The apostles were not superior to us in anything except in their apostolic office.  We have the same gifts that they had, namely, the same Christ, Baptism, Word, and forgiveness of sins.  They needed all this no less than we do; they were sanctified and saved by all this just as we are.” (Martin Luther; Lectures on Galatians.  Luther’s Works: American Edition, Volume 26, p. 109.  Concordia Publishing House: St. Louis, MO.  © 1963.)